Aston Villa transfer news: Steven Gerrard tipped to make one more signing before deadline

Journalist Dean Jones says he would be surprised if Aston Villa did not sign a new midfielder before Monday's transfer deadline amid links to Juventus' Rodrigo Bentancur.

It is starting to look increasingly unlikely that the Midlands club will land the 24-year-old, but Jones is still expecting Steven Gerrard to bolster his midfield area.

Villa signing Bentancur looked like a real possibility when Sky Sports reported earlier this month that they were in talks with Juventus over a potential £16m deal. 

However, since then, BBC Sport's Phil McNulty has reported that Villa never made anything more than an enquiry two weeks ago that was knocked back and have not returned to the Italian club. 

With Villa's move on ice, Premier League rivals Tottenham swooped in, with multiple outlets, including the MailOnline, now claiming that they are closing in on a deal to sign the Uruguayan. 

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If Villa still want to sign a new midfielder before the transfer window closes, it looks like they will have to turn their attention elsewhere.

Jones has told GIVEMESPORT that he would be surprised if Villa ended up missing out on a defensive midfielder, with that being a priority for them.

Speaking to GMS, the transfer insider said: "I'd be surprised if they just left it because when I asked sources at the start of the month what is Aston Villa's priority, they said, 'As long as they sign a No.6, they'll be happy.' It's the only thing they haven't done, so I'd be very surprised if they just left this area of the pitch."

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They have, as earlier this window there was a lot of talk about the club being interested in