{"id":567032,"date":"2020-09-24T03:10:55","date_gmt":"2020-09-24T07:10:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=567032"},"modified":"2020-09-24T03:10:55","modified_gmt":"2020-09-24T07:10:55","slug":"report-aston-villa-target-chelsea-midfielder-on-loan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/09\/24\/report-aston-villa-target-chelsea-midfielder-on-loan\/","title":{"rendered":"REPORT: Aston Villa Target Chelsea Midfielder on Loan"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Aston Villa<\/a> manager Dean Smith is looking to bring a Chelsea<\/a> midfielder on a season-long loan to Villa Park, according to John Percy at The Telegraph.<\/a><\/p>\n

Smith’s focus has now turned to bringing in a ‘number 8’, with Ross Barkley<\/a> or Ruben Loftus-Cheek<\/a> the most likely to make the switch from Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n

Aston Villa Looking to Sign Chelsea Midfielder<\/h2>\n

Ross Barkley or Ruben Loftus-Cheek Could Join the Villa<\/h3>\n

Ross Barkley has been in and out of the team since Frank Lampard’s arrival at Chelsea, so securing a regular spot in the Villa side could boost his England chances. He has, however, featured as a substitute in both of the Blues Premier League matches, and made 31 appearances in all competition last season.<\/p>\n

According to Percy, Chelsea are demanding that Smith’s side pay Barkley’s \u00a3120,000 per week wages in full, something which Villa are hesitant to agree to.<\/p>\n

Loftus-Cheek, however, could also be an option for Smith. The 24-year-old had an injury-hit season last year but started Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Brighton & Hove Albion.<\/a><\/p>\n

Either signing would add a huge improvement to Villa’s midfielder. Both players are relatively young but already have plenty of top-flight experience. This is something Smith’s side lacked last season as they returned to the Premier League.<\/p>\n

Villa Signings So Far<\/h3>\n

So far, Dean Smith has made four major signings. Ollie Watkins<\/a> arrived from Brentford, Emiliano Martinez<\/a> from Arsenal<\/a>, Bertrand Traore<\/a> from Olympique Lyonnais and Matty Cash<\/a> from Nottingham Forest.<\/p>\n

Unlike last season, Smith appears to have spent both wisely and logically. Last summer, the club spent in excess of \u00a3100 million on a number of players that failed to perform. But, this season, all of his signings look like they are well thought out.<\/p>\n

The arrival of a young yet experienced Chelsea midfielder would further boost Villa’s chances of a more progressive season that last year, where they avoided relegation on the final day.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Main Photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>