Villa in shock deadline day bid for Borja

BORJA Baston was last night on the brink of a shock move to Aston Villa as Swansea City’s January transfer window ended in dramatic fashion.

It was yet another manic month for the Liberty Stadium outfit who completed three signings and saw three players depart well before transfer deadline day.

Chelsea duo Marc Guehi and Conor Gallagher both arrived on loan deals while Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster also made the temporary switch to the Liberty Stadium.

Sam Surridge returned to Bournemouth after being recalled his parent club midway through his season-long loan in South Wales.

And there were a further two exits as Kristoffer Peterson was sent on loan to Dutch outfit Utrecht while goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt sealed a permanent switch to Turkish side Genclerbirligi.

Following what had been a hugely productive window, the picture dramatically changed even further on transfer deadline day.

Cian Harries was recalled from his loan spell with Eredivisie side Fortuna Sittard before sealing a permanent move to League One side Bristol Rovers.

Just hours later, defender Declan John completed a temporary move to Sunderland, with the Welshman set to spend the remainder of the 2019/20 campaign at the Stadium of Light.

It comes after John had made just five appearances in all competitions for the Swans under Steve Cooper.

Barrie McKay - another fringe player under the current regime joined Harries and John in dropping down to League One, with the Scot signing a loan agreement with Fleetwood Town.

Then came the biggest surprise of the club’s window as WalesOnline exclusively revealed that Aston Villa were interested in a deal for striker Borja.

It’s understood the Spaniard travelled with the rest of the squad to Lancashire ahead of the Swans’ Championship fixture with Preston, but then made his way to the Midlands for a medical.

Meanwhile, Cardiff City were looking to tie up a deal for Nottingham Forest winger Albert Adomah while full-back Lee Peltier was on the verge of leaving the capital to link up with Championship rivals West Bromwich Albion.