Aston Villa are set to take their January transfer business down to the wire with Steven Gerrard's side expected to remain active on the final day of the window.

It is unlikely they will be signing Juventus midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, though, with Tottenham Hotspur winning the race for the Uruguayan's signature.

Villa wanted to sign a defensve midfielder to cover for Marvelous Nakamba, who remains out with a knee injury suffered in December, but appear to have missed out on Bentancur.

Reports claimed that Villa had made a bid of around £21 million for the player but Sky Sports claim that Spurs have 'agreed' to sign Bentancur for a similar price and also loan in Sweden winger Dejan Kulusevski.

Spurs are thought to have had the edge on signing Bentancur because of their director of football Fabio Paratici's time at Juventus having signed Bentancur before he moved to London in the summer.

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Villa 'did not' firm up interest

The BBC reported that Villa never went as far as initial talks for the player, who had also been linked with a move to French side Olympique Lyon.

Juventus agreeing a move for Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria has opened the door for Bentancur to leave Turin but it looks like Tottenham have won the race for the player's signature.

Bentancur would certainly have brought quality to Villa's midfield but boss Steven Gerrard may feel he has enough in the position to make it to the end of the season.

Douglas Luiz has been filling in at defensive midfield in Nakamba's absence.

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What Gerrard has said

Gerrard has said Villa will look to 'pounce' in the final days of the January transfer window if the right targets come available in the market.

The Villa boss remains coy over the possibility of completing more moves, but has admitted that Villa will remain active in the market to improve the playing squad this month.

"Nothing has changed. I told you I was analysing a few things behind the scenes and, if the right player and the right opportunity comes up to make the team stronger and better, we'll try and pounce like we have done previously," Gerrard said.

"We've had a positive window so far but, if the right players don't become available, we'll have to wait and be patient."

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Fans get behind deal

Villa fans had their say on signing Bentancur.

"What a great signing this would be," one said while another added: "his stats at defensive midfield speak for themselves. He is a big and strong defensive midfielder who can pick a pass.

"He is a quality player and exactly the type we need to go for if we are to gatecrash those European spots," another said.

"Yes please," a fourth fan added while another said: "Get it done and we are laughing next year."

Have Villa missed out by not landing Bentancur? Have your say in the comments section...

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