Aston Villa have received a boost in their hunt for summer target Harold Moukoudi, as his current side have take a hard line stance to recent contract negotiations.

The 21-year-old was close to agreeing a deal with Villa in the summer, even touring their Bodymoor Heath training base, but eventually chose to return to France.

He's since refused to sign a new long-term deal with Le Harve, prompting them to leave him out of their last three matches.

French outlet L'Equip report that coach Oswald Tanchot has been told by the club's hierarchy to put the player on the bench for an indefinite period, with them preferring to sell him for a fee now rather than letting him walk away in the summer.

Whilst that is good news for Villa, the defender's stock has risen significantly since his summer shenanigans.

Both Napoli and Borussia Dortmund have been named in the report as coveting his signature, complicating the Villa efforts to secure the player.

Moukoudi turned down Villa in the summer as he didn't feel the move was right for him at the time, believing that his views on football differed with those of the club.

The Verdict

I think there's less likelihood of Moukoudi ending up at Villa, despite the fact Le Harve are likely to cash in this January.

If Napoli or Dortmund want him, surely they would be a better bet? Dortmund have proven they'll give exciting young players game time, Jadon Sancho is a classic example.

This might be a short-term boost in terms of Moukoudi's availability, but as for Aston Villa, I suspect the ship has sailed.