Aston Villa are thought to be interested in former Wolves striker Leo Bonatini who has returned to Al-Hilal after a successful loan spell in the West Midlands.

The Brazilian forward was magnificent for the Black Country side in the first half of the season, scoring 12 goals by December that were pivotal to Wolves' surge to the top of the Championship, including one in a 2-0 win against Villa.

However, he failed to score after Decemeber 4 and eventually lost his place in the team with Benik Afobe returning to Wanderers in the January window.

Nevertheless, he clearly did enough to impress Steve Bruce, with the Birmingham Mail revealing that reports connected to his Saudi Arabian parent club are suggesting he is close to joining Villa.

Villa are going to be looking for loans and bargain deals this summer given their well-documented financial situation.

It means key players such as Jack Grealish, Jonathan Kodjia and James Chester are set to leave. And, if Kodjia does go that will mean Bruce is very short on options up top, with Lewis Grabban having returned to Bournemouth after a loan.

The Verdict

Bonatini would be a decent signing for Villa and he will certainly have benefitted from a season in English football already.

The natural concerns are about his form in the past six months as failing to score since December is worrying.

However, the ability is clearly there and if Bruce could get him to replicate the form he displayed in the first part of the campaign he would be a great signing.

Thoughts, Villa fans? Let us know in the comments below.