Aston Villa are far more likely to sign Cheick Doucoure than Southampton's James Ward-Prowse, says Express & Star journalist Luke Hatfield.

Villa have been linked with both midfielders, with Sky Sports reporting at the end of last month that the Midlands club have had a £25m bid rejected for the Saints captain.

Meanwhile, Goal's Marc Mechenoua has claimed that Villa are interested in signing the RC Lens youngster as Dean Smith looks to continue his squad revamp this summer.

And while Hatfield is not expecting the Premier League outfit to chuck everything at Doucoure, he thinks a deal for the Mali international is more likely than a deal for Ward-Prowse.

"Midfield is the one I think Villa need to address, particularly after their start in the Premier League," Hatfield told FFC. "I think every Villa fan out there really wants to see them sign a defensive midfielder.

"Cheick Doucoure, I think that's another one that'd be unlikely, although far more likely than Ward-Prowse to happen."

As deadline day draws closer, signing Ward-Prowse is starting to look like an extremely difficult task.

Southampton, of course, have already sold Danny Ings to Villa. Will they want to weaken themselves even further while strengthening a Premier League rival for a second time this transfer window?