Aston Villa are interested in signing Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah in the January transfer window.

What's the story?

Reports over the course of the summer suggested that Dean Smith's side were very much interested in Nketiah's teammate Emile Smith Rowe, with Villa even putting in a couple of bids for the young playmaker.

While a deal failed to materialise for Smith Rowe, it appears that Villa are going back to the Emirates Stadium for another talented English starlet, with journalist Ekrem Konur claiming that the Midlands club are among the clubs who are keen on landing Nketiah.

He claimed that Villa and fellow Premier League clubs Brentford and Leeds United are in the queue to sign the forward, with the 22-year-old keen to leave Arsenal to get first-team football.

Could complete Dean Smith's attack

Having signed Danny Ings from Southampton in the summer transfer window, Villa bolstered Smith's attacking options with one of the Premier League's most proven strikers - the England international has bagged 57 goals in 146 games in the division.

However, having let Wesley go out on loan to get some football under his belt, and with Keinan Davis ruled out through injury, it's Villa starlet Cameron Archer who has played the role Smith's backup striker.

While Archer has done superbly well thus far, it's an almighty ask of a teenager to play at this level on a consistent basis if Watkins or Ings were to get injured - especially with Villa's new two-striker setup.

In Nketiah, Villa would be getting someone who is also young, but with plenty more first-team experience, and the kind of poaching instincts off the bench from which they could benefit greatly.

Noel Whelan has previously raved about Nketiah and his style of play, saying: "He reminds me of another Jermaine Defoe and look at how well he did at West Ham. He’s very much that similar sort of player. He plays off the shoulder, very dangerous in the box. He’s a player you can’t take your eyes off because his movement’s so good."

Adding Nketiah to the mix along with Watkins, Ings and Archer would surely complete a dream attack for Smith.

Meanwhile, Gregg Evans has dropped an Aston Villa transfer update...