Aston Villa have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Brentford captain Romaine Sawyers.

The 27-year old has followed Dean Smith from Walsall to Griffin Park and is now wanted by his former manager at Villa Park, but any move will have to wait until the summer.

The midfielder has 18 months left on his current deal and will be allowed to leave Brentford, but only at the end of the season. He's rated at around £4m and is seen as being integral to Thomas Frank's plans this season.

That means Dean Smith will have to hang fire on chasing his protégé, although it is looking likely he'll move in the summer, be it to Villa or elsewhere.

Will the wait actually be a good thing for Villa? Is there anything to be gained from not moving now? or is it a situation likely to cost them dearly?

We look at the pros and cons of Villa being made to wait for a deal for Romaine Sawyers.

By being made to wait, Villa will have a clearer idea of where they are financially. If they're promoted it may well change the landscape considerably.

Should they go up Villa fans would hope for bigger targets than a midfielder with no Premier League experience.

If Sawyers does have a good second half of the season and Villa do not go up, his value could increase.

The caveat of the contract is to be considered, but it will be a buyers market in the summer and his known availability could spark an auction, not what Villa want.

At the moment, it might be hard for him to force his way into the side, so it might be wasted money. Come the summer, John McGinn might attract interest, Jack Grealish could move on and he'd be in with a better chance of a start.

It's far harder to settle moving during the season than it is going somewhere and having a pre-season at the new club.

It's a worry round every player, but Sawyers could easily pick up an injury and scupper any deal.

Being made to wait introduces so many 'what ifs' that the deal seems more unlikely. Form, injury, other clubs interest, relegation, promotion... it all makes it more difficult and changes the complexion of any deal.