Villa ready to do deal on striker as three Champ clubs are linked

Dave Tindall

Aston Villa striker Keinan Davis is a target for Swansea City, Huddersfield Town and Derby County, according to a report.

The 22-year-old hasn’t started for Villa in the Premier League this season.

But he has been used as a late substitute in their last two matches. That was the 1-1 draw at Chelsea and narrow 2-1 defeat at Manchester United.

In the latter he almost made a dramatic impact. Deep into injury-time Davis had a chance to equalise but Eric Bailly made a dramatic block to keep his effort out.

Davis did find the net in the 3-1 EFL Cup victory over Burton in September.

He was also a substitute in that match but did start the ties against Bristol City and Stoke.

However, Dean Smith clearly seems him as a back-up option for now. So the question is whether he’d benefit from more first-team football in the Championship.

That could mean a loan move in the January transfer window.

According to The Athletic, the Championship trio of Swansea, Huddersfield and Derby are showing interest.

They also add that he could be on the radar of two other second-tier clubs – Stoke and Preston North End.

It seems a win-win. Plenty of Championship clubs want to boost their attacking options as they push for promotion. And Davis wants game time.

The 22-year-old is still seen as a part of Villa’s future plans. And last summer they awarded him a new contract until 2024.

Davis has seen chances reduced

Keinan Davis TEAMtalk

Davis made his Villa debut as a teenager. That was against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup in January 2017.

He made 28 appearances in the Championship in 2017/18, scoring twice, although managed just five in their promotion season of 2018/2019.

The Stevenage-born frontman did see a fair chunk of action last season when making 23 appearances in total, including 18 in the Premier League.

But he didn’t manage to get on the scoresheet.

With Villa having plenty of attacking options for now, he appears to have fallen down the pecking order.