OPINION
Aston Villa may have been given a boost in their hopes of re-signing defender Tyrone Mings, after Bournemouth announced the signing of a potential replacement.
Mings joined Villa on loan from Bournemouth at the end of the January transfer window, and the defender’s commanding presence has been a huge influence for Dean Smith’s side in the second half of the campaign.
The 26-year-old has helped to make Villa’s defence much more difficult to score against, with Smith’s side conceding just 15 Championship goals between February and May since Mings’ arrival at the end of January.
That has made a massive difference to Villa’s season, with Smith managing to guide his sides to the play-offs with a fifth place finish after a club record run of ten consecutive league wins, which was ended with a 1-1 at Leeds at the end of April.
Aston Villa beat local rivals West Bromwich Albion in their two-legged play-off semi-final to advance to the Championship final at Wembley where they will face Derby County.
Smith’s side are hoping to re-sign Mings on a permanent deal this summer according to a report from the Express, but their chances of making the deal permanent could depend on whether Bournemouth decide they need to keep hold of the 26-year-old.
However, the prospects of Villa managing to secure a permanent move for Mings might have been aided by Bournemouth completing the signing of defender Lloyd Kelly from Bristol City, according to the Birmingham Mail.
Although it is thought that Villa’s chances of signing the defender could well depend on whether Smith’s side manage to win their Championship play-off final against Derby and earn promotion to the Premier League.
If Villa do manage to sign Mings on a permanent transfer this summer it would be an excellent addition, with the defender already a firm favourite amongst the club’s supporters, and having already demonstrated his ability to help improve Smith’s sides defence.
It looks like for now Villa will have to wait and keep monitoring Mings’ situation at Bournemouth, but the arrival of Kelly could see Eddie Howe allow one of his other defenders to leave the club this summer, and if Smith’s side secure promotion they will very keen to ensure a permanent move for the 26-year-old can be sorted.