James Collins has reportedly been hoping to re-join Aston Villa.
It’s no great secret that Aston Villa are in the market for a new centre back, with three key names mentioned as potential signings.
Villa attempted to land a centre back before the transfer deadline last month, but late bids for Harold Moukoudi and Scott McKenna fell through.
That has left Villa looking to free agents for a new centre back, as Bruce has recently been forced to use Mile Jedinak in an unfamiliar centre back role given his lack of options.
Three free agents have been touted, with John Terry the main name having been with Villa last season, and giving that he hasn’t yet been snapped up by another club.
The Telegraph also reported that James Collins has been holding off signing for Ipswich Town in order to hope for a move back to Villa, over six years since they sold him to West Ham.
The 35-year-old Welshman has been available since his West Ham contract ended this summer, and having already had one spell with the club, a return alongside former Welsh International teammate James Chester was understandably appealing.
However, West London Sport now claim that Villa are looking to bring in another free agent defender in Steven Caulker, who is a free agent having left Dundee last month.
With the ex-England international now the new name on Bruce’s wish list, Collins may well have to give up hope of a move back to Villa Park, and may just be better off signing for Villa, as Bruce surely would have made his move by now if Villa really wanted to re-sign him, rather than looking to a new name in Caulker.
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