Villa have confirmed the signing of 25 year old AFC Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings.
Mings, who can play at either centre half or left back, has joined on loan for the rest of the 2018/19 campaign. It is reported that Villa have not made any formal provision to make the switch permanent.
There has, however, been a clause inserted that should an offer be made by another club that Villa would ‘match’ any offer, if interested.
The defender, who is generally held in high regard, has been brought in to steady one of the Championships leakiest defences. Rectifying this defensive dreadfulness is a priority, with it hampering Smith’s attempts to steer the side into the playoff spots.
However, the loan move does come with a fair element of glaring risk.
Mings has barely featured for Bournemouth this term owing to injury, and has managed just twenty three appearances since 2015.
Bournemouth’s fifth choice defender is though reportedly match fit and likely comes into contention for this weekend’s important fixture away at Reading.