Fresh reports suggest that Barnley have accepted Villa’s bid for midfielder Conor Hourihane.

This is despite Barnsley’s coach earlier outlining that no bids had been received directly.

In a cryptic interview, there is the sniff of something amiss, with a clear dig at agent’s working their dark arts behind the scenes:

“I don’t know what has gone off behind the scenes with them or their agents. Their agents need to remember the players need to focus and play well.”

Villa are expected to pay a fee in the region of £1 million pounds, having fought off interest from a number of similarly interested parties.  Sheffield Wednesday, Rangers & Celtic were closely monitoring his situation.

Hourihane’s addition to the squad, subject to terms and a medical being confirmed, would mark an essential option in a midfield which has looked ill-equipped to return Villa to the top flight.

The midfielder comes with a good pedigree and a solid development with Barnsley particularly, after a £200k transfer from Plymouth Argyle.

He is credited with being the “driving force” behind their promotion from League One & has turned heads as a result.

On the interest being shown in him, Hourihane is quoted as early as August 2016 as saying;

‘There’s always a little bit of interest and it’s part and parcel of playing well. It’s always nice to know people are keeping an eye on you.”

This promising transfer news comes further to the reports that Villa look set to seal deals for Henri Lansbury and Jacob Bedeau.

AT A GLANCE

Conor Hourihane

• Club Captain – Another “Leader”.
• 25 years old.
• Irish international at youth level.
• Named but never capped by Republic.
• Sunderland academy product.
• 225+ League Appearances.
• Key to Barnsley; Assists.
• “Driving Force” of League 1 Promotion.
• Rejected new deal in December.