OPINION
Aston Villa are on the hunt for a free agent defender as Steve Bruce looks to shore up a back line that is in desperate need of reinforcement.
The Villans have been linked with players like John Terry, Robert Huth and James Collins in recent weeks, with all three veterans looking for a new club after entering free agency.
However, a move for any of these experienced operators has not yet materialised, and the club have now been linked with another name who is available.
According to West London Sport, Steve Bruce is now considering handing Steven Caulker a trial after the former Tottenham and Liverpool ace saw his contract at Dundee terminated over the summer.
While Caulker, at 26 years old, may offer a more long-term option than the other players available, this is a move which will go no way towards solving Villa’s problems at the back.
The former Tottenham enforcer has played for five clubs since his departure from north London for Cardiff in 2013, and has shown little signs of being able to stick around for long at all.
The hype that surrounded him as a youngster was obviously badly misplaced, and Caulker has done very little to illustrate that he is good enough to play at the top level.
A move to Dundee last season was a low point, and despite impressing for the Scottish Premiership club, he saw his contract ripped up over the summer after a breach of discipline.
Caulker has previously admitted he has struggled with mental health, addiction and gambling problems, and while he most certainly deserves a chance to stake his claim, it is doubtful he will be a good signing for Villa in footballing terms.
Bruce’s side need someone with experience, someone who has been there and done it at the top level.
Caulker’s introduction would introduce more problems than solutions, and Villa must immediately scrap any thought of this happening as soon as possible.