Aston Villa have been dealt a huge transfer blow, with Crystal Palace emerging as 5/2 favourites with Sky Bet to secure Leonardo Ulloa’s signature this month.

Steve Bruce is keen to take Ulloa to Villa Park to aid Aston Villa’s promotion push in the Sky Bet Championship, but has been unable to trash out a deal with Leicester City for the striker, who remains at the King Power Stadium.

With just days left of the window, Villa have drifted out to a price of 3/1, with Crystal Palace, Leicester’s Premier League rivals, seemingly moving into pole position to secure the 31-year-old’s signature this month.

Ulloa has been used sparingly at Leicester this season, featuring on just four occasions in the Premier League.

Leicester appear keen to offload the Argentine, but reports in the Birmingham Mail yesterday indicated any deal could go to the wire, with Leicester also facing the possibility of losing Islam Slimani this month.

That report suggested Villa remained confident of doing a deal for Ulloa, with Bruce desperate to add another striking option to his squad to deputise for Jonathan Kodjia, who is likely to be missing the remainder of the season.

The Verdict

Not landing Ulloa in the coming days would be a huge blow for Aston Villa, who are desperate to add a striker this month.

Ulloa has Championship experience from his days at Brighton and Hove Albion, and if he arrived at Villa Park it would be a huge boost for the club’s promotion hopes.

Without the addition of another striker, Bruce’s squad could be looking short in their quest for Premier League football.

Aston Villa fans… Let us know your thoughts!