Aston Villa failed to endure the animosity the top tier of English football had on offer the last term, succumbing to the Championship in meek fashion. Their season in the second tier hasn’t been anything spectacular either, as they are positioned in the thirteenth spot on the league table and already nine points away from the nearest play-off spot which has left them in a pretty awkward position as far as their journey back to the Premier League is concerned.
The Villans are leaking a plenty of goals and to make a serious surge for the remainder of the season to ensure they finish in the top six, they need to tighten the screws at the back. Without a resolute defensive unit, it is hard to imagine any side not faltering in a league campaign. Steve Bruce has an uphill task ahead of him and he needs to do something very soon. Apparently, he is looking forward to sign Queens Park Rangers’ defender, Darnell Furlong in the ongoing transfer window to solve the defensive woes.
The 21-year-old right-back is one of the most prized assets at Loftus Road. He came through the ranks of QPR, having played for Northampton Town, Cambridge United and Swindon Town whilst on loan from the London-based club. Wherever he had been shipped, he delivered on a consistent basis, not shying away from his responsibilities.
The youngster’s spell at Swindon Town during the first half of the season was brilliant, as he scored twice and assisted on five occasions in 25 appearances and no wonder Aston Villa are keeping a close eye on him.
However, the full-back has been handed merely one appearance since his return to Loftus Road and teams are queuing up for his signature. Furlong is a right-back who loves to maraud forward and is much more inclined towards catering to the offensive needs of the side, though that doesn’t mean that he leaves the defence exposed to exploitation by the opponents’ attackers.
Interestingly, Furlong’s contract expires in the summer and thus, the Hoops might be tempted to sell him this month if Bruce tables a decent bid, though there may be teams having the defender under their radar. With how Aston Villa are poised in the league table coupled with Ritchie De Laet’s injury, Bruce only has Alan Hutton up his sleeve, so he should make Furlong a top priority signing if he wants his team to make a late dash for the playoff spots.
