Yesterday, Tony Xia said that there are ‘no vacancies’ in his Aston Villa team. Our Doctor isn’t too good with his word though - he’s not a week away from denying the signing of Robert Snodgrass, before signing the Scotsman days later. Everyone get’s an itchy trigger finger before deadline day, especially because no business of importance or real-time meaning can be concluded until the 1st of January 2018 after tomorrow’s window deadline slams shut.

So, with that being said, who could Aston Villa sign? Anyone at all? It’s possible. It’d have to be the perfect deal for both the club and the prospect though - and it needs to be resolved speedily. Here’s everyone Villa are currently linked with right now.

Thomas Vermaelen

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Vermaelen would be a class signing for Villa. There’s absolutely no doubt about it. The 31 year-old would come to Villa with a continental prestige and years of experience behind him. The problem? In the past three years since he left Arsenal, he’s played barely ten games a year. Villa could do without another injury-prone centre-half, but if the deal is cheap, it’s the right deal to make.

Stephen Kelly

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Stephen Kelly is currently a Villa player right now - albeit on a trialist basis. Training with the U23’s in order to keep fit after leaving Rotherham means Kelly is in the picture for Villa, but on the outskirts. If he performs incredibly, he’ll justify a signing, but it’s simply not happening. No way. There’s no chance that Kelly is a first-team Villan come the close of business tomorrow.

Peter Crouch

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Peter Crouch is still banging in the goals for Stoke in the Premier League, but could be banging in the goals at Villa Park should Villa get their way. AVFC have been lurking around Crouch throughout the summer, and a few outgoing moves tomorrow could fund a last minute move for Crouchy. He’d be a great addition to the Villa team, but he’s not getting any younger and will actively prevent someone, like Keinan Davis, from getting first team minutes. This deal is unlikely, but out of the bunch it’s the one with the best chance of happening.

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We do expect there to be some minor incoming activity on deadline day, but in the form of academy buys like Jacob Bedeau. As for outgoings, we could see two major moves surface.

Tommy Elphick

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Aston Villa are a big fan of the loan deal, especially when it comes to outgoing business. Tommy Elphick could be set for a loan deal to Sunderland and it’s looking likely. Elphick would need to be replaced, as Villa only have three first-team centre backs without the former Bournemouth man.

Ross McCormack

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This Villa misfit is as good as gone, with Sunderland leading the chase. A loan deal will give Villa a token fee and take his wages off the books. He won’t get the chance to redeem himself at Villa Park and is likely Villa’s sixth choice forward. Not a good place to be.

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That’s all that we can find - but who knows what will surface on deadline day this year?