Villa are expected to return with another offer for the Stoke City stalwart.
Stoke City’s Glenn Whelan in action with Everton’s Morgan Schneiderlin
Aston Villa have had a £500k bid for Stoke City midfielder Glenn Whelan knocked back, however Villa boss Steve Bruce is expected to return with another offer as he views the Republic of Ireland international as a key signing, as reported by the Stoke Sentinel.
The 33-year-old featured in 30 of Stoke’s 38 Premier League matches last season and has been a pretty regular name on Mark Hughes’ teamsheets, but the signing of Darren Fletcher from West Bromwich Albion has made Whelan expendable.
Stoke City’s Glenn Whelan in action with Tottenham’s Victor Wanyama
Bruce sees Whelan as someone who can become a massive part of a promotion push at Villa Park and is supposedly very enthusiastic about making this transfer happen, and will be returning with a second bid for the experienced midfielder.
Whelan has made 338 appearances for Stoke in all competitions since signing from Sheffield Wednesday in 2008, but it seems with Fletcher’s arrival, the feeling is right to let the Ireland international depart – if the price is right.
Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Republic of Ireland’s Glenn Whelan
From a Villa perspective, it could be possible that Gary Gardner departs the club to accommodate for Whelan’s potential arrival as Villa are rather stocked in midfield, while players like Henri Lansbury and Conor Hourihane will be unlikely to leave as they’ve arrived on Bruce’s watch.
As well as Whelan, Villa have also been linked with Burton Albion midfielder Jackson Irvine, as reported by Australian news outlet SBS, as Bruce seeks to take Villa back into the Premier League following their relegation in 2016.
Aston Villa Manager Steve Bruce
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