Steve Bruce has revealed that he wants to sign Aston Villa’s loan players permanently, if promotion is achieved over the weekend.  

Villa are just 90 minutes away from a Premier League return, with Saturday’s play-off final with Fulham a perfect opportunity for Bruce’s side to end a two-year stay in the Sky Bet Championship.

A lot of Villa’s summer transfer business is hinged on whether promotion is achieved, with Bruce revealing to the Birmingham Mail that it will be particularly hard to bring the five loan players back to Villa Park permanently if promotion isn’t achieved.

The likes of Robert Snodgrass, Sam Johnstone and Lewis Grabban have been vital, whilst Axel Tuanzebe and Josh Onomah have also contributed well at Villa Park.

Discussing his eagerness for those players to return next season, Bruce told the Birmingham Mail: “It is fairly evident we are going to have go up to keep the loan players, otherwise it will be a struggle to hang onto them, either financially or whatever division we are in.

“There is still a bit of work to be done. I have to say we have the makings of a very decent squad. The five loan players add to that.

“The first thing we want to do is secure them. I would love to secure them all if we can.”

Snodgrass and Johnstone are almost certain to start at Wembley on Saturday, whilst Grabban has been preferred to Jonathan Kodjia and Scott Hogan since arriving and will also expect to start.

Onomah has found his opportunities limited in the starting XI, with his contribution mainly coming from the bench, whilst Tuanzebe has found his loan spell with Villa disrupted by injuries.

The Verdict  

The personnel within Villa’s squad is clearly very good, with Bruce desperate to keep the core of this side together next season.

Loan players like Snodgrass and Johnstone have been key, and it is little surprise to hear that Bruce wants to make them deals permanent in the summer.

Saturday is huge for Villa, not just because Premier League football hinges on the play-off final, but it will also define the type of business Villa can do this summer due to FFP.

Without Premier League football, we might not see the likes of Johnstone and Snodgrass in claret and blue again after Saturday.

Villa fans… Let us know your thoughts!