Villa sniffing around Swindon starlets

Sherwood in for Swindon pair

Socceroo Massimo Luongo has almost certainly played his last game for Swindon Town, with chairman Lee Power letting slip that the midfielder could be at a Premier League club within days.

Power confirmed that three top flight clubs along with relegated QPR were fighting for Luongo’s services after Swindon were thumped 4-0 in the League One play-off final against Preston North End at Wembley Stadium.

Aston Villa are in the box seat to snaffle Luongo because of his relationship with Tim Sherwood, while Crystal Palace and managerless West Ham are also possible destinations.

Power reckons Luongo could sign with one of these clubs as early as this week.

“There are a number of offers from Massimo. That's not surprising because he’s been a star for us this year.

“Something could happen this week … we have three substantial offers in from Premier League clubs and we need to sit down with Massimo and his advisors and decide what to do."

"The numbers being mentioned are around £3 million, which is good money for us and we’ll be pleased with that. Mass has come from nowhere to become one of the key men in the Australian team and he will be a fantastic asset for someone. One day he will play in the Premier League – and it might be as early as next week. We are not going to stand in the boy’s way.”

Luongo has been named in Australia’s squad to face Kyrgyzstan in the national team’s opening World Cup qualifier for Russia 2018 next month.

The Telegraph are reporting that it will a double swoop from Villa with Ben Gladwin also on the shopping list.

Gladwin spent his formative years in non-league football and it remains to be seen whether he can make the leap from League one to the top flight.

(we stole the Melinda Messenger joke...)

Sorry, when I read Tim Sherwood's after "Swindon pair" I just think of Melinda Messenger! #avfc

— Family Tradewell (@TradewellFamily) May 25, 2015