OPINION
Aston Villa are reportedly interested in luring Newcastle’s unsettled midfielder Jack Colback to Villa Park this summer in a bid to kickstart their Championship campaign.
The Evening Chronicle claims that Rafa Benitez’s Toon are willing to listen to offers for the 27-year-old midfielder, with Villa said to be keen in securing the former Sunderland star’s signature.
It is said that Colback is just one of a number of Newcastle stars who could leave this summer, with Benitez informing Grant Hanley, Massadio Haidara, Achraf Lazaar, Henri Saivet, Tim Krul and Manu Riviere to find new clubs.
Colback was a regular fixture of the Newcastle side last season, making 34 appearances in all competitions as the Toon earned an instant return to the Premier League.
However, he is now set to leave St. James’ Park with Aston Villa said to be interested in the midfielder after allowing Leandro Bacuna to join Championship rivals Reading.
Here, This Is Futbol considers whether Colback would be a good signing at Aston Villa, and how likely Steve Bruce is to complete a deal to sign the left-footed ace.
Good move for Aston Villa?
Villa have begun their 2017-18 campaign in dismal fashion, picking up only one Championship point from three matches, suffering losses to Reading and Cardiff and are in desperate need of inspiration.
New signing Glenn Whelan has struggled to find his feet in claret and blue, while Henri Lansbury is not churning out the kind of performances he did at Nottingham Forest.
Adding Colback into the mix, who possesses promotion experience following last season’s triumph with Newcastle, would boost the Villa squad both on and off the pitch.
Able to offer cover on the left side of defence too, Colback would be more than useful to Bruce after the club decided to sell Jordan Amavi to Marseille. A top signing, for many different reasons.
This Is Futbol rating: 9/10.
Likely to happen?
Colback has been left out of Newcastle’s 25-man squad as Benitez looks to build a side capable of steering clear of Premier League relegation this season.
The report claims that Benitez is willing to listen to offers for Colback, but it remains to be seen how much owner Tony Xia will allow his manager to spend.
Villa are yet to spend huge amounts of money this summer, with Chris Samba and John Terry joining for nothing, while Sam Johnstone and Josh Onomah have been signed on loan.
Only Whelan and Ahmed El-Mohamady have seen the club spend money on a transfer fee, but both players are believed to have cost the club less than £3million.
If Villa can lure Colback to Villa Park for less than £5million this summer, then they will be landing a bargain but it remains to be seen if Xia is willing to part with a such a fee.
This Is Futbol rating: 6/10.