Swansea City striker Oli McBurnie and Leicester hitman Leonardo Ulloa are two of the Premier League strikers Aston Villa are eyeing in January.
Aston Villa appear to be spreading their bets with the January transfer window just a fortnight away.
It’s common knowledge that Steve Bruce wants a striker. Unfortunately, the looming spectre of Financial Fair Play means Villa will have to rely on the loan market if they want to bring in a replacement for the crocked Jonathan Kodjia in January.
Oli McBurnie, a prolific goalscorer for Swansea City at Under-23 level, emerged as a potential target with the Sun (3rd December, page 65) claiming at the start of the month that Villa were preparing a loan bid.
The Birmingham Mail, however, has sought to clarify the situation and states that McBurnie is indeed on the Midland giants’ radar – but he is far from their first choice option.
It is understood that Aston Villa want a striker with more Championship experience than McBurnie, who won the Premier League 2 Player of the Year award last season but has only even made 12 substitute league appearances in Swansea’s first-team.
It would be a major risk, then, for Villa to pin their hopes on a player without a league goal to his name for The Swans.
The report adds that the likes of Leonardo Ulloa are far more likely to arrive at Villa Park in January. It is understood that Leicester City will let the seldom-seen Argentine, who cost them £8 million in 2014, leave in the New Year.
And, unlike McBurnie, Ulloa has proven himself in the Championship, having netted 23 goals in 50 games for Brighton between 2012 and 2014.
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