Aston Villa are considering a move for West Bromwich Albion defender Ahmed Hegazi, according to BBC journalist Phil McNulty.

Dean Smith's side have already strengthened their back line by sealing permanent deals for Tyrone Mings and Kortney Hause, but it is now being reported they are in the hunt for one more defensive addition.

Hegazi was a key figure for the Baggies as they reached the play-off semi-finals last term, and he has been a regular feature at the heart of Albion's defence since his arrival at the club in 2017.

This means the Egypt international was a member of the Albion side who were relegated from the top-flight in 2018, so is he worthy of Villa's interest as they prepare for their Premier League return?

We take a closer look...

Hegazi was an instrumental figure in defence during Albion's promotion bid. The centre-back registered a total of 40 Championship appearances, scoring just the one goal which came against Swansea in November.

However, it is the 28-year-old's defensive statistics which should come under the most scrutiny. Hegazi averaged a total of 1.4 tackles per game, reflecting his willingness to enter challenges and win the ball. However, Villa would be looking for Hegazi to increase this figure next season, as their status as Premier League newcomers means the defence is likely to come under a lot of pressure.

Standing tall at 6ft 3in, Hegazi's greatest strengths are his height and physicality. He clearly used these to his advantage last season, as he recorded an average of 6.1 clearances and 4.1 aerial duels per game. The fact Hegazi is able to use his body so effectively means he could be a good person for Villa to have around in the top-flight. These are highly impressive statistics which reflect Hegazi's ability to dominate his opponents.

However, Smith has opted to play a brand of possession-based football at Villa and there is little doubt that this will continue next season. This means that any of Smith's potential signings must feel comfortable with the ball at feet, and Hegazi registered an average of 48.2 passes per game and recorded a 76.9% pass completion rate last season. While these numbers are not awful, the pass completion rate suggests Hegazi does not thrive when playing out from the back. This is something Villa should consider when assessing his credentials.

There is no doubt that Hegazi would offer a strong presence at the back for Villa next season with his no-nonsense approach, but you may question whether he could be something of a mismatch with Villa. His aggressive playing style does not appear to naturally compliment Smith's more expansive game plan.

However, the former Brentford boss may be looking at Hegazi as something of a contrasting option who can add steel to the back-line. Therefore, Hegazi's potential switch to Villa would not be the most natural fit, but his physicality could certainly provide some sturdy depth to Smith's squad.