Aston Villa have James Chester transfer bid accepted by West Brom
Thursday 11 August 2016 14:25, UK
West Brom have accepted a bid in the region of £7m from Aston Villa for central defender James Chester, SSN HQ understands.
The 27-year-old Wales international will now hold talks with Villa over personal terms and could move in the next few days if he agrees a deal and passes a medical.
Villa have lost their opening two games this season - including an embarrassing 3-1 EFL Cup defeat to Luton on Wednesday - and boss Roberto Di Matteo confirmed he needs defensive reinforcements.
Ciaran Clark joined Newcastle for £5m and Joleon Lescott is unlikely to have a future under Di Matteo following relegation from the Premier League last season.
Chester has struggled for first-team opportunities at The Hawthorns since joining from Hull City for £8m last summer.
He made just nine league starts and was often played out of position and will again be behind Jonas Olsson, Jonny Evans and Gareth McAuley in the Baggies' pecking order.
Chester impressed during Wales' march to the Euro 2016 semi-finals in the summer and made the most challenges and interceptions of any players in the tournament with 36.
Villa host Rotherham in their first Sky Bet Championship home game of the season on Saturday having lost 1-0 to Sheffield Wednesday in the opener last weekend.
They have already spent £12m on Ross McCormack in a bid to earn promotion at the first attempt but the striker was withdrawn in the second half in their defeat at Kenilworth Road and is yet to score.
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