AND FINALLY!

Henri Lansbury has completed his protracted move from Nottingham Forest.

The 26 year old joins Villa for a fee between £3-£4 million pounds and a salary of around £40,000 per week.

The former Arsenal youngster has signed a four and a half year deal.

Breaking transfer news: We are delighted to announce the signing of @LansburyHenri. #AVFC #WelcomeHenri pic.twitter.com/5WRoeBesQG

— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) January 20, 2017

The hold up has mostly been down to the ultimately failed takeover bid at Forest, with all transfers put on hold whilst negotiations ongoing.

With those talks having broken down & Lansbury having been conveniently “injured” for the duration of the speculation, he has swiftly made the switch to Villa Park.

And all just eleven months after outlining his intentions to remain with Forest for the “long term”.  That’s ulimtately modern football, but it also offers an insight into the state of affairs at the City Ground as well.

Lansbury, another club captain and leader added to the ranks, has 6 goals and 3 assists to his name this season.

REINVENTION

In what could be the beginning of signings which reshape Villa’s midfield, his addition arguably starts the death-knell on Ashley Westwood’s B6 career.

The addition of a combative and direct individual like Lansbury acts as a good starting point for the first team squads second revision in barely 6 months.

Despite unprecedented investment by Bruce’s predecessor, Roberto Di Matteo, those signings greatly unbalanced the team.  Worse still, they didn’t do much to improve us following our dreadful relegation season of 2015/16.

Whilst it’s easy to think that Villa didn’t buy anyone to try and improve the midfield in the summer, that would be erroneous.

Australian Captain Mile Jedinak has struggled for form, whilst Aaron Tshibola has only recently reappeared following injury and a peripheral stint with the Under 23’s.

On what he brings to the side, Lansbury is quoted during his unveiling as saying;

“You’re getting a passionate player. You’re getting someone who wants to score goals, wants to get in the box, wants to tackle, wants to do everything really.  If I can show than on the pitch and let my shackles off and you’ll see that in the first game hopefully.”

Welcome aboard.