According to reports on Chronicle Live, Aston Villa are targeting a move for out-of-favour Newcastle United midfielder Jack Colback.

The Chronicle Live says that Magpies manager Rafa Benitez is willing to listen to offers for the unsettled former Sunderland man, with the Daily Mail reporting last week that the two had had a training ground row.

The Daily Mail says that the 27-year-old was training away from the main group but was called to join them after someone picked up a knock, but he refused and Benitez has since told him to train alone.

The report adds that Colback is likely to be left out of the Toon Army’s 25-man Premier League squad and he looks to be a target for Villa manager Steve Bruce, whose team have endured a disappointing start to their Championship campaign as they look to secure a return to the top flight at the second time of asking.

Here are three reasons Villa should avoid bringing Colback to Villa Park…

Midfield options

One of Aston Villa’s main problems is still a lack of creativity and goals, and bringing Colback to Villa Park certainly wouldn’t eradicate that problem.

The 27-year-old is more of a defensively-minded midfielder who is tidy in possession and with Villa already having the likes of Mile Jedinak, Glenn Whelan, Conor Hourihane, Josh Onomah and Henri Lansbury in the middle of the park, the Newcastle man doesn’t really seem like the signing that the team needs right now as they look to ignite their Championship season.

Wages

According to the Daily Mail, Colback is currently on a £40,000-a-week deal at St James’ Park and that could prove to be a problem for any interested clubs like Aston Villa.

Villa have already had to have a relatively quiet summer when it comes to paying transfer fees for new players as they look to stay within the FFP regulations following their significant spending last season.

Trying to meet the demands of the 27-year-old, who potentially looks to have a bad attitude following the training ground incident, would certainly be a risk and add even more pressure to their need to win promotion back to the Premier League this term.

The future

With automatic promotion the ultimate aim this season, Steve Bruce will need to start thinking of players that he would want in his squad should Villa find themselves in the Premier League this time next year.

The fact that Newcastle boss Benitez looks to have discarded Colback following the Magpies’ return to the top flight is certainly not a good sign, and would suggest that the Spaniard doesn’t feel that the 27-year-old is good enough to be a regular at that level.

That should be a worry for Bruce, and he would be better off looking for another player that can an impact in the Premier League if he feels it is a position that really needs strengthening.

Do you agree, Villa fans? Let us know below.