Aston Villa are weighing up a move for Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez.



The 30-year-old is under serious consideration as the Villa manager Dean Smith looks for two new forwards to bolster his ranks following the season-ending injury to the club’s record signing Wesley.



Villa were initially hoping for loan deals this month but will have to lodge a bid to sign Rodriguez on a permanent deal as Burnley will not easily release a key member of their squad to a relegation rival.



The long-term plan has always been to find an attacker who can play down the middle and on the flanks. Rodriguez is proven in that regard and was particularly effective in games against Villa in the Championship last season.



The former West Bromwich Albion man famously scored with the ‘Hand of Rod’ in a 2-2 draw with Villa at The Hawthorns last season, which angered Smith and his Villa team. Rodriguez then fired in a stunning 25-yard strike in Albion’s 2-0 win...