Aston Villa pursue Wolves’ Kortney Hause to solve defensive woes

Villa’s transfer window has ramped up after a 2-2 draw with QPR. According to media reports, the club are in the final stages of tying up a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Kortney Hause. The former England U21 international will move to Villa Park once personal terms are agreed.

Hause hasn’t featured a great deal for Wolves in their new era - and last saw major playing time under Paul Lambert and Walter Zenga in 16/17. Under Nuno Espirito Santo, both Conor Coady and Willy Boly saw success at the back and Hause was phased out. Anyway, can we really judge player quality on appearances made when James Chester only played 13 times for West Bromwich Albion? Probably not.

Aston Villa’s defensive frailty is well known and despite the club’s attacking quality, they are incredibly flimsy when facing shots. Hause will allow Dean Smith to rotate Villa’s back-duo - or add the option for a change in formation. He’ll also be cheaper than most other options.

At the very least, Villa aren’t accepting their current weaknesses and will move to fix them - but we can only hope that a left-back is on the cards.