Danny Higginbotham on ‘vital’ January transfer window for Aston Villa & Leeds United

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Danny Higginbotham has offered his thoughts on Aston Villa and Leeds United ahead of their clash on Sunday.

Sky Sports pundit Danny Higginbotham believes ‘there are a couple of decisions to be made’ in regards to Aston Villa and Leeds United’s January transfer business.

Dean Smith’s side announced on their official website on Friday afternoon that Croatia goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic has agreed to join the club when the transfer window re-opens next month.

On Thursday, former Premier League player Higginbotham pointed towards Villa needing a new man between the sticks as he also stated that Leeds may need to look for a new shot-stopper next month too.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side have youngster Bailey Peacock-Farrell in goal following the injury to Chelsea loanee Jamall Blackman.

Higginbotham added that next month’s transfer window will be ‘vital’ to the club’s chasing promotion as Leeds currently top the table ahead of a busy festive period.

“I think if you look at Leeds, you would probably say ‘they maybe need to bolster the squad a little bit’,” Higginbotham told Sky Sports News on 20/12/2018 at 10:50 am.

“I think from Aston Villa’s perspective, Dean Smith will look at it and think to himself ‘we’ve got a good squad here’. He may want a position or two, whether it be the goalkeeper situation. I think with Leeds as well. The goalkeeping situation could be another one, you look at Jamaal Blackman, he’s gone back to Chelsea, he’s out for the season. There is a couple of decisions to be made for both clubs. I think this January transfer window is going to absolutely vital to what happens.”

Villa will host Leeds on Sunday afternoon in a mouthwatering clash with both sides looking to earn promotion to the Premier League.

The home team are unbeaten in their last seven Championship matches, whilst Leeds have won their last five games on the bounce.

Leeds secured a 1-0 victory away at relegation-threatened Bolton last time out, whilst Villa came from behind on two occasions to record a 2-2 draw at home to Gary Rowett’s Stoke City.