The Birmingham Mail's Ashley Preece has dropped an update on Aston Villa's search for a new centre-back in this summer's transfer window.

What's the story?

With Bjorn Engels having left Villa Park a few weeks ago, Dean Smith's squad has been left short of options in the middle of defence.

In response to a question from a Villa supporter for the Birmingham Mail about whether they will target a young but cheap option, or favour some more experienced cover, Preece delivered an update on where things stand.

He said: "I think it'll be the former, Sam. Villa are open to both profiles, though. No names have come to light. Axel Tuanzebe talk keeps popping up; he'll want first-team football, though. It's a long season, Villa need a CB in there for cover and, like Hause did last term, to step in when fixtures mount up."

Dean Smith will be delighted

While Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa firmly established themselves as Smith's first-choice centre-back pairing last season in the Premier League, the lack of strength in depth in that position is very worrying as a Villa fan.

The duo played 36 out of the 38 top-flight games and were two players who the Villa boss knew he could count upon to start week-in and week-out, whether through staying clear of injury or keeping their discipline in check - Mings was the only one out of the two to be suspended at any stage.

Were either of them to sustain an injury for a number of weeks, the Midlands club would be facing a mini-crisis such is the real lack of quality options behind those two, especially now that another centre-back in Engels has departed.

It's exactly why Preece's claim that Villa are in the market for a new centre-back, and would be open to signing either a more experienced option or a younger player, will surely delight Smith.

Meanwhile, this "exceptional" transfer target is a huge El Ghazi upgrade...