OPINION
It would have come as no surprise to anyone if Aston Villa had been reported to be chasing three free agents at the start of summer thanks to their financial meltdown but it is instead the present day where the Villans are said to be eyeing up a bargain.
Specifically, Steve Bruce is said to be looking for a new centre back to fill the gaping hole that has been left due to John Terry’s exit at the end of his contract as well as Tommy Elphick’s loan departure for Hull City.
The lack of options at the heart of the defence have seen the Daily Star claim that Villa are plotting to take Terry, who is still without a club, back to the midlands, with the same publication linking James Collins and the Birmingham Mail Robert Huth as serious options to plug the void.
However, the Daily Star’s report states that Bruce’s side are willing to pay the former England and Chelsea man a shockingly high wage of £60,000-a-week (£3.1million-a-year) to secure his return – and if that is the case, they should be looking at signing both Collins and Huth instead.
They often say two heads are better than one and when there is such a deficiency of centre backs – James Chester and Axel Tuanzebe the only recognised pair – snapping up the pair who left the Premier League this summer makes much more sense.
It should not be a hard sell either; With Collins picking up £35,000-a-week (Source: Spotrac) and Huth £38,000-a-week (source: Spotrac), the club could surely haggle their way to two £30,000-a-week deals – half of what Terry is said to be demanding for double the talent.
Quality in depth is crucial to a successful push for Championship promotion and quite frankly, Villa do not have that right now, but they could do if Huth and Collins both came aboard.
Two for the price of one? It is a no brainer.