EXCLUSIVE: Aston Villa lining up double deal for Middlesbrough stars

Aston Villa are considering a double deal with Middlesbrough as they eye Britt Assombalonga and Darren Randolph, we can reveal.

Villa have lost striker Wesley and goalkeeper Tom Heaton to long-term injuries, and they are looking at options for January and the Boro pair are on their radar.

Randolph is the subject of an approach for his former club West Ham and the emergence of Aynsley Pears means Boro are more open to the prospect of allowing the 32-year-old to leave.

A revitalised Boro are not keen on losing their top performers, but it could allow them to bolster Jonathan Woodgate’s options.

Top-scorer Assombalonga has been struggling with injuries in recent weeks, and Boro have coped well without him, so should they receive an offer close to their valuation of £10million – it may be hard for them to say no to.

Meanwhile, Villa boss Dean Smith has reiterated that Jack Grealish will not be leaving the club this month, insisting that “people can keep looking but they can’t touch”.

Having played a huge part in Villa’s promotion to the Premier League last season, the Englishman has adapted impressively to the step up in class with six goals and five assists in 19 appearances so far this term.

 

Indeed, Grealish was at the centre of his side’s 2-1 win over Burnley on New Years’ Day; despite having a goal ruled out for offside by VAR, the midfielder was not to be denied and netted to secure his side three points.

Such performances have seen him linked with a move to Manchester United, with Friday’s newspapers claiming that boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has him on a four-man list of midfield targets.

However, speaking at a press conference on Friday, Smith was quick to play down the speculation, saying that Grealish will be going nowhere any time soon. Read more…