OPINION
Steve Bruce would take a mammoth leap in his search for a fifth career promotion from the Championship with Aston Villa by rivalling Burnley in their reported pursuit of Tom Lees.
The Daily Mail claims the Clarets are looking to sign 26-year-old defender Lees with Michael Keane set to leave Turf Moor and join Premier League rivals Everton in the summer for a fee of £31million.
It has seen Burnley manager Sean Dyche draw up a number of options to replace Manchester United trainee Keane, with one of those bring £5million-rated defender Lees.
Bruce is yet to make a permanent signing at Aston Villa this summer but is expected to add to his squad this summer in order to gain promotion at the second attempt to the Premier League come May 2018.
This Is Futbol analyses three reasons why Lees would give Villa the foundation to go on and do that next season by forming a partnership with captain James Chester.