Aston Villa are facing months without star striker Jonathan Kodjia.
Aston Villa claimed another win on Tuesday night, beating Sunderland 2-1 at Villa Park – but it wasn’t all good news for manager Steve Bruce.
Bruce told BBC Sport that the latest news on striker Jonathan Kodjia is that he could be out for many months, handing Bruce a major blow to his attacking options.
Keinan Davis continues to impress leading the Villa attack, bug Scott Hogan has failed to live up to his billing, and Gabriel Agbonlahor remains injured, meaning a January move for a new striker may be needed.
Given the Financial Fair Play regulations, Villa may be limited to a loan signing in January, and one striker fits the bill in that regard – Arsenal’s Chuba Akpom.
Akpom, 22, worked with Villa boss Bruce at Hull during the 2015-16 season, scoring seven goals in 42 games for the Tigers to help Bruce’s men win promotion to the Premier League.
The former England under-21 international remains highly-rated at the Emirates Stadium despite his patchy record during loan spells with Nottingham Forest and Brighton and Hove Albion, and another loan move may be needed in January.
Chuba Akpom of Arsenal in action
Reuniting with his former boss Bruce could be ideal, whilst he would also provide the pace that Villa may lack without Kodjia, and he would also fit into Villa’s budget.
Spending big on a striker in January hasn’t worked well in the case of Hogan, and this time around, it may be wise bringing in a loan player to tide Villa over until Kodjia returns – and Akpom could be the ideal option, especially as The Mirror reported in January that Bruce wanted Akpom to join Villa.
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