After links with Leo Ulloa and Nahki Wells, Championship giants Aston Villa are now keen to sign Swansea City youngster Oli McBurnie instead.
Aston Villa’s pursuit of a new striker looks to have taken another twist.
The reigning Premier League 2 Player of the Year, who netted 20 goals for Swansea’s reserves last season and has a further 10 in seven games this, has made a decent impression when given a chance in the first-team of late.
But just two of McBurnie’s 11 Premier League appearances in 2017/18 have come from the start, and it appears the 21-year-old would benefit more from a loan move away from the Liberty Stadium.
Villa could offer McBurnie a better chance of regular first-team football, although he might have a tough task forcing his way into the starting XI with Scott Hogan finally starting to fire on a regular basis.
Nonetheless, it is difficult not to see Villa’s sudden attempts to bring McBurnie to the Midlands as reflecting their increasing desperation.
It seems as if a move for Ulloa is dead, with Leicester set to farm out Islam Slimani instead. The Foxes do not want to lose two strikers this month.
And reports in the Birmingham Mail recently stated that McBurnie was a long way down Villa’s list of targets, with Burnley’s £5million million flop Nahki Wells the primary back-up option as Bruce wanted a striker with a proven Championship track record.
Beggars can’t be choosers, however, and Villa will hope McBurnie proves his worth.
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