Report: Aston Villa keen on Rangers centre-back Filip Helander

By Dom Toner

Aston Villa are reportedly one of the Premier League clubs interested in Rangers enforcer Filip Helander.

According to Sportbladet, Villa and Leicester City are both keen on potentially trying to sign the 27-year-old.

The report explains that teams from England have been drawn to the Swedish defender after his eye-catching performances this season in Scotland.

Helander has been part of the Rangers squad that has finally brought the league title back to Ibrox in emphatic fashion.

He’s a powerful 6ft 4in centre-back renowned for his strength and power in the air, something which makes him a real authoritative figure at the back.

The £14,000-a-week (Salary Sport) centre-half has chipped in with three goals in 27 appearances across all competitions this season, and is a real favourite with Rangers supporters.

(Photo by Herman Dingler/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

TBR’s View:

Dean Smith’s Villa already have a formidable centre-back partnership of Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings, but the heart of defence is an area of the squad they could do with strengthening to provide more cover.

Whether Helander would be able to break into that Villa XI is unclear, especially as the current combination is so effective, but he’d be a strong addition to the squad.

The Midlands giants are a club heading in the right direction and are 10th-placed in the Premier League table.

Unfortunately, a lack of depth in the squad is likely to mean they miss out on the European positions.