OPINION
If Aston Villa achieve promotion back to the Premier League this season, Steve Bruce faces the crucial task of building a squad capable of competing in the top-flight.
So often promoted teams fail to balance their squad with enough players with experience in the top-flight, and end up paying the price with relegation at the end of the season.
One star with massive Premier League experience is of course already in the squad, with John Terry making the right noises about re-signing with Villa if they do reach the big time.
And now, if reports are to be believed, one of his former teammates may be up for grabs this summer, and Villa would do well to swoop for him in a move that could help keep Terry at the club.
As reported by the Telegraph, Chelsea centre-back Gary Cahill is one of nine Blues players on the chopping block this summer as Roman Abramovich takes a hands-on role in a club overhaul.
The 32-year-old has been at Stamford Bridge for five-and-a-half years now, and became an England regular during his time at the club.
Before that, Cahill of course used to play for Villa, graduating from their academy in 2004 and then spending four years on the fringe of the first-team before a move to Bolton followed.
If Bruce were able to secure a Villa Park return for the 6ft 4in stalwart it would be a sensational move that would strengthen this squad massively and put them in a good place ahead of their return to the top-flight.
Cahill has 341 appearances in the Premier League, and allied with Terry’s 492 in the competition, that would be a seriously experienced centre-back partnership.
While the duo may struggle against the division’s top teams who play slick football, that is a defensive duo that could easily secure survival for Villa in their first season back.
With one year left on his Chelsea deal, and with his age of 32 years old taken into account, you would think that Cahill would be available for a reasonable price this summer.
Villa must be ready to swoop for the veteran in what would be a perfect summer deal.