Aston Villa are now sitting 10 points adrift of the top six in the Championship and it is vital that boss Steve Bruce looks to add to his squad during this month, in order to avoid the season slipping away in miserably style.

The Villains are winless since Boxing Day and with the clubs in the higher echelons of the division starting to really excel, Villa are in serious danger of leaving an unassailable gap to the top six.

At the start of the campaign the play-offs would have been a minimum expectation for the club’s new owners, although it is likely that Bruce will get a little while longer to rectify the current situation, as he continues to clear up the destruction left by Roberto Di Matteo.

Reinforcements are an urgent priority for Bruce as he looks to lift Villa back into contention for the play-offs. Football League World writer Lee Clarke looks at two players who should be subjected to quick-fire deals by the West Midlands-based club.

Henri Lansbury

A deal to take Forest midfielder Lansbury to Villa Park has been on the table for a few weeks now and it could be close to completion.

Forest’s takeover by an American consortium looks to have fallen through so the unpopular Fawaz Al Hasawi is back in charge of the daily running of the club, which could mean that Villa are soon to get the green light to secure the Reds’ skipper.

Jordan Rhodes

The talismanic striker has played just 208 minutes of football for Middlesbrough this season, which for a player of his magnitude is simply wasteful.

Rhodes has performed impeccably at Championship level in the past, scoring goals for fun during his time with Blackburn Rovers and previously Huddersfield.

The 26-year-old would likely relish a move to Villa Park and his arrival would see Villa steal a march on the teams higher up the Championship.

Aston Villa fans, would you like to see these two players at Villa Park? Who else should the club try to sign this week? Let us know in the comments below!!!