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James Chester keen to stay at Aston Villa

Villa’s improving fortunes have been boosted further after it emerged James Chester is keen to stay at the club.

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Chester’s future became the subject of fierce speculation during the club’s recent cash crisis, with the Wales international the subject of a bid from Stoke City thought to be in the region of £10million.

Yet the arrival of new majority investors Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens has lessened Villa’s need to sell, while Chester is thought to have been encouraged by the pair’s decision to stick with manager Steve Bruce.

Stoke boss Gary Rowett has admitted his club’s pursuit of the 30-year-old has been made “more difficult” by Villa’s change of ownership.

Villa still have concerns with regard to Financial Fair Play and Chester could still be sold should an acceptable bid be received.

Yet the defender’s sale would, in reality, have little impact on the immediate FFP outlook, with Villa still in the process of paying installments of the £8million fee they paid Albion to acquire his signature two years ago.

Selling Jack Grealish remains the club’s most obvious solution to the club’s £40million FFP shortfall with Tottenham his most likely destination, though they are yet to make a formal bid.

Villa are, meanwhile, eyeing a move for free agent Robert Huth, while Bruce remains keen to bring Manchester United’s Axel Tuanzebe back to the club on loan.