Aston Villa want Massadio Haidara

Aston Villa officials are reportedly trying to convince manager Paul Lambert to approve a deal to sign Nancy left-back Massadio Haidara.

Former boss Alex McLeish is said to have been close to agreeing a £2m deal to bring the 19-year-old France Under-20 international to Villa Park, prior to his sacking last month.

Multiple members of the club's backroom staff, including chief executive Paul Faulkner, have scouted Haidara and are desperate for Lambert to give his blessing to the move, according to The Mirror.

It is understood that Lambert may want to keep the deal on hold and attempt to bring in AZ Alkmaar's Danish full-back Simon Poulsen instead.