According to a recent report from The Birmingham Mail, Aston Villa manager Dean Smith will make an imminent decision as to whether to sign James Collins. The centre back is currently without a club after leaving Premier League outfit West Ham at the expiration of his contract in the summer, although he has been training with the Villans in a bid to secure an agreement with the Championship club.

And reports suggest that Smith will make a decision in the coming days, and while the Villa boss simply must seal a deal for the former Wales international, he must do so on the condition that his team also sign a centre back in the upcoming January transfer window.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, the Midlands giants have struggled defensively at times this season in conceding 30 goals in their 19 Championship games, which is more than any other team that currently sits in the top 15 of the division.

And with that tally also more than Bolton Wanderers and Hull City, two of the three teams that occupy the relegation places at present, it’s plainly obvious that Smith has to bolster that area of the pitch - the 5-5 draw with Nottingham Forest in the week only served to make the point clearer.

And a move for ex-West Ham star Collins, who spent time at Villa Park between 2009 and 2012, makes complete sense, what with the centre back ready to feature immediately given he’s not got a club, while he also possesses great quality and plenty of experience to help the Villans backline.

However, at the age of 35 and having not played regular football for some time now, he only made 15 appearances for the Hammers last season, it would be a very risky move to rely solely on Collins to shore up the Villa defence between now and the end of the season - his best footballing days are likely behind him.

Thus, while it’s certainly a good option to have Collins in and around the squad, especially given his arrival would be on a free transfer, it’s not the long-term solution to Villa’s problem - Smith must seek to sort that out come the New Year.

Chelsea's Gary Cahill has been linked with a move to Villa Park come January, and while he also is 32 and perhaps entering the twilight of his career, he still has plenty of football left in him at a high level - it was only a matter of years ago in which he helped the Blues win the Premier League title.

So while Smith should certainly seek to lure Collins to Villa Park, it’s a move that would provide nothing more than a short-term solution to a long-term problem - nonetheless, he should sign the 35-year-old, but only on the condition that his side land another centre back in the New Year.

Villa fans… what do you think? Let us know!