Aston Villa may go shopping for Sainsbury
Villa have been linked with a move for Australian international Trent Sainsbury as they prepare for a defensive rebuild.
The 26-year-old centre-back, currently playing alongside Villa midfielder Mile Jedinak at the World Cup, is among several possible summer targets.
Sainsbury is contracted to Chinese Super League outfit Jiangsu Suning but has spent the past two seasons on loan in Europe with Inter and Grasshoppers respectively.
Villa are facing a major reshuffle at the back with John Terry having already left the club and the futures of both James Chester and Tommy Elphick uncertain.
Boss Steve Bruce is keen to bring Manchester United centre-back Axel Tuanzebe back for a season-long loan.
Former Chelsea and Leicester centre-back Robert Huth, who is now a free agent, is another target while a move for Huddersfield’s Michael Hefele cannot be ruled out.
Bruce and technical director Steve Round have been made aware of their playing budget and things are expected to pick up in the next couple of weeks, with Villa’s squad due to return for pre-season training on July 4.
Under-fire owner Tony Xia is, meanwhile, continuing to consider several offers of investment as he seeks a long-term solution to the club’s financial troubles.
