Former GAA star O’Hare is turning top-flight heads
THREE years after Jack Grealish became the most expensive British footballer in history, another playmaker with a snazzy haircut is making a name for himself in the English midlands.
Like Grealish, Callum O’Hare played in the youth ranks at Aston Villa. Like Grealish, he is a local boy with Irish heritage who excelled at Gaelic football as a youngster. And though O’Hare has yet to take the same route as Grealish, who left Villa for Manchester City for £100million in summer 2021, the Coventry attacking midfielder is starting to catch the eye of top-flight clubs in England and abroad.
O’Hare has recovered only recently from a serious knee injury suffered in December 2022 but has been flying since his comeback.
The 25-year-old’s double against Championship leaders Leicester took his tally in all competitions to six, with a single assist. More significantly, since O’Hare returned to action, Coventry have climbed from the fringes of the relegation battle into a play-off spot.
If he can stay fit, there is little doubt that O’Hare will be in the Premier League before too long. He is out of contract in the summer and now free to negotiate with clubs outside English football.
O’Hare was offered a new deal by Coventry last month but has decided to take his time, preferring to focus instead of regaining full fitness and driving the Sky Blues up the table. While the offer remains on the table, rivals will make their moves, and there are sides in Spain monitoring O’Hare’s situation as well as those in England.
There are still those at Villa who believe the club made a mistake in allowing O’Hare to leave on a free transfer three years ago. Though his best position is as an attacking midfielder operating close to a central striker, he has also been used on both flanks. Had a different regime been in place at Villa back then, O’Hare would surely have been handled more sensibly.
Used as a No 10 in a 4-2-3-1 against Leicester, O’Hare was right at home. Though both his goals arrived late in the second half, his first-half contribution was arguably more impressive.
He found space intelligently between defence and midfield and stretched Enzo Maresca’s side with his skill and imagination. With O’Hare in this form, Coventry look a good bet for a second straight top-six finish.
It would be no surprise to see O’Hare duelling with Grealish in the Premier League next season. Whether he will still be wearing the Sky Blue of Coventry is another matter entirely.