Steve Bruce raved about him in 2013, could the Aston Villa boss capture Burnley’s George Boyd for nothing this summer?

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The Aston Villa boss brought the Burnley man to Hull City four years ago.

Ex-Hull duo Steve Bruce and George Boyd celebrate

“It was a wonder show,” said Steve Bruce of George Boyd’s debut for Hull City in 2013 (BBC). “His work-rate and intelligence – he looked the real deal. I’ve always been a big admirer, but I didn’t know he was that good. If he can keep performing like that then we’ve got some player on our hands.”

Boyd’s initial six-month loan spell culminated in the Tigers’ promotion to the Premier League, where he featured regularly the following campaign before being sold to Burnley.

Now, almost three years on, the Scotland international could again be on the move, with his contract at Turf Moor expiring in June.

In January, the Daily Mail reported that Boyd had yet to be offered a new one, despite starting 23 of the Clarets’ 27 Premier League fixtures this season, helping them to 12th position and, in all likelihood, another crack at the top flight.

A host of Burnley’s divisional rivals, along with several Championship clubs are said to be monitoring the 31-year-old’s situation – might Bruce’s Aston Villa be one of them?

The Villans’ may have strengthened in numbers their midfield during the winter window, bringing in Henri Lansbury, Conor Hourihane and Birkir Bjarnason, but with Jack Grealish falling out of favour of late, another body – not least one of Boyd’s quality – is unlikely to go amiss.

Besides, Boyd’s ability to play left or right, as well as through the middle, would allow the Villans to accommodate at least three of those players at any one time.

Bruce is well aware of what Boyd can do at Championship level, and with Villa’s bank balance likely to be among the division’s healthiest again next season, they could surely make a serious play for his signature.

Burnley’s George Boyd in action against his former side

Having began his career in non-league before moving on to Peterborough United, Nottingham Forest (loan), Hull and Burnley, one last shot at playing for one of the country’s biggest club is bound to appeal to Boyd.