According to Calcio Mercato, Aston Villa have made an offer to Matias Vecino ahead of a potential move in the January transfer window.

What's the story?

Dean Smith recently delivered an update on the club's potential transfer plans next week, saying: "We are looking at it in general in terms of whether there is anything we need to do. We are certainly not desperate in terms of players we need to bring in or go out. We have our finger on the pulse but I don’t envisage us doing an awful lot, to be honest."

And now, Calcio Mercato claim that Inter midfielder Vecino appears to be in their sights, and that despite him currently recovering from injury, his days at the Serie A giants are numbered.

Lange can find a huge Nakamba upgrade

With Douglas Luiz and John McGinn holding down the fort in central midfield, the likes of Marvelous Nakamba hasn't had much of a look-in this season.

The 26-year-old has played just four times in the Premier League, and even that has only totaled a measly 103 minutes of football. In Vecino however, Smith could find a huge upgrade on the Zimbabwe international, and someone who could legitimately stake a claim to breaking up his favoured central midfield duo.

A profile from ESPN said: "Part of Vecino's charm is the fact that he tends to bring a little bit of everything to the table -- something modern midfielders are increasingly asked to do. He can pass well, he can tackle, and is both physical and graceful: the former Empoli man has, in short, the toolkit needed to shine not just in Italy, but (hopefully) also among Europe's elite."

With his years of experience playing in Serie A and for a top side like Inter, who have of course been competing in European football's elite competitions, Vecino could bring some real quality and know-how to this Villa side. Johan Lange's capture of the Uruguay international would prove to be another major blow to Nakamba's chances of featuring under Smith.