HENRI LANSBURY

This deal has become almost as protracted as the infamous Mathieu Berson chase!  Let’s just hope it turns out better in the long run.

Both the national and local press are reporting that the impasse (a transfer fee and ownership wrangle) have been overcome.

Lansbury is now set to undergo a medical before a belated switch to Villa Park.

For a fee in the region of £3-4 million, Lansbury could potentially stand to be one of the shrewder acquisitions of the transfer window.  This is of course aided by the price being driven down for a man in the final months of his contract.  Forest may feel aggrieved at this, but will see a profit on the £1 million they paid to Arsenal for his services originally.

Lansbury would arrive into a midfield that is woefully short of the attributes to sustain any kind of challenge in the Championship.

Whilst the task of improving Villa hopefully won’t just fall on the former Arsenal youngster, we will have to hope that other supporting cast members will follow.

What Lansbury brings is a drive and guile that we’re seriously lacking, but also an eye for goal with 30+ goals in 130 appearances.

With Villa pressing ahead for the switch, the obvious aim is to have the 26 year old available for the weekends visit of Preston North End.  The reverse fixture saw the demise of former boss Roberto Di Matteo.

Steve Bruce will certainly want to have another option in a midfield which has capitulated against Cardiff and Wolves in recent weeks.

ROBBIE BRADY

Another sustained link, extending right back into 2015 is that of Irish international Robbie Brady.

We’ve looked at the rationale for why Brady would improve Villa (that goes without saying really…) – but a big fee (in the region of £10 million +) as well as competition from Premier League sides could scupper any move to the Midlands.

Bournemouth are the latest suitors, as Villa likely ponder how to add to the imminent arrival of Henri Lansbury.

JACOB BEDEAU

As featured yesterday, highly rated 17 year old Bury defender is expected to join in a £750,000 deal.

Whilst young, he is predicted to have a very bright future ahead of him.  It’s unclear at this stage whether he would be considered for first team duties, with a period in the Under-23 set up a more likely first destination.

The Villa Underground did a brief overview here, but this was reinforced by Shakers supporter Carl Mason who had this to say about Bedeau:

 

@avfc_vilr tall, quick, good passer of the ball, can read a game remarkably for a lad just turned 17.

— Carl Mason (@BuryShaker2015) January 18, 2017