Veteran defender James Collins has agreed the terms of a short-term Aston Villa contract, according to a reliable journalist.
The Daily Mail’s Midlands correspondent Laurie Whitwell reported on his personal Twitter account early on Friday afternoon that the former West Ham player is set to sign the deal next week.
Whitwell explained that the contract will run for a five-week period and he’s set to be available for the West Brom fixture next week and over the festive period.
James Collins has agreed 5-week #avfc contract. Expect it to be signed next week so he’s available for #wba game and over Xmas period. More @MailSport soon
— Laurie Whitwell (@lauriewhitwell) November 30, 2018
OPINION
This imminent deal is certainly a turn-up for the books. Collins, who has been a free agent since leaving West Ham over the summer, is 35 and has not played since May. Quite what his condition will be is unknown, but the centre-back has a lorry load of experience at the highest level, including 279 Premier League appearances, as well as an attitude that has drawn praise from all his managers over the years. Villa are certainly in need of defensive reinforcements, and it is no coincidence that the club have agreed terms with Collins after shipping five goals against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night and two against Birmingham City last weekend. In total, Villa have conceded 30 goals from 17 league matches this season, the most of any club in the top 15, and they will not get promoted if they continue to be so leaky. Collins will certainly be a popular signing after an impressive three-year spell at the club from 2009 to 2012 when they were in the Premier League.