Aston Villa should consider hijacking Ahmed Musa’s reported move to Hull in January as the Leicester ace could be the missing jigsaw in the hunt for promotion.
A source close to the 25-year-old has told Owngoalnigeria.com that the Foxes striker is open to leaving the King Power Stadium in the next transfer window in search of first-team experience.
It is understood that Championship side Hull are viewed as his most likely destination and he is keen to be playing as he has one eye on the Nigeria squad for the 2018 World Cup.
Musa has fallen down the pecking order behind Jamie Vardy, Shinji Okazaki, Islam Slimani, Leonardo Ulloa and Kelechi Iheanacho.
The centre-forward has made just one senior appearance this campaign, which he scored in during an EFL Cup win over Sheffield United, but has mainly been frustrated on the sidelines.
He is renowned for having blistering pace and has shown in the past he can be prolific at the top level, scoring 54 goals in 168 appearances for Russian club CSKA Moscow.
Villa are currently sixth-placed in the Championship table and the added firepower of Musa could fire them back to the Premier League.
Steve Bruce’s side have a seven-point deficit to make up to the automatic spots, but there is plenty of the time left in the season to do so.
One area that Villa have perhaps looked a little short is in attack and Musa could walk straight into the starting XI if he hits the ground running.
The Midlands giants do have decent players in Scott Hogan and Keinan Davis doing well at the point of attack, but they will probably need a 20-plus goalscorer if they are to achieve their ambition of promotion.
Musa could destroy Championship defences if he adjusts quickly with his lethal pace and finishing.
Villa would be an excellent bet for promotion if they have him in their ranks for the second half of the season and challenging Hull for his signature makes perfect sense.