[ad_pod ]

Aston Villa are embroiled in a three-way tug-of-war with Fulham and Stoke City for the signature of AFC Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter, per The Irish Independent.

The Republic of Ireland man reportedly wants out of the Vitality Stadium after eight years of service on the south coast with his eyes fixed firmly on a return to the senior squad of his nation.

Arter spent the season on loan at Cardiff and despite some committed displays couldn't do enough to help the Welsh side avoid the drop back into the Championship.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, no doubt need to add some Premier League experience to their squad this summer to boost their own survival hopes after gaining promotion via the playoffs on Monday.

But is the former Charlton youngster the right quality of player Dean Smith's men need to survive in their first campaign back in the top flight? Read the thoughts of three Football FanCast writers below...

Harry Sherlock

"No. He’s a decent midfielder and he’s absolutely adequate at the top level. But if that’s where Villa are aiming, they’ll be coming straight back down. They need to speculate to accumulate and bring in the best possible players they can afford. If Arter falls into that bracket, they’re in serious trouble."

James Beavis

"Given Villa already have the likes of John McGinn, Jack Grealish and Conor Hourihane in their ranks, what would be the point of signing Arter? The Bournemouth midfielder wouldn't add anything that the aforementioned trio don't already have, and anyhow they all deserve their chance in the Premier League having performed so admirably in recent months. Experience can be key in the top flight sometimes, but it is more often than not an overstated trait. A signing for Smith to avoid, then."

Ben Goodwin

"I actually feel that Arter has been quite hard done by after a positive start to life in the Premier League. He struggled with injuries in his second top-flight season, before joining a really poor Cardiff side. He gives 110% week in week out, will play anywhere the manager asks him to, and now has three years of Premier League experience under his belt. It wouldn’t be a glamorous signing, but it would give Smith another option in a position where depth is crucial."