Aston Villa: Leo Ulloa’s Leicester City future will take awhile

Leonardo Ulloa is a desired man at B6. Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce wants the outcast Leicester City striker as a loan addition to the club. However, the Argentine’s future is dependent upon another move.

Leicester City have too many forwards. Aston Villa would like a forward. The math adds up.

At least, that’s how Steve Bruce would like it to add up. The Villa manager wants 31-year old Leonardo Ulloa, he who has been limited to just 19 minutes of Premier League football this season, on loan for the claret and blue.

The Leicester Mercury report Foxes’ manager Claude Puel is willing to move Ulloa, but it’s all dependent upon the future of fellow Leicester striker Islam Slimani.

"“Slimani has been linked heavily with Turkish club Besiktas and if they are to be persuaded to let their record signing leave will want to recoup as much of the £30million they paid to Sporting Lisbon as possible.If Slimani does leave, the Mercury understands that City will not allow Ulloa to join Villa. If Slimani stays, then Ulloa could go.This means that any deal for Ulloa is unlikely to happen until late in the January transfer window, something for which Villa boss Steve Bruce is prepared.”"

So, there we have it. Leonardo Ulloa may or may not be moving to Aston Villa on loan by deadline day. Point is: Villa will not have his services until the end of the month, if at all. He’s been a quietly-efficient “goal every other game” kind of striker for most of his career until a move to Leicester, where he’s largely called upon as an impact substitute. In addition, Aston Villa face competition from three La Liga sides for his signature: CD Leganés, Celta Vigo, and Real Betis.

In the same Mercury story, it is interesting to note that Bruce wants Ghanaian midfielder/fullback Daniel Amartey on loan from Leicester as well. Amartey would add yet another right back into the fold, but it’s doubtful Leicester moves him with first-choice Danny Simpson injured and relative defensive depth negligible.

Next: Relax. Keinan Davis isn't moving to Brighton.

Villa Verdict:

Ulloa would be an excellent addition to the squad, on loan, ahead of the promotion push. At the time of this writing, Aston Villa have 20 league matches remaining, with three more scheduled before deadline day. Any transferred player moved on January 1st would be available for the remaining 37% (17/46) of Villa’s league matches.