The club are keen to sign Sam Johnstone, Robert Snodgrass and Lewis Grabban after their loan spells end at Villa Park, according to Birmingham Mail journalist Shane Ireland.
Assessing the possibility of signing some of the loan stars on a permanent basis, the reporter says that the trio are indeed on the club’s “summer short list” of targets.
Of course, much will depend on Financial Fair Play. If we do remain in the Championship, the likelihood of signing all of these players before next season is not high.
If we do achieve promotion, however, Steve Bruce would be keen to snap these key players up ahead of a major recruitment drive in the summer to strengthen the squad for the top flight.
The fate of another loanee, Josh Onomah, looks more uncertain though. There are no current plans to re-sign the 20-year-old either on loan or permanently.
The midfielder has played in 34 games this campaign, but he will return to Tottenham in the summer where he will be assessed by the club. Josh has been on the bench for the majority of games in recent months but he has returned to the starting eleven for the past two league matches.
