Aston Villa defender James Chester completed a loan transfer to Championship side Stoke City last month, as confirmed on BBC Sport.
The centre-back recently admitted that he made the move in an attempt to get more playing time from now until the end of the season.
Stoke boss Michael O’Neill has remained tight-lipped regarding a potential permanent move for the centre-back. As quoted on the Stoke Sentinel, he said:
He was very keen to come here, which was positive because when we spoke to other players they maybe didn’t have that same enthusiasm.
Come the summer, it depends on how things progress between now and then to see if it becomes a more permanent deal. Whether it’s what James wants and what the club wants.
READ ASTON VILLA VERDICT
Chester has been struggling for fitness recently and only made two appearances for Villa this season, one in the Carabao Cup and the other in the FA Cup.
We feel that if Chester can improve his fitness and form at Stoke until the end of the season, then Villa should keep him next season because of his immense experience of English football.
The Welshman has played 126 times for Villa and if Dean Smith’s side manage to stay in the top-flight, then we believe he could be a regular starter at the back for them.
His current Villa deal also expires at the end of the season so we believe the club need to make their intentions about his future clear or they could risk losing him for free in July.
