Stoke City have allegedly made a £10million bid to sign James Chester from Championship club Aston Villa but Steve Bruce is desperate to keep him.
Replacing John Terry as Aston Villa’s skipper is no easy task.
The 37-year-old was a fantastic influence both on and off the pitch as Aston Villa reached the play-off final last season. But defeat to Fulham at Wembley, and the financial crisis that followed, meant Steve Bruce’s side could no longer afford to keep the £60,000-a-week Terry at Villa Park.
Although the Birmingham Mail has now suggested that Bruce has chosen the man to inherit the armband, and this is promising news for Villa fans.
It is understood that James Chester is expected to be named the club’s new captain, which is surely the biggest sign yet that the Welsh international will remain in the Midlands this summer.
Chester, who was arguably the best defender in the Championship last season, has been heavily linked with a move away all summer with ambitious Stoke City the side most heavily linked.
But, strengthened by some much-needed financial investment from their new owners, the Mail claims that Aston Villa have rejected Stoke’s £10 million bid for the former West Brom and Hull City defender.
They have made it clear that Chester will not be sold at any price and want to hand him a new contract. Making him captain could just tempt the one-time Manchester United youngster to stay where he is.
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