Aston Villa originally were linked with the Southampton forward in the summer.

Steve Bruce wanted to bring Shane Long to Aston Villa in the summer, according to the Express and Star, and Dean Smith should re-ignite their interest in the forward.
Smith’s Villa side have already been a threat going forward, but the addition of Long could give them yet another weapon.
With Smith deploying a high pressing style with the claret and blues, Long could fit in well.
The Southampton man may not be a frequent scorer, but his work rate and energy cannot be questioned.
And Smith would be wise to bring him to Villa Park, as he could be a really good fit.

Tammy Abraham looks to be Villa’s main goalscoring threat, but Long could either play up-front with the England international or out wide.
And his ability both in an attacking and a defensive sense could make him the perfect for Smith’s Villa side.

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