"I really wanted to leave"
Birkir Bjarnason has admitted he ‘really wanted to leave’ Aston Villa only a few weeks ago - but he isn’t going anywhere now!
The Iceland international is finally beginning to show his best form in claret and blue having spent almost a year out of favour after signing from Swiss side FC Basel.
Bjarnason, 29, was unexpectedly thrust into the fold at Nottingham Forest in an unfamiliar defensive midfield role after Glenn Whelan suffered injury.
He impressed and was handed just his third league start of the campaign - and first since September - against Barnsley on Saturday as Villa’s midfield anchor.
And now, after all but giving up on his time at Villa Park, Bjarnason is desperate to play a pivotal role in guiding the club back to the Premier League.
BB on becoming Villa's anchorman
De Laet in talks with RA
Aston Villa defender Ritchie De Laet is in talks over a return to Belgium with Pro League side Royal Antwerp, reports the Telegraph.
De Laet was born in Antwerp and began his career with Royal Antwerp before leaving his homeland for Stoke City at the age of 19.
But he’s now in talks over a return which would see him spend the remainder of the season on loan at Antwerp.
The 29-year-old has struggled with injuries since he joined Villa from Leicester City 18 months ago. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in his third start for the club against Brentford in September 2016.
De Laet fought his way back and has played nine times for Villa this season but is firmly down the pecking order at right-back and manager Steve Bruce wants him to get minutes under his belt elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Villa are still hopeful of completing deals for Manchester United defender/midfielder Axel Tuanzebe and Leicester City striker Leonardo Ulloa. Both would be loan signings until the end of the season.
The American Dream?
Ross McCormack could end up in the MLS if Aston Villa can’t strike a deal with his current loan club.
According to the Daily Mail, LA Galaxy are among several clubs showing interest in the 31-year-old who is currently playing for Melbourne City.
McCormack has been plundering goals for the A-League outfit but his loan agreement is due to end this Friday.
But the facts there is no extension deal yet in place and he can’t return to play for a British club, the US league becomes an option.
The report claims LA Galaxy, Orlando City and Colorado Rapids have all expressed an interest in signing McCormack for their new season.
McCormack has scored 14 goals in 16 games for Melbourne including seven in his last five games.
Dack, anyone?
Aston Villa are among a host of Championship clubs who have been linked with a move for Blackburn Rovers midfielder Bradley Dack in this window.
Dack, 24, only moved to promotion-chasing Rovers last summer from Gillingham, where he’d been since he was a teenager, for around £750,000.
He’s stood out at Ewood Park under Tony Mowbray in the current campaign, scoring 11 times in just 29 appearances.
Rovers are well placed for an immediate bounce back to the Championship; they’re currently in second place, five points behind Wigan, having lost just four of 27 league games to date.
The Daily Star report that Cardiff have already seen a bid of £4m rejected by the Lancashire club, while Championship rivals Leeds and Middlesbrough are also interested.
All four sides have promotion ambitions this season.
Uncle Albert
CEO on the radio
Aston Villa CEO Keith Wyness on Friday evening took calls from the club’s supporters on all things claret and blue as he appeared on BBC WM’s popular football phone-in.
Between the hours of 6-7pm, Wyness answered questions and queries concerning Villa, as he did last year.
The chief executive was grilled about all things transfer related in this January window - as it stands, the club await their first arrival of the month.
There was the progress that had been made, too, in the last 12 months that many callers recognised.
Here is a transcript of everything the chief executive said.
Albion U23 0-3 Villa
Aston Villa's under-23s ensured they remained top of Group E in the Premier League Cup with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over winless West Brom.
Both teams named incredibly strong line-ups with several first team regulars on show, but it was Villa's young guns who reigned supreme.
Goals from Andre Green (2) and Callum O'Hare's penalty ensured the claret and blues defeated Albion for a fourth time this season.
A mini-break
Steve Bruce will reward his Aston Villa players for their fine form by giving them a mini-break ahead of next Tuesday’s promotion six-pointer against Sheffield United.
The claret and blues have been in sparkling form in recent weeks and added Barnsley to their list of victims with a 3-1 success at Villa Park.
And with eight days until Villa’s next match, Bruce has promised his players and staff a few days off this week to recuperate ahead of a busy run-in.
“I’m giving everybody three or four days off,” the manager told us after Saturday’s win. “James Chester played today with the flu really and he looked like it towards the end.
“All my staff have been sick, my doctor’s had it, my second in command has had it, the staff have had it, they’ve all had it!
“It’s the ideal time to give everyone three or four days off in preparation for Sheffield United. I hope my phone won’t be ringing too much.”
With no game on Saturday due to Villa being out of the FA Cup, Bruce will the use the tail-end of this week to prepare for the Blades.
Also on his mind, of course, will be transfer dealings. Bruce still hopes to bring in two new faces before the deadline while players are expected to depart Villa Park.
One player who won't be welcoming any new striker arrival is man of the moment Scott Hogan. The striker took his tally to four in his last three games with a rapid brace against the Tykes on Saturday and has already told Bruce Villa don't need a new forward this month.
And while the manager appreciates Hogan's confidence, he was quick to issue him with a timely reminder as to how threadbare Villa are in atack.
"It’s my job never to be content. If I’m content and happy with what I’ve got then I may as well pack up," Bruce added.
"We’ve always got to try and improve and it’s my job to improve the squad in any way I can. If I can’t then I won’t do anything.
"I’ll just remind Scotty that if he twists his ankle next week and is out for eight weeks then we’re relying on a boy again. That’s where we are. I’ll thank him for that when he comes up!"
