Former Aston Villa man tips ex-Arsenal & Juventus midfielder to join Newcastle United or Nottingham Forest

Former Aston Villa striker Dean Saunders believes that free-agent midfielder Aaron Ramsey should join Newcastle United or Nottingham Forest ahead of the new campaign.

Ramsey, who was released from Italian giants Juventus this past week, spent last season on loan with Rangers but failed to hold down a place in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side.

Despite his sheer drop off in form in recent years, Ramsey is still only 31-years-old and Saunders believes he could more than do a job for one of the two Premier League teams.

“I’d like to see him at Newcastle,” he told TalkSPORT. “I think that’s the train you want to jump on, or Nottingham Forest.”

“A lot of people don’t realise Steve Cooper is Welsh. He’s been involved with the England camp a long time but he’ll know Aaron.

“In the Euros, when Wales played Turkey, (Gareth) Bale and Ramsey played together – and Ramsey was magnificent.

“He’s had a few injuries. He broke his leg [against] Birmingham and it affected him for a long time.

“He’s got a great football brain. He covers more ground than any player on the pitch. Good finisher, great lad.”

The bookmakers currently have the Welsh international down as odds on favourite to join newly promoted Forest at 2/5 whereas the Magpies aren’t even in the running.

Villa remain on the look out for another midfielder this summer but a move for Ramsey - even on a free transfer - would be highly unlikely.