Aston Villa close to deal for Bordeaux's Lamine Sane

Aston Villa are expected to complete a loan deal for Bordeaux's Lamine Sane in the coming days.

The 28-year-old can play at centre-back or as a defensive midfielder and is thought to be in the final throes of sealing his switch to the Premier League strugglers, according to The Mirror.

Remi Garde notched up his first win as Aston Villa manager - and the club's first league win since the opening day of the season - on Tuesday as they edged past Crystal Palace 1-0 in Birmingham.

The side remain rock bottom of the Premier League, eight points from safety, but owner Randy Lerner has promised transfer funds this month to assist in their fight for survival.

Garde is also thought to be interested in a deal to take Arsenal's out-of-favour defender Mathieu Debuchy on loan for the rest of the campaign.