Ahead of the upcoming January transfer window, Aston Villa need to start drawing up a list of defensive targets that they could bring in.

James Chester has been excellent this season for the Villains but he needs a new centre-back partner if John Terry leaves when his contract expires this summer.

Terry has been very reliable at the back for Steve Bruce and it is unclear yet whether he will commit to another year, hang up his boots or move on elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Tommy Elphick's future at Villa Park looks bleak while Christopher Samba is likely to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Therefore, the priority this summer needs to be to bring in at least one new centre-half.

One player that Villa could target is Millwall stalwart Shaun Hutchinson.

FLW shines a spotlight on his season so far and considers whether he would be a good addition for the Villains.

Hutchinson has played in every single Championship game for Millwall this season, forming solid partnerships with both Byron Webster and then Jake Cooper.

Together with Cooper, Millwall have been almost impenetrable at the back, forming a solid foundation from which the Lions have used as a springboard to jump up the league table.

With a rate of 7.9 clearances per game from Hutchinson, it is clear to see why Millwall are so hard to break down.

The 27-year-old commands the defence and wins almost everything in the air, which means he is also a threat from set-pieces with two goals to his name this term.

But he is not just a one-trick pony in defence; the former Motherwell and Fulham defender is also confident when the ball is on the ground, as demonstrated by his average of 1.4 tackles per game.

Hutchinson has a right feel aggrieved that he was not given a look-in for the Team of the Season - that is how good he has been.

Aston Villa could certainly do worse than bringing in the 6ft 2in centre-half, who could learn so much from Terry and become a long-term partner for Chester at the heart of defence.