Aston Villa haven’t had the best of seasons so far in Championship. After almost half the season has gone by, Steve Bruce’s men are in the 13th position in the points table. With the top spot, more likely to be taken by either Newcastle United or Brighton Albion and a four-way battle between Reading, Huddersfield, Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds deciding the third position, ending in the top half would seem like a high note for Bruce.
However, the optimistic among us will point out that Aston Villa are just six points behind Sheffield Wednesday, the last team in promotion play-off positions.
After a horrible start to their campaign, Aston Villa finally looks to find some form now. Bruce is eyeing reinforcements in the coming transfer window as teams move towards a more hectic schedule next year with FA Cup starting, where the Villans have been pitted in a huge fixture against Tottenham Hotspur early January.
Although getting goals hasn’t been a problem for Bruce lately with their forwards bagging a goal or two quite often to keep the team’s position intact, Bruce doesn’t have someone who can score in big games under pressure. Bruce has been well aware of that and is keeping tabs on his options.
One of their prime targets for the forward role has been Brentford target, Scott Hogan. With Bruce known to be long-term of the striker. However, as per latest reports, Reading have made a bid for the player and given their league position and chances for qualifying in the top-flight football, Villa could well miss out on the quality striker if they don’t make a move fast.
Brentford has been offered £9m by Reading for the 24-year-old forward and Brentford are unlikely to hold on to their star striker for long. Hogan has been brilliant in Championship where he has scored 13 goals in 22 games so far. Given the fact that he has just returned from a serious injury that kept him out for two years, such form speaks volumes of the speaker.
It was in August 2014 that Hogan suffered a tear in his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, a career-threatening injury. But, he has made quite an inspiring comeback as he has done most of his footballing career. After down to non-league with Woodley Sports, when Rochdale released him, Hogan again worked his way up the ranks making Woodley Sports, Halifax Town, Mossley and many other clubs his stepping stones. He again regained a place in Rochdale before he finally moved to Brentford.
Despite his stint there shortened by injuries, he seems to be a natural, scoring whenever and wherever he has been asked to come in. Even big clubs like Leicester City had their eyes on him once.
Bruce plays with two strikers up front and when Hogan would partner Jonathan Kodija up front, Villa would have a brutal force to deal with.
