Stoke City have had an opening offer worth £5 million for James Chester rejected by Aston Villa, according to a report from the Mirror.
Chester was a vital cog in Steve Bruce’s Villa side throughout the course of last season but in light of the club’s recent financial struggles, it seems it is inevitable that the Welshman will be offloaded this summer.
Villa are under significant pressure from Financial Fair Play guidelines and will be forced into selling key players, such as Jack Grealish and perhaps Chester, to ensure that enough funds are raised to comply with the regulations.
Wales international Chester is a man in demand this summer, with various clubs already linked with moves for the player. However, it seems Villa are not willing to let the defender go cheaply, with news emerging of a £5m bid from Stoke having been rejected in recent times.
The Potters are out to add to their defensive ranks as they look to bounce back to the Premier League at the first time of asking next season.
