Dean Smith reportedly wants to raid former club Brentford to bring Yoann Barbet to Championship promotion hopefuls Aston Villa.
We are just one week into the January transfer window but Aston Villa have already made two welcome additions.
The Midland giants look to have strengthened their goalkeeping options with a £6 million deal for Croatian number one Lovre Kalinic while Kortney Hause offers depth and versatility in defence after arriving on loan from local rivals Wolves.
And, if manager Dean Smith gets his way, Yoann Barbet will be on his way to Villa Park too before the end of the month.
The Express and Star reported in December that Smith wants to reunite with the Brentford left-back, who was a key player during his impressive spell in charge at Griffin Park.
And, speaking to West London Sport, Barbet has opened up on speculation linking him with Aston Villa as he enters the final few months of his deal at Brentford.
“I’m out-of-contract so maybe that is why they talk about Villa. The manager was here, they need defenders, I can play both (left-back and centre-back),” said Barbet, who joined The Bees in 2015 from Ligue 2 outfit Chamois Niortais.
“When you hear a big team want you or will try to sign you it makes you feel you’re a good player.
“I just stick to the positive part of it. If a big team wants me it’s because I’m doing well, so I try to carry that on as much as I can, and then we’ll see in the future.”
A new left-back is understandably a key priority for Smith, who has often been forced to field Alan Hutton out of position since taking over from Steve Bruce.
West London Sport adds that another two Brentford players, classy midfielder Romaine Sawyers and prolific poacher Neal Maupay, are also targets for Aston Villa.
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