Been impressed with Hourihane at Barnsley anytime I have seen him. Type of traditional central midfielder who can do a bit of everything, think he has already weighed in with quite a few goals and assists this season. He's out of contract in the summer too, so Barnsley might take £4-5 million. Easily worth that, in a world where Jeff Hendrick is worth in excess of £10 million.
Meyler and Kayal would be an upgrade on Westwood too (not hard, I guess). Horgan at Dundalk looks like one who could make the switch to a higher level of football, but unless Ayew leaves this Jan, I'd say we're covered for wide options.
I would have said that we are more than covered for forward options un'all, but with Bruce seemingly keen on Gabby leading the line over Gestede, Kodja and the rest, perhaps that is one we need to revisit. Plenty of endeavor from Gabby last night, but he looked like a Sunday League footballer. In conditioning, movement and ability. Simply trying for the first time in years shouldn't be enough to play for Aston Villa. He'll depart with my very best wishes if he wants to get his career back on track at Walsall or Tamworth. Our aim is to get back to the topflight. We shouldn't be a halfway house for chancers who have spunked their career away.
