Dean Marney is training with Aston Villa while reportedly emerging as a target for Championship rivals Nottingham Forest.
Plenty of Aston Villa fans were left furious with Steve Bruce when reports in The Mirror revealed that former Burnley midfielder Dean Marney was training with the Midlands club.
Villa supporters had grown somewhat tired of Bruce’s tendency to sign ageing players with a whole host of promising youngsters waiting in the wings. So the potential arrival of a 34-year-old free agent who has not played in 16 months due to injury was hardly what the Villa Park faithful were hoping for.
But it seems suggestions that Marney could be offered a contract are a little premature. According to the Birmingham Mail, the former Hull and Tottenham midfielder is merely being offered the chance to build up his fitness as he looks to get his career back on track.
Villa offered a similar chance to Stephen Kelly last summer without ever really considering signing the former Birmingham defender on a free transfer. Furthermore, The Mirror (10.26am) points out that Bruce has been told there are no funds for even free-agent signings right now, so the prospect of Marney wearing claret and blue looks slim.
This is a potential boost for Nottingham Forest, who remain interested in the experienced Marney with manager Aitor Karanka still on the lookout for a new midfielder.
And, ironically, Villa could be helping out their Championship rivals should they enable Marney to get back to full fitness.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
