According to West Ham United insider ExWHUemployee, Aston Villa will make a late offer to snatch James Collins from under the noses of Ipswich Town.

What's the story?

Collins left West Ham at the end of last season following the expiration of his contract, but was actually linked with a return to the Hammers before the club's head coach Manuel Pellegrini confirmed that the stories were false.

A number of clubs are believed to be closely monitoring developments surrounding the central defender, and there is no question that he will soon have a new club.

At the age of 35, Collins is not a long-term option by any means, but there is no doubting that he is good enough to play a season or two at Championship level.

According to ExWHUemployee, Collins has been training with Ipswich, but Villa are expected to make a late move for the central defender, which appears to suggest that a return for John Terry will not take place.

Collins played over 100 times for Villa between 2009 and 2012 before returning to West Ham, and he would certainly be a welcome addition at Villa Park.

Should Aston Villa sign him?

Villa have been strongly linked with a move for Terry, who left the club at the end of last season when his contract expired.

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However, Sporting Lisbon are now believed to lead the race for the former Chelsea captain, which has seen Villa switch their attention to Collins.

Villa boss Steve Bruce allowed Tommy Elphick to leave on loan in the latter stages of the window, which has left the Championship outfit incredibly short at centre-back.

Mile Jedinak continues to be selected alongside James Chester in that area of the field, and the Villa fans are becoming increasingly frustrated with Bruce’s desire to play the Australian.

Villa are also now five games without a win in all competitions, meanwhile, and suffered a heavy 4-1 loss at Sheffield United in the Championship on September 1.

Central defence is an area that Bruce must strengthen in the coming weeks, and bringing 6ft 2in Collins back to Villa Park is a no-brainer.

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