Steve Bruce appears to be approaching the summer transfer window cautiously, with very few names linked with a move to Aston Villa, despite the club falling way short of expectations in the Sky Bet Championship last season and only achieving a 13^th placed finish.

John Terry has sensationally been linked with a move to Villa Park following his release from Chelsea, yet the only other player currently in discussions with Villa is Glenn Whelan, who Stoke City are willing to let leave this summer, should the midfielder push for a transfer.

Whelan would be an excellent addition to Bruce’s squad, and would be well suited to playing alongside Mile Jedinak in a defensive midfield role in the Villa starting XI.

Bruce tinkered with various formations last season, but should he take the route of 4-2-3-1, as so many do in the Championship, the addition of Whelan alongside Jedinak in midfield, could see Jack Grealish excel in the ‘number 10’ position.

Grealish struggled in the Championship last season, scoring just five goals and finding regular opportunities in the starting XI hard to come by.

Playing ahead of two experienced midfielders will only benefit Grealish, and with his defensive duties limited, he could really shine in the Championship for Villa.

Whelan will not find his name on the scoresheet often is he arrives at Villa Park, but it will be the work within the team that stands out for Villa and his impact on Grealish’s game could be essential for Bruce’s side next season.

While Bruce may not be looking to bring many high-profile names to Villa Park this summer, he certainly seems to be identifying players that will improve what he currently has available.