Dean Smith has some decision making to do in the coming weeks once the January transfer window is slammed shut once more.

The Express and Star is reporting that Aston Villa’s hierarchy will have discussions surrounding the future of their out-of-contract players in February.

The Championship club have a whole host of first-team players who are due to be without a club in the summer.

The likes of Glenn Whelan, Mile Jedinak, Alan Hutton, Tommy Elphick and Ritchie De Laet are all due to see their current deals run out when the campaign concludes – with forgotten man Micah Richards on that list, too.

At present, the club’s sole focus is to add in this window to get them back closer to the top-six and make a late charge to secure a play-off place once the regular season ends.

Smith explained to the Express and Star: “January is our month to do deals, to strengthen the squad.

“There will be players out of contract at the end of the season, and once the window is over, our sporting director will look at whether we are extending them or not.

“It’s a conversation for after the window closes.”

The verdict

This stance makes sense, in all honesty – why convolute the January transfer window with matters that are not pressing when you have a busy and complicated month in front of you.

If the out-of-contract players do not leave this month, then it will be discussing when the window closes as to their stance with the club going forward.

Get all the transfer dealings out of the way and get the squad to where you want it to be – then have the conversation with players whose deals are set to expire.

It makes sense the approach Smith is going for, but any other managers would put too many eggs in one basket and leave themselves with too much to do.