McLeish tips Terry to pull the strings and seal two marquee Aston Villa signings
Alex McLeish has tipped John Terry to call in a favour at Chelsea to secure marquee signings for Aston Villa this summer.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Scotland boss suggested Dean Smith cold rely on Terry to pull a few strings at his former club.
According to The Daily Star, Dean Smith wants to sign Chelsea and England duo Loftus-Cheek and Abraham this summer.
The Villans reportedly want to sign the midfielder on loan due to his injury record, although Southampton are also said to be keen.
Terry is reputedly a big fan of the 25-year-old and wants to convince him of the benefits of a temporary move to Villa Park.
McLeish believes Smith’s assistant manager could prove vital in Villa’s pursuit of the England international.
“I think there is very much a connection there,” McLeish told Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge.
“When you know a particular name at your previous club, then you can call those favours in. That is quite prevalent in the game.
“You’ve always got contacts at your old clubs, especially when you’ve been a bit of legend there.”
Terry and Loftus-Cheek played alongside each other 13 times during their spell together at Chelsea.
The midfielder is contracted to Chelsea until 2024.
He suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in 2019 which kept him out for the majority of the 2019/20 campaign.
He spent the 2020-21 season on loan at Fulham and made 31 appearances for the Cottagers.
In other news, Aston Villa have set sights on signing a giant striker from Premier League rivals.