Lansbury could be available on the cheap in January so what better chance for Steve Bruce to enhance his lightweight midfield?
If Aston Villa want to make that small yet substantial step from also-rans to genuine play-off challengers, then the importance of the January transfer window cannot be understated.
As it stands, the Midlands giants are six points adrift of Sheffield Wednesday in sixth, although the addition of a creative, goal-scoring central midfielder could bridge that gap in no time at all.
After all, Villa’s middle men have netted five goals between them all season – one less than reportedly wantaway captain Henri Lansbury has registered for a Nottingham Forest languishing in the nether-regions of the table.
The former Arsenal youngster’s six Championship goals, not to mention three assists, have earned the admiration of East Midlands rivals Derby County, according to the BBC, with the Rams hoping a bid in excess of £2.5 million will be enough to secure one of the most contentious deals of recent seasons.
Lansbury is out of contract in the summer, meaning a cut-price deal in January is not beyond the realms of possibility, but as yet reports linking Villa with a winter move have been conspicuous by their absence.
Why is anyone’s guess. Midfielders of Lansbury’s ilk do not become available too often, especially not for such an affordable fee, while the prospect of fellow play-off contenders Derby enhancing their squad in January should be more than enough to encourage Villa to throw their hat into the ring.
The fans think so anyway.
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