Aston Villa could secure Dean Smith one of his old Brentford favourites before October's transfer deadline, according to latest reports...

What's the word?

No, it's not Said Benrahma but rather Rico Henry.

The Sun claim the Midlands outfit are tracking the 23-year-old left-back ahead of a potential switch to Villa Park. It would be yet another raid on the manager's former club after signing Ollie Watkins earlier this month.

However, several Premier League teams also hold interest in the 5 foot 7 speedster, including West Ham United.

The next Cole?

Henry has emerged as one of the Championship's best defenders in recent seasons and is, of course, a player that Smith knows more than anyone else.

He brought him to the Bees a year after leaving Walsall in 2015 and paid just £1.5m for his signature. It remains to be seen how much a move this summer would command as last summer their asking price was £7m. That'll have risen substantially since.

Per WhoScored, the English full-back averaged 1.9 clearances, 1.5 tackles and 1.1 interceptions from 49 appearances last season. He featured in every single one of Brentford's matches.

Smith clearly is a huge fan and John Terry would be too, going by previous remarks. The Villa boss likened him to fellow Chelsea legend Ashley Cole.

Henry is also "fearless" and has a "good engine and pace," according to the 49-year-old, so he could fit right in at Villa along that left flank.

Current first-choice Matt Targett only managed to contribute to three goals all season and could probably do with the competition to push him onto the next level.

Nor is he particularly known for his rapid speed, so Henry would certainly add a different dimension - one that could allow Jack Grealish to cut inside more.

AND in other news, Villans may have missed out on their next Gareth Barry...