Aston Villa set for Jota deal

A variety of sources including the Birmingham Mail have confirmed that Villa's first signing of the summer window will be Birmingham City's Jota.

While Birmingham City are set to lose their tricky playmaker, they will gain the permanent signature of Gary Gardner, who will be traded for Jota.

It remains to be seen if Villa will sweeten the deal with a small fee.

While Jota hasn't exactly performed well for Birmingham in the Second City derby, Villa fans will certainly remember him from their first season in the Championship when Jota almost single handedly ripped the Villa apart. It's rather fitting that Jota will link up once more with Dean Smith who managed him at Brentford, and coached him during that exact game.

As for the transfer itself, It's an excellent deal that secures Villa's depth at right-wing in the absence of Albert Adomah. It also won't cost Aston Villa much, if anything, as there exists almost no scenario in which Gary Gardner starts for the Villa next season. Almost instantly, and for little cost, Villa have boosted their wide depth.

If this is the appetiser for the transfer window, it's certainly a filling one. I can't wait for the main course now.