Villa closing in on deal for £9 million French defender

Coming into the summer, it seemed pretty clear that (excepting a situation in which Christian Benteke left) left back was Aston Villa's biggest position of need. Aly Cissokho was told that he was surplus and Kieran Richardson was the first choice at the position despite the fact that he isn't all that good there. So the news that Villa have had a £9 million bid accepted for Nice's Jordan Amavi is very welcome. According to Laurie Whitwell of the Mail, the bid is done and personal terms will be "no problem."

Amavi, who is only 21 years old, has been in the system of Ligue 1's Nice since 2010. He has already made fifty-five senior appearances for the club. He's often mentioned in discussions for the next first-choice left back for the French national side and he's shown a good blend of defending skill and attacking prowess. This season he scored four goals, and it seems as  if pace and ball control are both strengths for him.

At 21 Amavi has the potential to be Villa's left back of the future, but we've said that about plenty of others. Hopefully he doesn't become another casualty of Villa's never-ending left back problem.