OPINION
Aston Villa are reportedly willing to wave goodbye to midfielder Gary Gardner before Thursday’s 11pm transfer deadline.
The Birmingham Mail claim Steve Bruce has said the 25-year-old can leave by Thursday, with the player yet to feature in any of Villa’s five Championship fixtures this season.
He has fallen down the midfield pecking order behind the likes of Conor Hourihane, Glenn Whelan, Henri Lansbury and Mile Jedinak, but will only be allowed to leave the club on a temporary basis.
A permanent deal is said to be unlikely at this stage, with the midfielder and his representatives now working towards a loan move away from the club before the end of the window.
Gardner has already been sent on loan away from Villa five times in his career to the likes of Coventry City, Sheffield Wednesday, Brighton and twice to Nottingham Forest.
This Is Futbol considers whether a loan move for Gardner will prove to be beneficial for the club, as well as if a deal can be struck sooner rather than later.
Good move for Aston Villa?
Gardner has no chance of gaining first-team football at Villa Park, with the Midlands giants boasting both attacking and defensive midfielders.
Sending him out on loan this summer would see him gain some much-needed game time, with the option of recalling him from such a move in January an option.
Gardner possesses plenty of talent and that level of quality must be maintained by sending him on loan with the chance of returning to the Villa side and having a career under Bruce still a possibility.
It could see him return a better player, or it could see him impress enough to earn a permanent move next summer and provide Villa with a boost to their transfer budget.
This Is Futbol rating: 8/10.
Likely to happen?
With Gardner rocketing down the pecking order following the signings of Whelan and Josh Onomah, the club are likely to allow Gardner to leave if any sides submit an offer.
Although a permanent move is unlikely, allowing him to leave on loan is likely to generate more interest with interested parties looking to secure a bargain and not having to spend money on a transfer fee.
The midfielder and his agent are looking to secure a move and with plenty of Championship experience following his loans and time with Villa, a move to another side in the second tier of English football is likely.
This Is Futbol rating: 9/10.