Report: Aston Villa defender James Chester closing in on Stoke City move

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Aston Villa defender James Chester is reportedly nearing a move to Stoke City on transfer deadline day.

According to Sky Sports’ live blog (30/01, 20:28), the 31-year-old was undergoing a medical ahead of a move to the Potters.

Chester has made just two first-team appearances for Villa so far this season having been nursing a knee injury he sustained last season.

The former Hull City man had been playing through injury niggles due to a shortage of other options, but the club were then able to bring in Tyrone Mings as cover in January.

Chester said of his issue last year (Wales Online): “I have damaged my body indefinitely, really.

“It is something I am going to have to manage for the rest of my career. It is what it is.”

With Mings, Bjorn Engels, Kortney Hause and Ezri Konsa all ahead of him in the pecking order, and his contract expiring at the end of the season, an exit seems likely for Chester – it will just depend if everything goes well with the medical.

TBR’s view – Chester would be missed

He may not have been so involved with the first-team over the last year or so, but Chester would be sorely missed by most Villa supporters.

He’s been a great servant to the club, making 126 appearances for the Villans.

The fact he took injections to continue playing with an inflamed knee shows how committed to the cause he was, and he’s an individual who will undoubtedly be missed if he secures an exit from Villa Park today.