Scottish Premiership giants Celtic reportedly beat Championship outfit Aston Villa to Ipswich Town youngster Kundai Benyu back in 2017.
Steve Bruce is looking north of the border as he starts to put plans in place for the January transfer window.
As reported by the Evening Express, the Aston Villa manager has admitted that he could make another move for the Aberdeen centre-back Scott McKenna, having seen a £7 million bid rejected in the summer transfer window.
And Bruce has also stated that there are other players in Scotland who have caught his eye. It remains to be seen as yet, however, exactly who they are.
But one player who could benefit from a move to Villa Park is Kundai Benyu.
According to The Mail, Aston Villa were hoping to sign the then Ipswich Town youngster in the summer of 2017, only for the attacking midfielder to choose Celtic instead. In hindsight, however, that decision might not have been the right one.
Benyu has made just one Scottish Premiership appearance for Celtic and hasn’t featured in any competition so far this season. As it stands, the 20-year-old doesn’t appear to be in Rodgers’ plans and Celtic’s reported interest in Newcastle United youngster Sean Longstaff (The Chronicle) casts even more doubt on his future.
Though Villa fans might be wondering why they should be targeting a player who hasn’t made the grade in Scotland, Benyu remains a hugely promising talent and one disappointing year at Celtic should put Bruce off.
Many Villa fans have been critical of the decision to fill Villa’s squad with ageing, big-earning players and Benyu could provide that youthful exuberance an underperforming side needs.
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