Villa reportedly want to sign a centre-back and a left-back.
Dean Smith is reportedly closing in on his first signing as Aston Villa manager, as the Midlands outfit are said to be inches away from completing a £7million move to sign Gent goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic – but Smith will not stop there.
The Telegraph claim Smith wants to reshuffle his defence as Villa look to mount a promotion charge in the second half of the season. It is believed the former Brentford boss wants a goalkeeper, a centre-back and a left-back.
With Villa close to tying up a deal for Kalinic, Smith will want a centre-back first and foremost. He has just two to choose from at the moment, in captain James Chester and Manchester United loanee Axel Tuanzebe.
But left-back also remains important. Neil Taylor is currently out injured, and has developed somewhat of an injury-prone reputation since his move to Villa Park. Right-footed Alan Hutton continues to cover him.
Signing a new left-back is important, then, and Smith need a quick fix – and Sunderland’s Bryan Oviedo presents the perfect opportunity for the Midlands club in January.
The Chronicle claim 28-year-old Oviedo is a player Sunderland desperately want to remove from the wage bill next month, despite making 17 appearances for Sunderland this season. He has five assists for the Black Cats this season.
A 48-time Costa Rica international, Oviedo has plenty of pedigree and is certainly better than the third tier of English football – which he showed with both Sunderland and Everton in the Premier League.
If Sunderland want him out, surely Villa have to move to bring in a player that is more than able to shine in the Championship – if not the Premier League. A move for Oviedo makes sense.
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