Villa target Premier League striker loans in January
Aston Villa are targeting a number of Premier League strikers to sign on loan in January, according to the Birmingham Mail.
With Jonathan Kodjia out injured long-term, Villa need to sign a striker to help them in their play-off push for the second half of the season.
Despite being a Championship club, manager Steve Bruce believes that the club’s history can attract experienced Premier League players.
The Villans will be looking at loan deals as Bruce claims he “doesn’t have millions to spend”, and a number of names have made his list.
Swansea’s Oliver McBurnie was linked, but the Mail understands that Villa are looking for more experience.
Former target Nakhi Wells is being considered, with the Bermudan forward currently out of favour at Turf Moor.
Leicester’s Leonardo Ulloa is also in Villa’s thoughts, as is Liverpool’s Danny Ings, although the latter could prove difficult with a number of interested Premier League clubs.
Having already lured a number of Premier League players to Villa Park in the summer, namely in Sam Johnstone, Josh Onomah and Robert Snodgrass, Bruce is confident he can do so again.
Bruce said;
It’s like playing for a Premier League club here because of the size of the club, the facilities and the crowd and the atmosphere we create every week at Villa Park.
We’re looking at loans because we haven’t got the luxury of spending millions.
It’s easier if you’ve got a bit of money to try to buy a centre forward or whatever you need, which at the moment we haven’t got (money).
It’s vitally important that we still have to be on our guard.
Can we be creative? Can we find somebody? I’m sure this club will enable me to do it.”
Villa will be thankful that Scott Hogan is now back in contention, although they will still look to strengthen in January as look to return to the Premier League.