Report: Aston Villa close in on triple transfer swoop, Champions League ace to sign

Tue 24 January 2017 20:28, UK

By Amir Mir

Aston Villa are set to complete a triple transfer swoop as Icelandic midfielder Birkir Bjarnason prepares to have a medical at the club on Wednesday, according to a report.

The Birmingham Mail claim that Villa are close to announcing the deals for Barnsley duo Conor Hourihane and James Bree along with Bjarnason, who has agreed to join the club.

It is said the 28-year-old Icelandic international will join from Swiss side Basel and add to the growing list of January arrivals for manager Steve Bruce.

Bjarnason has played in the Champions League this season on five occasions and has played 20 games in all competitions for his current side, scoring four goals and supplying two assists.

If all three players were to be signed then it would take Villa’s transfer incomings to five this month after the captures of Henri Lansbury and Sam Johnstone on loan.

It is also said that the deal for Tykes right-back Bree could be announced on Tuesday, while the transfer of his teammate, Hourihane could be completed the following day.

Football Insider verdict:

Attracting a player that is currently playing Champions League football is a great capture by the Championship club. If all three deals were to go through then it would signal Villa’s intent of wanting to claim a top six spot come the end of the current Championship campaign. Not only is Bruce adding quality to his team, but he is adding quantity which is needed during a gruelling campaign in the second tier. Icelandic midfielder Bjarnason has vasts amount of experience in Europe and can play in various positions across the midfield. Furthermore, he can also play on the left-hand side which will solve one of Villa’s problematic areas.