With news emerging from Birmingham Live that Aston Villa are reportedly interested in bringing Chelsea youngster Ethan Ampadu to Villa Park, there will be a number of players that will be worried about retaining their place in the Villa starting XI.

Aston Villa have made a somewhat sluggish start to the season and Dean Smith will be hoping for an upturn in recent performances, as his side are currently sat in 14th in the Championship table.

They are only five points adrift of the play-off places, but Smith will be keen for his side to put together a good run of form as the festive period approaches.

There is no questioning that Ampadu would be an excellent addition to Smith's side, but would competition for places in the Villa team be a bad thing?

But which two players are going to be sweating over retaining their place in Dean Smith's starting XI if Ampadu was to arrive in January?

Find out here....

The creative midfielder has been a regular in the Villa side since Dean Smith took over at the club.

But with John McGinn already establishing himself in the centre of the Villa midfield, Hourihane's place in the starting XI could come under threat if Ampadu was to arrive in January.

Ampadu would offer some much needed defensive stability in the midfield if he signed for Dean Smith's side.

The Manchester United loanee has been a crucial member of Dean Smith's side this season and has already made 13 appearances for Villa.

But Ampadu's potential arrival could mean that the centre-back has his game time limited, with Dean Smith unlikely to want to drop James Chester who is captain of the club.