Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce is very confident that a deal will be reached with Stoke City for Glenn Whelan. The Potters midfielder has been heavily linked with the Villans.
Villa already saw their £500,000 bid rejected for the midfield destroyer and work is going on in full swing for an improved bid. Mark Hughes has already had a prized scalp in defender John Terry who pulled curtains on his long Chelsea career after agreeing on a move to the Villa Park.
Hughes has to work with a reduced transfer budget due to their heavy spending in the last transfer window. Also, the effect of Financial Fair Play means they have to clear some of their wages to make way for some of the new entrants.
Whelan has been a prominent figure at the BET365 Stadium since his move from Sheffield Wednesday in 2008. He started 26 games last season but with the arrival of Darren Fletcher from West Bromwich Albion, he might see limited game time in the upcoming season.
Bruce is an avid admirer of the player and wants to bring him as he is pushing for a promotion in the upcoming season. The Midlands club had a very disappointing season and Bruce is keen to shake up his current squad.
Stoke are well stocked in the midfield section with the likes of Joe Allen, Charlie Adam and Giannelli Imbula available for selection. So Hughes might consider letting the veteran midfielder leave the BET365 Stadium.
Bruce has a serious rival in the pursuit of the midfielder as their fellow Championship club Derby County are also chasing the player. Derby gaffer Gary Rowett is very keen for a midfield enforcer after Will Hughes left the club to join Watford.
Bruce recently emphasised on the signing of a new midfielder. “We made a bid a couple of weeks ago and nothing has changed.
“I think we need to have a little bit more steel and determination and aggression, especially in the Championship. I have left that with the powers that be so that could be the next one hopefully.”
Villa got demoted to the second tier in the 2015/16 season alongside Newcastle United but the latter has already earned a spot in the Premier League by lifting the Championship title.
Chief executive Keith Wyness has also given a hint that the deal is very much on and if he does arrive, the onus will be on Bruce to deliver in the next season.
