Blackburn Rovers striker Sam Gallagher was on top form against Aston Villa in November and manager Steve Bruce will not have forgotten.
Sam Gallagher may be far behind Jonathan Kodjia in the goal-scoring stakes this season but Aston Villa have experienced first-hand just what the Blackburn Rovers loanee would bring to the table.
The Daily Mail report that Villa have been watching the burly target man in recent weeks with his future uncertain at parent club Southampton. And, based on his performance against Villa earlier in the season, he could add real presence to an already high-quality strike force.
Blackburn may have lost 2-1 at Villa Park in November but that was not due to a lack of trying from the in-form Gallagher. The hosts’ defence struggled to handle his physical presence all afternoon with threat in the air, hold up play and ability to run the channels running the Villa back line ragged.
It was no surprise that Gallagher printed his name on the score sheet, too, powering home a delightful Charlie Mulgrew cross with a trademark bullet header.
Therefore, you would imagine that Villa manager Steve Bruce has this in mind as he reportedly aims to challenge a number of Championship rivals for Gallagher’s signature.
The Daily Mail claim that Midlands rivals Wolves are also keen. Paul Lambert is desperately crying out for a reliable goal-scorer with Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Nouha Dicko hitting just three apiece from a combined 66 appearances this season.
Wolves clearly need a player of Gallagher’s line-leading presence far more than a Villa side already blessed with the pace of Scott Hogan and the lethal finishing of Kodjia.
Yet Bruce should recall Gallagher’s virtuoso performance at Villa Park and leave no stone unturned in his desire to build a strike force capable of pushing for promotion next season.
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