Aston Villa to battle Newcastle for transfer as fresh £40m claims made

Aston Villa are fully focused on matters on the pitch after the January transfer window closed earlier this week.

Steven Gerrard's side return to Premier League action next Wednesday against Leeds United and in preparation for their return, Villa will face Norwegian club Molde in a friendly this weekend after already beating Brentford 2-1 at Villa Park on Tuesday afternoon.

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Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has revealed that he "looked at" taking over Aston Villa with a consortium.

The talkSPORT pundit was speaking about West Bromwich Albion's appointment of Steve Bruce when he shared that he had previously planned to buy Villa.

Former Villa manager Bruce will be unveiled to the media this afternoon at the Hawthorns and is a head coach Jordan knows well, having employed him at Palace in 2001.

"People give him [Steve Bruce] a lot of stick for his time at Aston Villa, they say he was dreadful and look at what Dean Smith did," Jordan said on talkSPORT.

"Let me tell you, I looked at that club, I looked at buying that club with a consortium.

"I saw what was behind the scenes at that club when they got relegated... It took a long time for it to get stabilised."

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in a move for Blackburn Rovers centre-back Darragh Lenihan.

The Ireland international is out of contract at the end of the season and has been linked to a whole host of Premier League clubs ahead of a possible summer switch from Ewood Park.

TEAMtalk claim Villa, Newcastle United and Leeds United have all "registered their interest" in the defender.

The report adds that Lenihan would only consider signing a new deal with Rovers if they are promoted this season.

Tony Mowbray's side are