James Collins has reportedly been identified by Championship side Aston Villa as a potential alternative to John Terry.
Steve Bruce must be wishing that he had not failed to sign both Scott McKenna and Harold Makoudi on transfer deadline day. Because the Aston Villa manager is now being forced to scour the free-agent market in an attempt to add a much-needed centre-back to his squad.
The Sun reports that Bruce wants to bring back John Terry; the 37-year-old who skippered Villa to the play-off final before his contract expired last summer.
And, according to the Birmingham Mail, another former Villa favourite is also being considered – James Collins.
The 35-year-old, who represented the claret and blues from 2009 to 2012, is also a free agent after he was released by West Ham United at the end of last season.
And it seems that Collins’ potential return to Villa Park has been met with a rather mixed response. Yes, the former Wales international would add a great deal of experience at the back and would surely form a far more solid defensive partnership with James Chester than Mile Jedinak has managed.
But, on the other hand, bringing Collins back outside the transfer window would rather sum up the poor planning and lack of a coherent recruitment strategy at Villa Park.
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