Aston Villa signing Arter would give them a clear midfield upgrade on Whelan

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Aston Villa are among the clubs chasing a summer deal for Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter, according to the Irish Independent.

They report that a queue has formed for the Irish international, who spent last season on loan at Cardiff, with Villa joined by Championship clubs Fulham and Stoke City in the chase.

Villa are of course the only ones who can offer Premier League football and the report also says that Arter has a ‘lucrative’ deal at the Vitality Stadium – which top flight cash would likely make it easier to match.

The report goes on to say that because Eddie Howe is looking to reshape his Cherries squad, the transfer fee for Arter may be ‘relatively modest’.

Arter was a key part of Bournemouth initially establishing their passing football in the Premier League and was one of Cardiff’s classiest and most committed performers, even though they ended up relegated.

He is on another level in terms of quality to his international team-mate Glenn Whelan, who has been a decent clogger at Championship level but lacks the guile to do it in the top flight now.

But Arter still has plenty to offer in the top flight, and a link-up with another fellow Irishman Conor Hourihane, as well as Jack Grealish and John McGinn, would be a very strong array of midfield options.