Dean Smith Reportedly Getting His ‘Hause’ in Order

It is no secret in the Championship, Aston Villa have had problems in defence this season, mainly due to injuries. 

There were also a few loan-outs under previous management that left a multitude of Aston Villa supporters scratching their heads. A make-shift defence in the Championship usually doesn’t bode well for clubs who are suddenly forced into such a dangerous practice. And that’s exactly what’s been going on at Villa this season. There have been healthy leads completely shattered, questionable individual errors and the occasional wonderment of who Aston Villa are going to try and sign in January. 

Villa head coach Dean Smith has stated after almost every Villa fixture under his watch that his defence would need solidifying  in the mid-season transfer window. The decision to recall Tommy Elphick from his loan at Hull City was a wonderful starting point to add depth to the centre-back position that has been weakened by an Axel Tuanzebe foot injury. Aston Villa defensive rock James Chester, an iron man of sorts for The Villans, has also been playing heavy minutes with a knee injury.

Dean Smith is a man of his word, and speculation has risen that he is going after Wolverhampton Wanderers out-of-favor centre-back Kortney Hause, among other defenders. Smith was candid when speaking after a 2-2 draw to Queens Park Rangers: “Kortney Hause? I could be close to signing anybody! We have a number of players we’re looking at.”

Hause, a 23-year-old English centre-back hasn’t had the most exciting of times in the past 18 months. Hause has made less than 10 first team appearances for Wolves. While it may be a case that Hause has not lived up to expectation at Wolverhampton, one could argue that a change of scenery may do him a world of good. Hause is a left-footed defender, which Villa have not had in their back-line since Nathan Baker departed the club. At only 23 years old, Hause having the potential to become a formidable defensive force is still a very real possibility. After all, Hause was capped 10 times for the England u-20 squad, making his debut on September 3rd 2015. The scouting reports available on Hause is that he is talented in the air, has a fair bit of pace to his game and possesses loads of strength. 

According to Wolverhampton Wanderers official website, Hause just signed a new three-year deal in April 2018. 

There is no doubt that Dean Smith and Jesus Garcia Pitarch have many astute defenders under their microscope that they would like to bring into the fold at Aston Villa. It is a good sign for the future of Aston Villa if the new transfer policy is to attempt to bring in young players with bags of potential that may be out-of-favor at their current clubs for one reason or another. If Hause does in fact join Villa, it will be a statement of intent by Villa management that problems will be addressed in a smart yet cautious fashion.