OPINION
After years of ups and downs for the midlands sides, Aston Villa and West Brom find themselves both battling for promotion from the Championship this season.
The Baggies have enjoyed a bright first half of the campaign after relegation and are among those in the hunt for the second tier title, while the Villans have toiled in the middle of the table and currently sit 13th as they look to reach another play off final.
In a curious turn of events, both teams have seen one of their attacking stars leave the club this month, with Harvey Barnes returning to Leicester City from the Hawthorns while Yannick Bolasie left for Goodison Park after his first half a season on loan from Everton at Villa.
It means that both sides are likely to be seeking a new recruit to fill the gaping voids left in their respective squad and Football Insider have claimed that the Baggies are closing in on Newcastle United winger Harvey Barnes to fix the problem.
If Villa mean business this season, they need to be hijacking the deal – for Murphy can be a game changer for Dean Smith’s men.
Fast, direct and with great close control on the ball, Murphy’s confidence will have been dented during his spell at St James’ Park and a return to the Championship this month makes perfect sense for the former Norwich man.
Where Bolasie was an experienced option who did the basics well, the Magpies’ wide man would bring an injection of youth and flair to a side lacking in creativity and inventiveness.
Villa should be able to offer the promise of regular game time – by no means a guarantee in an already exciting West Brom attack – and as such a hijack deal could be pulled off.
It is what Villa really need this month to get their promotion hopes back on track.