OPINION
To say things did not go as expected for Aston Villa over the summer would be something of an understatement, but they appear to have their season back on track after a worrying start under Steve Bruce.
Their financial woes meant they were unable to make the sort of signings they would have liked and were left scouring for late deals to bolster their side.
One man they missed out on was Liverpool’s Ben Woodburn, with the Birmingham Mail claiming that the Villains were beaten to his loan capture by Championship rivals Sheffield United in the hunt for the 19-year-old.
However, eight appearances have not garnered a single goal or assist for the Welsh sensation and it seems as though a lack of proper game time, with just 10 minutes in the Blades’ last eight second tier fixtures, could lead to his parent club tearing up his deal.
Goal claim that the Reds want him to pick up more action than he currently is and are considering triggering the clause which allows them to cancel his loan spell in the January window – and were that to be the case then Villa could be the club to rescue him from his nightmare end to 2018.
A versatile attacking midfielder, he might not be what the club desperately need but the fact they were keen before his move to Sheffield demonstrates he could bring something to the side.
A confidence boost would bring the best back out of him, with his belief likely to have been dented during his current loan spell, and Dean Smith seems like the sort of boss to get players firing on all cylinders with some good man management.
It is not a risk free deal but certainly one which would help bolster their hopes of promotion, and they must not let his faltering career at Sheffield United put them off what would be an exciting swoop.