Victor Lindelof Has Become One of Aston Villa's Most Important Players – And His New Contract Is Fully Deserved

Aston Villa have exercised their option to extend Victor Lindelof's contract by another year, and while the timing of the announcement comes after a disappointing defensive performance at Manchester United, I don't think we should allow what happened at Old Trafford to overshadow just how good the Swedish international has been since arriving at the football club.

Villa have been conceding too many goals recently and there are certainly questions to be asked about the defensive structure of the team, particularly after surrendering two separate two-goal leads against Manchester United on Sunday, but I genuinely believe that things would have been considerably worse without Lindelof's presence in the side, because he's been one of the few constants in a defensive unit that has undergone some pretty significant changes over the last twelve months.

If you think back to this time last year, Lindelof was primarily being used in the Europa League and wasn't really featuring too heavily in the Premier League, but Villa were about to encounter an injury crisis at centre-back which would ultimately give him the opportunity to establish himself in Unai Emery's side.

He initially came into the team on the left side of central defence alongside Ezri Konsa and performed exceptionally well, before subsequently being asked to operate in midfield when injuries elsewhere in the squad created further problems for Emery, including during Villa's historic Europa League-winning campaign.

I think that versatility has probably been overlooked when assessing his contribution, because we're talking about a player who arrived on a free transfer, was initially viewed as a relatively inexpensive squad option and has ended up becoming one of the most dependable performers at the football club.

The departure of Konsa to Arsenal in the summer was always going to be difficult to navigate, particularly given how important he'd become to Emery's defensive system, and although Lindelof isn't necessarily a like-for-like replacement in every respect, he's certainly helped to soften the impact of losing someone who had been such an integral part of the team.

I actually think Villa would be in a considerable amount of trouble defensively if Lindelof hadn't been available this season, because while we've seen some poor defensive performances collectively, his individual level has remained remarkably consistent and he's provided a degree of stability that has been desperately needed.

There is also the leadership aspect to consider, because Villa have lost some significant personalities from the dressing room over the last couple of transfer windows and having somebody with Lindelof's experience, professionalism and understanding of the game has become increasingly important.

From the noises coming out of Bodymoor Heath, he's clearly a very influential figure behind the scenes as well, and I think that's something Emery places considerable value on when deciding which players he wants around his squad.

It was interesting when Emery spoke about Lindelof effectively replacing Konsa, because in an ideal world Villa might have gone into the transfer market and spent a substantial amount of money on a new centre-back, but financial restrictions have meant that they've needed to approach certain situations differently.

What they've effectively done is find a solution that allows Lindelof to occupy that position while Taylor Harwood-Bellis continues his development, and I actually think there are few better players for the younger defender to learn from given the experience Lindelof has accumulated throughout his career.

People sometimes forget just how highly rated Lindelof was when Manchester United originally signed him, and while his eight years at Old Trafford weren't always straightforward, I do wonder how many players who have struggled at that football club over the last decade might have looked considerably better in a different environment.

We've seen Emery improve players who perhaps weren't universally appreciated elsewhere, and Lindelof is another example of somebody who has benefited from working under a manager with a very clear understanding of what he wants from his players.

I would genuinely have Lindelof among Villa's leading candidates for player of the season so far, with Nicolas Jackson probably the standout given the impact he's made since arriving, but in terms of consistency and reliability there haven't been many players who have performed at the same level as the Swede.

I've even had Lindelof's name on the back of my blue shirt recently, which probably tells you everything about how much I've come to appreciate what he's brought to the team.

There will inevitably be supporters who question whether Villa should have allowed his contract to expire and invested in a younger defender next summer, but I don't see any reason to move on from somebody who is performing at this level, understands the manager's requirements and has become such an important part of the dressing room.

The fact that Villa have been able to secure another year of his services without having to commit significant money to a replacement also makes considerable sense from a squad-building perspective, particularly when there are other areas of the team that may require investment.

Lindelof might have looked like something of a panic signing when he first arrived, but he's proven himself to be considerably more than a deputy, and I think this contract extension is thoroughly deserved recognition of the status he's established at Aston Villa.