Exclusive: Aston Villa goalscoring midfielder seals deadline day transfer
Match

Exclusive: Aston Villa goalscoring midfielder seals deadline day transfer

Wayne Veysey
Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

Published on: 

EXCLUSIVE By Pete O'Rourke

Aston Villa midfielder Gary Gardner is closing in on a move to Barnsley, Football Insider can reveal.

Gardner is currently not in the starting line-up at Villa and the 25-year-old is ready to move on in search of regular first-team football.

A well-placed source has told Football Insider that a number of Championship clubs have shown an interest in Gardner, but Barnsley are in pole position to land the goalscoring midfielder, who is a product of the club's academy.

The former England Under-21 international has made only one appearance in the League Cup this season in the 4-1 win over Wigan.

The all-action midfielder was regarded as one of the best prospects when he broke into the Villa side as a teenager, but several changes to management personnel have held up the progress.

Gardner made 27 appearances in all competitions for Villa last season, scoring a spectacular goal for the club in the 1-1 derby draw with Birmingham City in October, but Villa boss Steve Bruce is happy to let him move to free up space in his squad.

Barnsley boss Paul Heckingbottom is a big fan of Gardner and sees him as being a key addition to his plans at Oakwell.

In other Aston Villa transfer news, the club have ambushed Leeds' attempt to sign a £59,000-a-week ace.

We’ve launched a << BREAKING NEWS FEED>> exclusively for your club. ‘Like Us’ on Facebook by clicking here if you want 24/7 updates on all Aston Villa breaking news.

Aston Villa
Gary Gardner
www.footballinsider247.com