Aston Villa are plotting an £8million swoop to re-sign Barry Bannan from Sheffield Wednesday in the January transfer window, according to the Mirror.
The newspaper claims that Dean Smith has identified the 28-year-old as the player who he wants to make his first signing at Villa Park as he believes the midfielder should never been allowed to leave Villa Park in the first place.
It is understood that Smith sees Bannan as someone to add extra creativity in his side as since arriving at Hillsborough in 2015, the Scotland international has been in the form of his life.
Good move for Aston Villa?
Bannan has been terrific for Sheffield Wednesday and Smith would be playing a blinder if he was able to lure the midfielder back to the West Midlands in January.
If he is able to get the deal done for £8million, it’s a no-brainer because there has not been as many consistent performers in the Championship over the last three years as Bannan.
He is always involved in Wednesday’s best player and while the stats do not show it in goals and assists, there is no one more influential than him at Hillsborough.
Villa absolutely must get this deal wrapped up.
This is Futbol rating 9/10
Likely to happen?
Bannan is a key player for the Owls but the lure of re-signing for his old club may prove to hard to resist.
While Villa are lower in the Championship table, the West Midlands club also represents a more likely route to promotion and that could also be another reason why this deal may happen.
Sheffield Wednesday would probably want more than £8million, but even if he costs up to £12million, Smith has to try and get Bannan back on board.
This is Futbol rating 8/10