OPINION
Aston Villa must make an attempt to sign Jack Colback from Newcastle United in the summer transfer window.
Colback, 29, has been on loan at Nottingham Forest this season and has been one of the most impressive players at the City Ground.
He may be up for grabs at the end of he season once his loan deal in the East Midlands expires as he will be entering the final 12 months of his £40,000-a-week [Chronicle] deal with Newcastle and, as reported by the Chronicle [12:11pm], he has fallen out with manager Rafa Benitez.
Aston Villa could yet win a shock promotion to the Premier League, but at the moment, even the most hardened of Villa supporter would have to admit that another season in the Championship is looking more likely.
Colback has been a steady operator in the second-tier for Forest and he could be a cracking signing if Dean Smith snaps him up in the summer.
Glenn Whelan and Mile Jedinak are both approaching the ends of their contracts, according to transfermarkt, and defensive midfielder Colback would be a good natural replacement for either of them.
He has marshalled the Forest midfield well this term, appearing 33 times across all competitions, and impressing in games against the likes of West Brom and Leeds United, two teams who have been up there at the top-end of the table all season.
The former Sunderland midfielder has been playing well at Forest, could be available for a very cheap deal and would slot in perfectly to replace two players who could leave Villa Park in June.
It’s an absolute no-brainer for Smith if Villa fail to win promotion.