Aston Villa could surely achieve Premier League promotion if they sign this 27-goal star

Aston Villa signing Southampton attacker Shane Long on loan could fire them to Premier League promotion

As per a report by Express and Star, Aston Villa are interested in signing Southampton attacker Shane Long on a season-long loan. The 31-year-old joined the Saints in 2014 and has scored 27 goals in 152 appearances for the Premier League outfit since then.

As things stand, Southampton have plenty of depth up front, meaning Long would have to play second fiddle for a good majority of the season. Hence, the prospect of moving on loan to an exciting side like Villa should appeal to the forward.

Charlie Austin and Manolo Gabbiadini had already made life difficult for Long but now with Danny Ings in the mix, it would be better for the veteran attacker to move out – at least temporarily.

As far as Villa are concerned, they have plenty of reasons to aim for a top-flight return this season. And signing a player of Long’s calibre will definitely aid them in achieving their ambitions.

Although Steve Bruce has a strong squad at his disposal, it goes without saying that they could use greater firepower up front. And in order to continue succeeding, the manager must make adequate additions before the window closes.

Given the situation at Southampton, Villa must go all out to secure a temporary deal for Long. With his poaching skills and experience, he could prove to be crucial for Villa.

At Villa Park, Long could spearhead the attack. His numbers in the Premier League might not be too impressive but his Championship statistics paint a completely different picture.

The player racked up 123 appearances during his time in the second-tier, bagging 39 goals and providing 20 assists in the process. With his level of experience and skills, Villa could most definitely benefit from signing him on loan this summer.

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However, it remains to be seen if the player is willing to make the drop to the Championship. He has only appeared once, as a substitute, for Southampton so far this season, meaning it might be possible to tempt him. If Villa succeed in signing Long, it will be nothing short of a coup.