According to The Birmingham Mail, Aston Villa look unlikely to land target Harold Moukoudi this January. 

The 21-year-old defender is currently with Ligue 2 outfit Le Havre, but his agent has said that the player is more likely to join a Ligue 1 side rather than move abroad.

This would have been a great addition to Dean Smith's squad, not only for this season, but for many years to come. He would have added security to The Villans' defence, which looks disconcertingly barren at the moment. Furthermore, the Frenchman would have been a huge figure in the Villa defence next season for a promotion push, or even in the Premier League.

The Lions have already signed Kortney Hause this month on loan from Wolves, but that was surely not going to be enough for a defence that has only had one fit centre-back on a number of occasions this season. Aston Villa will want another new face at Villa Park in defence this January, and this latest news will therefore be a huge blow to Villa.

However, with over a week remaining in the transfer window to recruit a new name, Villa still have time, but it is certainly running out. Villa fans would be severely worried if it reaches the final days of the window and they have not signed someone else, but that could be a reality. Of course, a lot of this depends on FFP rules, as Villa have had a lot of financial problems, but fans and staff at Villa will be the first to say that the defence is still a problem for the club.