Aston Villa transfer news: Club poised to sign James Chester, Ritchie de Laet and Mile Jedinak
ASTON VILLA are poised to bag the triple signing of James Chester, Ritchie de Laet and Mile Jedinak.
After a terrible start to the Midlands club's Championship season, new Chinese owner appears to have lost faith in the current squad with three new players set to come in.
The most high profile is the imminent acquisition of West Brom defender for around £6million after a bid was accepted by ' Premier League Baggies.
Defender Chester starred for Wales in this summer's European Championships but found first team chances hard to come by.
He was wanted earlier this summer by top flight clubs such as Middlesbrough, having joined West Brom last summer from Hull for £8m.
But at the Euros Chester made the most challenges and interceptions of any players in the tournament with 36.
Also near completion is the transfer of Leicester's title-winning right-back Ritchie De Laet for £2.5m.
Belgium international De Laet, once of Manchester United, made 12 appearances for the Foxes last season and also spent time at Boro on loan in the Championship.
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The third deal that is slightly further behind the other two Crystal Palace's midfielder enforcer and former captain Mile Jedinak.
Xia has said he wants a tough midfielder in by this weekend, and while Aussie Jedinak has refuted exit rumours, he was stripped of the captaincy by Eagles' boss this week in favour of Scott Dann.
Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo admitted after last night's humbling EFL Cup defeat to Luton Town that more reinforcements and a defensive improvement were needed quickly.
They want a new central defender after selling Ciaran Clark to Newcastle and telling Baggies old boy Joleon Lescott to find a new club.
Villa have already broken the Championship transfer record this summer with the signing of Ross McCormack for a whopping £14m.
And after last night's humbling defeat, outspoken Xia his disgust at the performance, saying some existing players at Villa Park are not even worth a chance.
Xia was ridiculed on Twitter yesterday during a Twitter Q&A after claiming the club will be the top side in Europe with the most fans in the world in just FIVE years time.