da realsbet： According to reports in the Daily Mail, Aston Villa are unlikely to push through a January deal for Leicester City striker Leonardo Ulloa.
What’s the word, then?
da fazobetai： Well, the Daily Mail says that Villa have asked about Ulloa’s availability as they look to find a replacement for Jonathan Kodjia after his latest ankle injury, and competition for the likes of Keinan Davis and Scott Hogan.
However, the Daily Mail says that even though Steve Bruce’s men and Championship rivals Sheffield United are keen on the 31-year-old, who is unlikely to be allowed to leave by Foxes manager Claude Puel because of the cover he provides.
The report says that even though the Argentine centre-forward has featured from the substitutes’ bench in recent weeks, he is eager to get more game time.
How has Ulloa done this season?
The striker may have been hopeful of more first-team minutes this term after signing a new two-year deal with the club in August, but it hasn’t proven to be the case.
His late substitute appearance in the 3-2 win against Newcastle United at St James’ Park earlier this month was his first Premier League outing of the campaign, while he has also come on against Southampton and Crystal Palace since then.
Aside from in the top flight, the 31-year-old has played twice in the EFL Cup, providing one assist in the 4-1 win against Sheffield United in August.
How much of a blow is it if Villa miss out on Ulloa?
It is quite a big one, really.
Bruce looks to need a tall and strong centre-forward to provide competition for Keinan Davis and be able to play the lone role up top well, and Ulloa comes with the added bonus that he has plenty of Championship experience as well.
The Argentine striker netted 23 goals in 50 games at that level for Brighton and Hove Albion previously, and he certainly would have had a big point to prove in the second-half of the campaign.
Is a deal definitely dead?
It may well depend on Leicester’s January activity.
If they fail to sell Islam Slimani or fail to bring in a new striker then Ulloa may well go – whether it be on loan or a permanent deal – but if those two things do happen the 31-year-old is likely to stay until the end of the season as the Foxes look to push for Europe.