Exclusive: Prem hopefuls Burnley target Aston Villa midfielder

Pete O'Rourke
Ashley Westwood: Being monitored by Burnley

Ashley Westwood: Being monitored by Burnley

Aston Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood is a target for Burnley if they win promotion to the Premier League, sources have told www.teamtalk.com.

Promotion-chasing Burnley are drawing up a list of transfer targets should they be successful in their bid to return to the Premier League next season.

Burnley are currently top of the Championship on goal difference and are in a three-way battle with Middlesbrough and Brighton & Hove Albion for the two automatic promotion spots.

Villa are expected to lose a number of their players this summer in the wake of their relegation to the Championship following a disastrous campaign in the Premier League and Westwood could be one of several departures.

Westwood, who scored twice in Saturday’s 4-2 defeat to Southampton, has established himself as a key player in the side since his arrival at Villa Park from Crewe in the summer of 2012.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche is thought to be an admirer of Westwood and is ready to move for the 26-year-old if they win promotion and offer the midfielder the chance to stay in the Premier League.