Stoke City are in pole position to secure a move for Aston Villa defender James Chester before the end of the window, with the Potters ahead of a number of other clubs who interested in him, according to the Mirror writer Graeme Bailey.

Michael O’Neill could be in need of adding to his defensive options before the window closes, with the Potters having allowed Cameron Carter-Vickers to return to Tottenham Hotspur from his loan spell, and Chester could be an ideal option for them to bring in.

Chester has found game time limited so far this campaign under Dean Smith following Aston Villa’s promotion to the Premier League last term, with the 31-year-old having fallen behind the likes of Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa and Kortney Hause in the pecking order in the middle of Villa’s defence.

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However, the experienced defender played an important role in helping Aston Villa reach back to back play-off finals over the last two seasons, and could be wanting to move away from the club now to secure more regular game time.

The verdict

This will be a real boost for the Potters, with Chester a potentially key addition for O’Neill’s side, as the Northern Irishman looks to continue the club’s recent up turn in form during the rest of the campaign – and a player of the 31-year-old’s quality will only help to make Stoke even harder to beat.

Chester is a player with a wealth of experience and recent pedigree in the Championship, and it is no surprise to see a number of clubs looking to secure a move for him before Deadline Day, and a few months ago Stoke probably would not have been his first choice of destinations due to them struggling in the relegation zone.

However, Stoke have now began to lift themselves clear of danger, which could potentially make them a much more attractive prospect for Chester to come into, and O’Neill’s proven ability to coach and improve defenders could help convince the defender to make the move.

With time running out until the window closes, Stoke will need to move swiftly for Chester and take advantage of their current position in leading the race for his signature, with other clubs likely to firm up their interest in him over the next few days.