Championship side Aston Villa fell short in their quest to sign two Premier League players on deadline day, according to the club’s chief executive Keith Wyness via The Birmingham Mail.

Steve Bruce’s men laboured to a 13th place finish in their first season in the second tier last time out, and the pressure will be on the former Birmingham and Hull manager, both with whom he won promotion in the past, to lead a promotion push this term.

The Villans brought seven new faces to the Villa Park this summer, most notably former Chelsea and England defender John Terry, while West Ham’s Robert Snodgrass also joined the Championship side on loan from the London Stadium.

However, Villa were unable to get any incoming business done on deadline day, but it was not through a lack of trying according to chief executive Wyness, who has confirmed that the club tried to land two top-flight stars on the final day of the window.

He said: ‘In terms of Deadline Day and outgoings, it went right until 11pm. We didn’t get things across the line that we had hoped.

‘In terms of potential incomings, there were a couple of big names in the mix. We’re not going to divulge their names.

‘There were two big Premier League names that we were in discussions with. But it’s difficult to get things across the line. I am afraid I will have to tease everybody with that information.’

These comments are sure to intrigue Villa supporters, who have seen their side struggle in the opening few weeks of the season with just one victory to show from their first five matches.

But with experienced pros brought in to the club over the summer, as well as the sale of some deadwood, Bruce’s men will be hoping for much better as the season wears on, starting with their home clash against struggling Brentford on Saturday.

The Verdict: It was a busy summer of business at Villa Park, with manager Steve Bruce placing much emphasis on experience with his incomings, and hoping to generate funds and indeed trim his squad with several outgoings.

And although deadline day passed with no new arrivals, the club certainly appeared to work up until the 11pm deadline last Thursday, with chief executive Keith Wyness admitting that two Premier League stars were close to moving to the Midlands outfit.

He stopped short of disclosing the name of the duo, which is sure to leave many Villa supporters speculating over the coming weeks as to who they were, and more importantly why the club were unable to get the deals over the line.

Villa fans… what do you make of the news? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!