Aston Villa are close to completing a deal that would bring Birmingham City winger Jota to Villa Park, according to The Sun.

Dean Smith's side were promoted to the Premier League last week after beating Derby County 2-1 in the play-off final, and it now appears they will make Jota their first signing to prepare for a top-flight return.

It appeared there was a delay in the deal, but journalist Alan Nixon has now confirmed the deal is still on track with Jota needing to return to Spain before putting pen to paper.

Jota was a regular feature for Garry Monk's side last season as they avoided relegation from the Championship following a nine-point deduction in the second half of the season.

The Blues have regularly depended on Jota's contribution from the right wing during the last two seasons, but what could he bring to Villa next season?

Jota made 40 league appearances under Monk last season, which reflects his importance to the Blues' side. He was involved in a total of 14 goals, with three of those strikes coming directly from him. One of these was a magical goal against Nottingham Forest at St Andrew's where he flicked the ball over the defence before finishing in style.

His most effective contribution though has come in the form of assists, where he has registered 11. This reflects the creative edge Jota can add to Dean Smith's side from the wing, as he is definitely at his most dangerous with the ball at his feet.

The Spaniard also registered 1.9 crosses per game and made an average of 2.1 key passes. These stats have also contributed to the number of assists he has recorded, and demonstrates the damage he is capable of causing. However, it should be noted that crossing is one aspect of his game that could be improved, as they have sometimes been inconsistent for the Blues.

Jota made 1.1 dribbles per game, which suggests room for improvement. It is worth considering that he will likely be permitted more time on the ball in the Premier League, which will give him more of a chance to assess his options and potentially complete more dribbles. His 72.1 pass completion rate could also be improved with this consideration, but it also reflects that he is keen to take risks in order to break through the lines.

These stats suggest that Villa will be adding a lively and dangerous player to their ranks, but he does have the capacity to improve ahead of his Premier League debut. This means he could start out on the bench or as a squad player before really making his mark at Villa Park.