Aston Villa have reportedly agreed a fee to sign left-back Joe Bryan from Championship rivals Bristol City.
Neil Taylor should perhaps be feeling a little worried at Aston Villa right now.
The Welsh international made just 27 starts out of a possible 46 in his first full Championship campaign at Villa Park. And there was a good stretch of last season where he was being left out in favour of Alan Hutton; a right-back excelling in an unfamiliar left-sided role.
So, if Taylor lost his place to Hutton, what chance would he have of a regular place in Steve Bruce’s starting XI if arguably the best natural left-back in the Championship joined him at Villa Park before the transfer window slams shut?
According to the Bristol Post, Aston Villa have agreed a fee understood to be £5 million for the Bristol City star Joe Bryan. The situation is complicated, however, by reports that Middlesbrough have matched that bid.
But should Villa win the race, they would be the proud owners of arguably the most gifted attacking left-back outside of the Premier League, a player who scored seven goals and set up three more in all competitions last season.
If Bryan signs, you can almost guarantee that Taylor would struggle to start games regularly in claret and blue next season. After all, Bryan is a better left-back than Hutton was.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
