Manager planning weekend clash without Aston Villa-bound player – reliable journalist
By Amir Mir
Aston Villa bound Conor Hourihane will not feature for Barnsley against Rotherham on Saturday, according to a reliable journalist.
BBC Radio Sheffield journalist Jonathan Buchan has claimed on his personal Twitter account that Tykes manager Paul Heckingbottom has said that he is planning the game without the playmaker.
Heckingbottom has already sold right-back James Bree to their Championship rivals as another sale could be on the cards.
Buchan has not stated that he has been told by the Barnsley boss that Hourihane will play no part against Rotherham “as he edges closer to Villa move”.
Villa are looking to add strength to their squad during the January transfer window as they prepare for a push up the Championship table.
They purchased two players on Wednesday, firstly Bree, then Icelandic international and Basel midfielder Birkir Bjarnason.
The duo take Villa’s incomings this month to four, following the arrivals of Sam Johnstone on loan from Manchester United and Nottingham Forest captain Henri Lansbury on a permanent basis.
Football Insider verdict:
If Villa can get the Hourihane deal over the line then it might be the best signing they have made so far this month. The playmaker has not only been Barnsley’s best player this season but one of the best performers in the Championship. His ability to pass the ball forward, play in behind strikers and cause havoc during set pieces will cause the opposition problems. His addition will give Bruce a much-needed boost on who to select in the midfield after starting his reign at the club struggling to find the right formula in the middle of the park. Hourihane would most likely fit alongside Henri Lansbury with the combative Australian, Mile Jedinak sitting in front of the defence.
In other Aston Villa transfer news, Stan Collymore delivers his verdict on the club’s new Icelandic star.
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