Linked with Aston Villa, £15m star is perfect for Dean Smith’s side

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Ben Gibson is reportedly a target for Aston Villa this summer but the Midlands club face competition from four other English sides. But if Dean Smith wants to avoid the drop, they have to beat their opponents to Gibson’s signature.

TeamTalk have claimed that the 26-year-old is interesting not only Villa, but fellow newly-promoted sides Norwich City and Sheffield United as well as Championship sides Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough.

Villa need options at the back. Smith saw four central defenders leave the first team this summer, in the form of Kortney Hause, Tyrone Mings and Axel Tuanzebe returning to their parent clubs and Tommy Elphick leaving.

Hause has returned on a permanent basis from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Mings and Tuanzebe remain at AFC Bournemouth and Manchester United, but Villa are reportedly keen to sign the duo.

However, Gibson is a better option than both Mings and Tuanzebe. His rock-solid, commanding, warrior-like performances are just the kind of bite Villa are after this summer.

In a bid to avoid the drop to the Championship, Smith’s side need to defend like their life depends on it and Gibson is perfect for that. He will put his body on the line and throw himself into blocks and tackles.

Not only that, but the defender is strong in the air and comfortable with the ball at his feet. Villa simply have to fend off the competition in order to land his signature this summer.

Signed by Burnley for £15million 12 months ago, after just five appearances in an injury-ridden campaign, he is likely to be available for a much cheaper price this time around.

If Villa can get him for £8-£10million, they could have made one of the best signings of the window.