Aston Villa are prepared to make a move for Yeovil Town defender Tom James this summer. According to recent reports, the Villans are ready to secure the services of the Welsh right-back when the transfer window opens in the summer. The 22-year-old has put in some eye-catching displays at Huish Park after sealing a move from Cardiff City in the January transfer window.
Some sources are also claiming that the Villans are not the only ones looking to land the League Two youngster with Bristol City also keeping tabs on his progress this season. It is believed that Villa manager Steve Bruce is eager to add to his squad in the off-season and has identified James as an ideal candidate to take up the full-back duties at Villa Park, whether they are able to earn a promotion back to the Premier League or not.
James, who turned 22 on Saturday, has made 45 appearances for the Glovers this season, scoring once while providing two assists in all competitions. The Welsh defender is extremely versatile and can play anywhere across the backline. James primarily operates as a right-back but can also feature on the left-hand side of the backline or as a central defender which makes him a perfect fit for any of his potential suitors.
The Villans are currently occupying the 4th spot in the English Championship table with a tally of 79 points in 43 league matches. The West Midlands team are well in contention to clinch a playoff place this season but they need to strengthen their squad in the summer in order to have a better campaign next term.
The addition of James will undoubtedly bolster Bruce’s defensive options as they look to improve on their league performance next season. Villa have the likes of Alan Hutton and Ahmed Elmohamady vying for a place in the Villans first-team. The potential signing of James will definitely add more competition for places in their squad.
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At 22, he still has a lot of time to grow and develop his game and with Villa, set to offer him a platform to showcase his talents at the Championship level, it is a move that makes sense for all parties. It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of James and whether he ends up making a switch to Villa Park in the near future.
