According to an interview with the Peterborough Telegraph, Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony says Championship side Aston Villa aren’t “brave enough” to make a summer move for winger Marcus Maddison.

He confirmed that Villa scout Brian Little has watched the 23-year-old wide man on a couple of occasions this season, but that Maddison hadn’t enjoyed two of his better matches.

The Villans are almost certainly set to spend another year in England’s second tier following their 1-1 draw against Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium last weekend, which has left them 11 points from sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday with just five matches of the campaign remaining.

Manager Steve Bruce will already be looking at potential transfer targets as he looks to build a team that will challenge for automatic promotion next term, but it remains to be seen whether he will prove MacAnthony right or wrong.

Here are THREE reasons why Villa should make a move for Maddison this summer…

They need a winger

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Aston Villa's Jordan Ayew celebrates scoring their second goal
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With Jordan Ayew and Ross McCormack leaving the club during the January transfer window and Jack Grealish suffering from injury, Villa have been short of options on the left-hand side of their attack in recent weeks.

Left-back Jordan Amavi has been deployed in a more attacking position than he is used to, and manager Steve Bruce will be looking to bring in a left-sided player that can have the same threat that Albert Adomah does on the opposite flank this summer.

Maddison certainly fits that bill as he is left-footed and can play on either wing or through the middle, and that versatility should convince the Midlands club to make their move.

His qualities

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Peterborough's Marcus Maddison scores their second goal 
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The 23-year-old has been one of the standout players in League One this season and there looks to be no doubt that he can make the step up to the next level.

Maddison has proved that he is both a goalscorer and a creator having netted eight goals and provided an impressive 15 assists in 37 league appearances this term.

Those are stats that will have impressed Steve Bruce as he looks to add some attacking flair to a side that have scored just 43 goals in 40 Championship matches themselves.

Price tag

While Posh chairman MacAnthony will want to get a good fee for his player, he will understand that his hand may be forced because interested clubs won’t be persuaded to pay a large amount for someone that has a year left on his current deal.

Villa spent more than £50m last summer and Steve Bruce will be keen to get better value for money this year considering three of those signings left during the January transfer window – a move for the League One star who has the potential to grow with the club would tick that box.

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

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