Steve Bruce’s Sheffield Wednesday reportedly want £10m for Adam Reach – can Championship rivals Aston Villa afford to bid this much?
In a rather odd twist of fate, Aston Villa are set to launch a bid to sign one of Steve Bruce’s star men.
Just four months after being sacked by the Midland giants, Bruce has returned to management with Sheffield Wednesday. But one of the Geordie gaffer’s first major tasks will be to keep Adam Reach at Hillsborough with Aston Villa set to launch a big January bid.
That is according to the Daily Star (8 January, page 45). It is claimed that Villa will test Wednesday’s resolve with a bid for Reach, who has been a bright spark in a difficult season for The Owls with six often spectacular goals to his name.
The 25-year-old left-winger, who started his career at Middlesbrough, joined Wednesday in 2016 and was one of the few players to progress during the disappointing reign of Dutchman Jos Luhukay.
And, on paper, Reach would be a fine addition for Dean Smith’s Aston Villa team with the former Brentford boss introducing a more attacking and expansive style of play since replacing Bruce at the former European champions.
Whether Villa can afford to meet Wednesday’s £10 million valuation remains to be seen, however. Sky Sports reports that Financial Fair Play rules could limit the Villans to short-term loan signings this month.
Reach scored arguably the best goal of his career against Aston Villa in 2017, firing home a stunning long-range volley less than a minute into a 2-1 win in Birmingham.
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