Steven Gerrard's January shopping spree is over with Aston Villa prepared to gamble and wait for Yves Bissouma this summer.
New Villa boss Gerrard has been one of the busiest Premier League bosses this month.
He has signed Lucas Digne, Calum Chambers, Philippe Coutinho, Robin Olsen and rookie Kerr Smith.
But he was frustrated trying to land a new defensive midfielder to replace the crocked Marvelous Nakamba.
Villa, despite having billionaire owners, refused to meet Brighton ’s £50million price tag for Bissouma,25, who has just 18 months left on his contract.
It saw Villa turn their attentions to Juventus holding midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur but they failed to agree a fee and Spurs gazumped them late on.
Now Gerrard is set to halt his pursuit for a new player in that position until the summer.
By then Bissouma will be into the final 12 months of his contract on the South Coast and his price should have dropped.
Villa could then face further competition for his signature but it is a gamble they are willing to make.
Villa are now focusing on reducing their squad on deadline day.
Matt Targett is heading to Newcastle on loan from Aston Villa to get regular games.
Target was originally willing to fight for his place at Villa after Lucas Digne’s £25million move from Everton.
But he has been an unused sub in both games since the Frenchman signed and not played a single minute.
He has now decided to switch to struggling Newcastle, where boss Eddie Howe is desperate for a new left-back.
Howe played Paul Dummett at left back in the Toon’s previous game and he wants more competition for the role where Jamal Lewis and Matt Ritchie have also played.
Targett,26, only signed a two-year extension last year at Villa until 2025.
He was rewarded for his fine form last term starting every game in the Premier League as England boss Gareth Southgate considered calling him up for full squad.
But Gerrard, in charge since November, preferred to bring in Digne, who is more creative going forwards.
Another player likely to leave before the window is back-up keeper Jed Steer, who is wanted by Luton.
But veteran Ashley Young , who only rejoined Villa last summer on a one-year deal and is a free agent this summer, intends to stay despite interest from Newcastle and Watford.
Young has made 13 appearances in his second spell with Villa, including six since Gerrard took charge.
His prospects of filling in at left-back have faded following the £25million arrival of Digne.
But Gerrard, whose first team skipper is Tyrone Mings, still values Young highly and treats him like the club captain at Villa, where he can also play right-back or higher up the pitch.
