Aston Villa are expected to cash-in on one of their academy graduates
Championship promotion hopefuls Coventry City are understood to be the leading candidates to sign Aston Villa right-back Kaine Kesler-Hayden in the summer transfer window.
The Sky Blues qualified for the play-offs this season after a sublime second half of the campaign under Frank Lampard, who replaced long-serving manager Mark Robins mid-season.
The West Midlands outfit ultimately fell short in the play-off semi-final against Sunderland when Eliezer Mayenda decided the contest in the dying moments. Now they are aiming to go one better this season and are expected to back Lampard heavily with plenty of new additions.
Coventry City lead the race to land Kaine Kesler-Hayden
Well-renowned EFL journalist and transfer inside Alan Nixon claims Coventry City are willing to spend around £5m to bring Kaine Kesler-Hayden to the club as they aim to assemble a team that can win promotion to the top-flight.
He explains that Coventry are big admirers of the 22-year-old, who recorded two goals and three assists in 51 appearances during a productive loan spell at Preston North End.
Kesler-Hayden played predominantly as a right-back for Paul Heckingbottom’s side but showcased great versatility at points of the season by featuring as a winger, central midfielder and even as a centre back.
“He's a good kid and has improved a lot here. Listen, I think if I was Villa, I'd be looking at why he's improved here and ‘can we keep him improving?’ said Paul Heckingbottom, via Lancashire Evening Post.
“But there's so many other factors, so many. His own circumstances, other people who want him, contract situations, Villa's requirements. What do they want from an asset? Because, let's get it right, that's what we see people as - assets - so yeah, there's lots of things to consider.”
Aston Villa plan to sell Kaine Kesler-Hayden
Birmingham World understands that Aston Villa have agreed to transfer list Kaine Kesler-Hayden this summer despite the youngster’s solid campaign at Championship level.
The Solihull-born youngster has been on the books since 2021 and even captained the under-18 side to victory in the FA Youth Cup that same year.
However, he’s not thought to be part of the plans at first team level, with Matty Cash and January signing Andrés García sitting ahead of him in the pecking order.
Villa are also thought to need funds to help with Profit and Sustainability and though £5m is not a significant figure it represents 100 percent profit due him being an academy product.
Kesler-Hayden has spent time at Swindon Town, MK Dons, Huddersfield Town, Plymouth Argyle and Preston earlier in his career, and is rated highly by a number of Championship sides.
Coventry are the front runners but West Bromwich Albion could be feasible suitors, too, as the Baggies are understood to be weighing up whether to sell right-back Darnell Furlong as he enters the final 12 months of his contract.
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