Villa vying for Young return, with Van Gaal not a fan

Premier League top 10 chances Aston Villa (3/1) are reportedly keen on re-signing their former player Ashley Young from title fourth favourites Manchester United (14/1), with the winger seemingly unfancied now at Old Trafford.

Young played a big part in pre-season for the Red Devils, impressing in a new left wing back role, in Louis van Gaal experimental 3-4-1-2 formation, and started the campaign in that position for the opening games.

However, for the following three fixtures, the Dutch manager has reverted back to 4-4-2 with a midfield diamond, and the England wideman has been one to miss out in the more successful system, not even making the squad.

That means that the Villans could swoop to take their former star back to Villa Park, where another much-maligned Old Trafford player has impressed this term – Tom Cleverley, who is on loan for the campaign. The West Midlands club will face competition from Sunderland and Southampton, though, according to tabloid reports.

Villa have enjoyed a solid start to the season, gaining three wins and a draw from their opening six games to take them up to sixth place, and find themselves two points above United.

If Young were to join, though, he would have to fight for a place with the likes of Kieran Richardson, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Andreas Weimann and Charles N’Zogbia, who have all impressed in wide positions in a fluid formation this term.

Since joining Man Utd in 2011 for a hefty fee of around £15m, the England international has racked up 87 appearances in all competitions in four seasons, scoring 11 times, mainly been used in a bit-part role off the bench. That compares to his record of 38 goals in 190 games at Villa.

The Red Devils would be unlikely to demand a price as high as that, but would seemingly not miss the winger, who is currently vying for a starting role with world class stars. The likes of Angel Di Maria, Juan Mata, Adnan Januzaj, Wayne Rooney and Antonio Valencia are all competing for a starting berth.