EXCLUSIVE: Aston Villa seriously considering move for former Chelsea striker who is available this January as Unai Emery look to bolster attacking options ahead of crucial second half of the season

Aston Villa are admirers of Timo Werner as the Villans look to strengthen their attacking options during the January transfer window.

Unai Emery‘s side have been one of the surprise packages of the campaign so far. Heading into Sunday, they sit second in the table, level on points with league leaders Liverpool.

There is an opportunity to achieve something special this season. So it would be little surprise to see the Villans try and push the boat out in the coming weeks.

And according to a report from the Daily Mail, one of the players Aston Villa are monitoring is Timo Werner who is very much available this month.

Werner is an interesting target for Villa. Of course, he is no stranger to the Premier League having previously joined Chelsea in a £45 million deal. Werner has also been linked with a move to West Ham.

Unfortunately, his time at Stamford Bridge did not work out for either party. And he ultimately returned to RB Leipzig having scored 23 goals and provided 21 assists in 89 games for the Blues in all competitions.

The 27-year-old has scored 11 Bundesliga goals since his return. And he averages a goal every three games in all competitions.

Interestingly, he has been a peripheral figure this season. Werner has been on the pitch for longer than an hour on just two occasions in the top-flight. And he has not completed 90 minutes.

Leipzig are open to offers for Werner during the January window with the player also stating some time last year that he needs to find a solution to his lack of game-time. And he may perhaps relish the chance to return to England and prove a point after his spell with Chelsea, particularly if it is Villa who come calling.

Emery has silenced many with the job he has done at Villa Park. Perhaps he is ready to offer Werner the chance to do exactly the same.