According to reports in the Sunday Mirror on October 29, Aston Villa are one of three clubs potentially interested in signing out of favour Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick during the January transfer window.

The Sunday Mirror says that the 36-year-old could be on his way out of Old Trafford in the New Year after starting just one game for the club so far this season –against Burton Albion in the Carabao Cup – while he has been suffering from a mystery illness in recent weeks that has kept him in the sidelines.

While the report adds that he doesn't keening on leaving yet, that situation could change if the game time doesn't arrive in the coming weeks, with the Villans and Premier League clubs Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion keeping tabs on his situation.

The experienced midfielder may be a good addition on paper, but it might not be a smart decision to bring him to Villa Park in January.

Here are three reasons Villa should steer clear of signing Carrick…

They don't need him

If you were looking at positions that Aston Villa potentially need to strengthen during the January transfer window, holding midfield certainly wouldn't be the spot that would spring to mind.

Steve Bruce already has experienced players in Mile Jedinak and Glenn Whelan there, with the latter improving in recent weeks following a tough start to the campaign.

Adding Carrick into the mix would leave the aforementioned duo on the substitutes' bench and perhaps not even in the squad, and that seems unlikely considering how important they are to the team and with Whelan only arriving during the summer.

Competition

Even if Carrick does leave Manchester United during the January transfer window, Aston Villa would face a tough task to convince him to drop down to the Championship considering Premier League teams Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion are reportedly keen.

While Villa did manage to sign John Terry in the summer, that was more because he didn't want to come up against Chelsea and Carrick probably doesn't have the same affiliation with the Red Devils even though he has been with them since 2006.

Looking to the future

Considering they already have players like John Terry, Mile Jedinak, Glenn Whelan and Gabby Agbonlahor, perhaps it is time for Steve Bruce to look to the future rather than the short term when it comes to making new signings in January and beyond.

The ultimate aim for Villa is promotion to the Premier League this season, and if they were to achieve that having signed Carrick in the New Year, the midfielder would be 37 next season and increasingly unlikely to play on a regular basis.

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