Aston Villa are looking for new signings to bolster their Champions League effort and are close to landing a new midfielder.
The Villans had a superb season under Unai Emery and managed to snatch fourth place to set up a brilliant 24/25 season next time out.
However, Emery and Villa’s board know that more depth and quality is needed if they are to go far in Europe and continue to do well in the league.
Of course, with transfer season upon us, Villa have been linked with a host of players.
And according to reports this weekend, they are edging closer to completing a deal for one midfielder.
Aston Villa on course to sign Ross Barkley from Luton
According to a report from the Mirror, Villa are continuing to press on with their bid to sign Barkley and are ‘on course’ to complete the deal.
With Luton Town going down, they are susceptible to losing players and given Barkley was one of the stars of the show, big clubs have shown interest.
Indeed, Manchester United were thought to be keen on landing the former Chelsea man but it looks like it’s going to be Villa who get the deal done.
The chance to play in the Champions League, coupled with renewed hope he might get back into the England fold at some point, means a move to Villa is hard to turn down for Barkley.
One of the fittest players around
It’s been great to see Ross Barkley finally hit the gears everyone knew he was capable of as a youngster at Everton.
He has been brilliant at Luton and was unlucky to part of a side going down in the end.
Of course, Barkley has his fans and one former teammate, Cesc Fabregas, has lauded the fitness of the midfielder from when they were at Chelsea.
“I always saw Ross as a number eight as more of a box to box. Now he’s more of a number six. Physically he is a machine,” Fabregas said earlier this season.
“Don’t get me wrong, physically he’s one of the fittest players I have played with, he’s the standout in this Luton side, and he makes this team tick.”
Barkley, then, will be a smart signing for Villa as they look to strengthen the pack for next season.