Parma Sporting Director Daniele Faggiano has said that the Italian club keep getting priced out of a swoop for out-of-favour Aston Villa midfielder Birkir Bjarnason. 

Bjarnason came to Villa Park in last season's January transfer window but has struggled to nail down a first team place or impress the Villa fans with his performances.

The former Basel man has made just 10 Championship experience, totalling just 231 minutes, and scoring a solitary goal.

He has seen more action in the cups, netting a goal in the EFL Cup, in which he played every minute of Villa's three games but he is definitely one seen as expendable by Villa fans.

However, it appears as if Steve Bruce and Tony Xia want more money for the midfielder than they are currently being offered.

Faggiano told Italian outlet TMW: "Bjarnason, I like a lot, I tried for him in the summer, but for economic reasons it seems difficult for me to get him."

The Verdict

Time is up for Bjarnason at Villa and although it is understandable that Bruce and Xia do not want to let the player leave for nothing, it is strange that they are repeatedly pricing an interested party out of a deal for a player who is expendable.

Villa fans - would you sell Bjarnason to Parma? Let us know in the comments below...