Dean and Smith and Aston Villa are set to revive the club’s interest in Nottingham Forest midfielder Joe Lolley, according to reports from Sky Sports.
Lolley, 26, enjoyed a remarkable season for Forest in 2018/19, scoring 11 goals and contributing 11 assists as Martin O’Neill’s side finished 9th in the Championship to fall eight points shy of the playoffs.
It is well documented that Lolley, a boyhood Villa fan, was subject to bids from Smith’s side in the January window, but Forest rejected all interest in an attempt to make the top-six and achieve promotion to the Premier League.
That feat, however, was achieved by Villa courtesy of their 2-1 victory over Derby in the play-off final, and with increased financial flexibility in the transfer market, the club are expected to renew their interest in Lolley in a deal that would see Forest pocket in excess of £10m.
Villa are also set to pursue a permanent £15m deal for Tyrone Mings alongside discussing a £25m move for Tammy Abraham with Chelsea, as Smith’s side aim to re-establish the club in the Premier League after a three-year absence in the second tier.
A move for Lolley would add considerable quality to an already talented midfield, boasting the likes of Jack Grealish, John McGinn and Conor Hourihane, providing goal-threat, the ability to assist and more industrious energy to complement Villa’s dominant playmakers who were extremely influential in their promotion to the Premier League.
