Aston Villa and West Brom still battling for Tyrone Mings deal
Villa remain locked in a battle with Albion for the signature of Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings.
Nottingham Forest also retain an interest in the 25-year-old, who is destined to leave the Cherries on loan before Thursday’s transfer deadline.
But it is the West Midlands which remains his most likely destination, with the rival clubs both still in talks with the Premier League club over a deal.
Villa boss Boss Dean Smith believes the imposing Mings, who stands 6ft 4in tall, can bring a much-needed physical presence and leadership to a defence which has already leaked 46 goals this season.
The former Ipswich man’s ability to play at either left-back or centre-back is also thought to appeal, due to skipper James Chester’s continuing struggles with a knee problem.
Goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic and defender Kortney Hause remain Smith’s only signings of the window to date. An approach for Leicester City left-back Christian Fuchs is understood to have been rebuffed last week.
Villa have appointed Nicola Ibbetson as their new chief commercial officer, the latest step in the club’s off-field restructure.
Ibbetson has joined from Chelsea, where she previously worked with Villa chief executive Christian Purslow. She replaces Luke Organ, who was axed last month as part of a major shake-up aimed at boosting revenue streams.
A chartered accountant, Ibbetson also spent three years at Manchester United, where she worked on the world-record £750million kit sponsorship deal with Adidas.
