When Aston Villa announced the managerial appointment of Steve Bruce just over a month ago, the consensus was that the Villans had got their hands on the best candidate possible.
Considering Bruce had been a candidate for the England job amidst Gareth Southgate’s interim reign, Villa fans were forced to forget his Birmingham City connection while thinking about the practicalities of appointing him.
Unbeaten in five games since he took the reigns at Villa Park, Bruce has immediately made Aston Villa more of a difficult side to beat and the former Hull City boss will now be looking for a strong middle and third of the season.
In 14th place in the Championship right now but only five points off sixth-placed Leeds United in the playoffs, an immediate Premier League return is still on but it will all come down to how consistent Aston Villa are.
Having been there and done it in getting Hull City through the Championship playoffs last season, Villans fans will be hoping he can get the West Midlands giants up any which way this term.
Yet to put his own stamp on this Aston Villa side, we expect Bruce to be busy in the January transfer window and with chairman Tony Xia having put his money where his mouth is in the summer, there could be multiple arrivals.
With this in mind, This Is Futbol have devised a list of the FIVE most believable Villans January transfer rumours.