Aston Villa’s plans for James Collins have reportedly been scuppered.
According to The Mirror, Aston Villa handed a deal to trialist James Collins – but he ripped it up an hour later after suffering a calf injury in training.
Villa look set to bring in Croatian international goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic as their first signing for January, as reported by The Telegraph, but boss Dean Smith was also looking at an immediate addition.
With Axel Tuanzebe and James Chester the only recognised centre backs at Villa Park, former Villa defender Collins has been back training with the club for some time now, even back to Steve Bruce’s time in charge.
Smith has continued to look at the Welshman in training given that he is a free agent after leaving West Ham, with Collins getting himself up to speed at Bodymoor Heath.
Now, The Mirror report that Villa actually signed Collins to a £10,000-a-week contract until the end of January to ease their defensive issues heading into the busy Christmas period.
It’s claimed that Collins then picked up a calf injury in training just an hour later, and decided to terminate the deal he had signed.
That leaves Villa short at the back again, but it’s torrid luck for 35-year-old Collins, who may now see Villa spend money on a centre back in January instead.
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