ISAAC HAYDEN
With Villa’s midfield about as convincing as the defence in recent weeks, it’s no surprise that Dean Smith is considering his options.
The latest transfer rumour links Villa with want-away Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden.
Hayden, who Rafa Benitez has confirmed is available for transfer, has openly stated his desire to leave Tyneside.
Any deal is contingent upon the Geordie’s securing adequate cover owing to an injury crisis and their lack of existing reinforcements. They are known to have already rejected an approach from Darren Moore’s West Bromwich Albion.
Hayden, a former Arsenal & Hull graduate, is very keen to move further south for personal reasons.
Villa do though face clear competition from West Brom, who in the absence of any interested southern English club, can offer the player a commute to London of a little over an hour.
ISLAM SLIMANI
An interesting and surprise link is to that of Leicester £29 million pound striker, Islam Slimani.
After a disastrous move to the King Power Stadium, where the Algerian failed to make any notable impact, he is currently out on loan with Fenerbahce.
Things have arguably gone even worse for the £80 per week striker in Turkey, with him notching just a single goal in fourteen appearances.
Another concern would be that the former Sporting Lisbon man was restricted to just four outings for Newcastle during an injury hit loan spell.
All of the above naturally goes against the 30 year olds growing stature prior to 2016, where he demonstrated an expert eye for goal both a domestic and full international level. It is difficult to overlook the dramatic collapse of both his form, stock and goal return since though.
What is certain, however, is that any move for Slimani would come with tremendous risk and any deal would surely only be considered for a fraction of the figures stated above.
Charlie Colkett
Villa are reported to be interested in offering 22 year old Charlie Colkett a loan deal with a view to a permanent deal being concluded in the summer.
The midfielder, with no senior appearances at Stamford Bridge, has represented England at all youth levels internationally.
Owing to the global reach of Chelsea’s academy and first team recruitment, it’s understandable that even the most promising of academy starlets might not get a short at the first team.
Inevitably this has seen Colkett depart on loan annually since 2015, with genuine senior football widely regarded as preferable to adequately developing players instead of the dismal U-23 league.
Whilst Colkett can hold triumphs in the UEFA Youth League and two FA Youth Cups high on his CV, loan spells Bristol Rovers, Vitesse, Swindon and Shrewsbury arguably provide a more accurate barometer of any potential.
Such links obviously raise the question of the influence of both John Terry and Christian Purslow, both of whom have strong ties to the playing and operational sides at Chelsea.