According to reports in the Daily Mail, Aston Villa’s arch-rivals Birmingham City have tabled a £5m bid for Bristol City duo Aden Flint and Joe Bryan.

The Robins signed Nathan Baker from Villa last week and the Daily Mail suggests that they could now be willing to listen to offers for 28-year-old Flint, who has been an impressive performer over the course of the last few seasons.

Harry Redknapp is keen to bring the centre-back to St Andrew’s to pair up with fellow new boy Marc Roberts at the heart of the defence before their season opener against Ipswich Town at Portman Road this weekend.

Villa boss Steve Bruce has already strengthened his defensive options this summer by bringing in John Terry and Christopher Samba as he looks to secure a return to the Premier League, but he may feel that Flint could add something to the backline, too.

Here are three reasons Villa should join the race to sign Flint…

Centre-back options

While Steve Bruce has five potential options at centre-back right now – Terry, Samba, James Chester, Tommy Elphick and Micah Richards – even after the departure of Baker to Bristol City, the latter two may not be at the club by the end of the transfer window with Elphick in particular linked with a move away.

If that proves to be the case Bruce would be relying on Chester, a 36-year-old Terry and a 33-year-old Samba to get him through to the January transfer window, and it would probably be something of a risk – especially if one of them was to get injured.

The former Hull City boss would know that he would be getting a reliable Championship performer in Flint, and they may have easier negotiations with the Robins having only recently sold them Baker.

Goal threat

One of the reasons Aston Villa failed to challenge for the Championship play-off positions wasn’t actually their defensive record – they conceded just 48 goals in their 46 league games – but it was their failure to find the net at the other end – they scored just 47 times.

Strangely, even though he is a centre-back Flint has proved over the course of the last few years that he may be able to help in that department.

The 28-year-old stands at just under 6’6” tall and has proved to be a menace in the penalty area from set pieces, scoring 25 league goals in the previous three campaigns.

If Villa are struggling to break down opposition – as they did at times last term – Flint’s aerial presence could be the different between three points and one.

The future

While the likes of Terry and Samba may well be experienced and impressive in the upcoming Championship season, Bruce does need to have an eye on players that will be able to make the step up to the Premier League this time next year – ultimately, promotion is the aim this season.

The duo will be 37 and 34 and the club may certainly need some younger centre-back options on their return to the top flight.

While he has never played there, Flint has certainly done enough in his time in the Championship with Bristol City to show that he has the physical presence to make an impact in the Premier League, and Villa would be better off targeting him now rather than next summer.

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