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Steve Bruce wants Arsenal player as Aston Villa's fifth January signing
ASTON VILLA have reportedly set their sights on Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom.
Chuba Akpom linked with Aston Villa loan deal
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce took Akpom on loan at Hull last season where he scored seven goals to help the Tigers gain promotion to the Premier League.
And according to the Birmingham Mail Bruce is hoping to bring him to Villa Park until the rest of the season to boost Villa's play-off push.
Chuba Akpom helped Steve Bruce's Hull gain promotion last season
The 21-year-old has struggled with a back injury this season and has managed just 83 minutes of first-team football in the EFL Cup.
Gunners manager Arsene Wenger still has high hopes for the England Under-21 star and is reportedly open to letting him leave on loan to continue his development.
Bruce is said to be looking for a replacement to striker Rudy Gestede, who was sold to Middlesbrough in a £6million deal earlier this month.
Steve Bruce looking for Rudy Gestede replacement
And after Villa saw a £6m bid turned down by Boro for forward Jordan Rhodes, Bruce has reportedly put Akpom at the top of his shortlist.
Akpom would become Villa's fifth signing of the January window, following midfielders Birkir Bjarnason and Henri Lansbury, full-back James Bree and goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.