Will the would-be Aston Villa boss finally get his hands on Ross McCormack?
If rumours are to be believed, Steve Bruce is set to become the next Aston Villa manager today.
If more rumours are to be believed, then Bruce will finally get the chance to work with the man he has tried and failed to sign on a number of occasions: Ross McCormack.
In 2008, the Daily Record reported that Bruce – then at Wigan Athletic – met with the then-Motherwell hitman to try and lure him to the Latics, though the Scot ended up staying with the Fir Park side out of loyalty.
After going on to become one of the most lethal strikers in the Championship following spells with Cardiff City, Leeds and Fulham, The Mail reported in January that Bruce wanted to bring the 30-year-old to Hull City on deadline day that month. Again, it did not work out.
Of course, McCormack then joined Aston Villa for a Championship-record £14 million (The Sun) in the summer and it seemed like the veteran manager would never get his hands on him, but that looks entirely possible now.
He has only netted twice in eight Championship games, doing little to justify such a big fee so far, but McCormack is a fine striker and Bruce might help him get his groove back.
If those reports are true then it bodes very well for Aston Villa that Bruce tried to sign him before and after he emerged as such a lethal goalscorer in this division. It suggests that he knows him very well as a player, and such knowledge can only be a big positive for the Villans.
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