Bruce has to make the most of his window of opportunity
VILLA will not be in a position to splash the cash in the January transfer window. Money is still tight and boss Steve Bruce knows he will have to ‘box clever’ again.
He spent just £2.5million on transfer fees over the summer but still managed to significantly improve his squad.
Conversations are already under way about what business could be done in the New Year.
And these are Villa’s priorities:
Securing a permanent deal for Sam Johnstone
It’s no secret Villa’s top target is the Manchester United goalkeeper.
He is on loan for the season and there’s no recall option so Villa aren’t worried about losing him.
But with every stand-out performance, his valuation increases.
Bruce is yet to have a conversation with United boss Jose Mourinho about Johnstone’s future, but it’s a pressing concern and one Villa want to get resolved in the next two months.
The ideal outcome will be to agree a permanent deal. Whether Villa will have the money to get the deal done in January is another issue.
And Johnstone may want to wait until Villa’s status for next season is confirmed because there is be Premier League interest. likely to Discussing other loan players
The chance of Villa landing Robert Snodgrass and/or Josh Onomah on permanent deals in January are slim.
Both players would command big transfer fees.
Villa will have to be careful with their cash but no doubt discussions will be held about the future.
There’s no stopping them putting an agreement in place to sign either player permanently if they win promotion.
The pursuit of Onomah will be incredibly difficult, though, as Tottenham still have plans for him, but Snodgrass is expected to leave West Ham. Finding a striker
Unless Scott Hogan starts scoring, Villa are cutting it fine up front.
Hogan has bagged just one league goal in nine months since moving from Brentford and has struggled to reach top form.
Jonathan Kodjia is still feeling his way back from injury and youngster Keinan Davis will go ‘up and down’, according to Bruce.
So they will be interested in looking at further firepower.
“You’re only ever as good as your strikers,” said Bruce, and given that he signed Stern John and Andy Cole in seasons gone by to help get Blues over the line in their promotion-winning campaigns, you’d expect him to look for bargain buys and loan signings when the window opens. Moving on the fringe players
Villa have a group of players who can’t get a look-in.
Aaron Tshibola surely has no future at the club, certainly not this season anyway. Then there’s the likes of Micah Richards and Tommy Elphick, who can’t make the match day 18, but could be considered now John Terry is injured.
Clubs have considered an approach for third-choice goalkeeper Mark Bunn and he could be another player who is released.
Hogan might have offers from elsewhere, while Ritchie De Laet is also desperate for games and will have to weigh up any options if they come his way. Getting the kids out on loan The likes of Andre Green, Callum O’Hare and Jake DoyleHayes won’t be going anywhere as they’re part of the first-team picture now.
But Jordan Lyden, Easah Suliman and even Rushian HepburnMu rph y could go out to get much - needed game- time. Lyden has proved his durability in recent months and will have plenty of options to consider, as will Suliman, who had a short spell on loan at Cheltenham last season. Hepburn-Murphy hasn’t been fit for long enough to make an impact and a short spell away could do him the world of good. James Bree, still only could also consider options. 19, his