Aston Villa prepared to sell Jordan Ayew

According to The Mirror, Aston Villa are prepared to sell attacker Jordan Ayew in order to fund a bid for Middlesbrough striker Jordan Rhodes.

Villa, who currently sit ten points off the Championship play-off places, are in desperate need of a reinforcements as they chase a top six spot under Steve Bruce.

So far, Bruce has only managed to bring one new face to the club, as goalkeeper Sam Johnstone has arrived on loan from Manchester United until the end of the season.

Adding another striker could be a priority for Bruce, with Gabriel Agbonlahor still struggling and Jonathan Kodjia currently at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana.

Now, The Mirror report that Villa are still keen to sign Middlesbrough striker Jordan Rhodes, who is out of favour at the Riverside Stadium following the arrival of Rudy Gestede from Villa themselves.

However, Middlesbrough are sticking to their £10million asking price for Rhodes, and with Villa seemingly reluctant to pay that right now, it's stated that Bruce may look to cash in on Jordan Ayew to fund a move for Rhodes.

Ayew, 25, hit seven Premier League goals last season having signed from Lorient in the summer of 2015, and he's chipped in with two goals and four assists in the Championship this term.

The Ghanaian – who is also currently at the Africa Cup of Nations – has mostly been shoved out on the left of midfield this season, and Bruce may look to cash in given that Chinese clubs are keen to sign him, as claimed by The Sun earlier this month.

Cash from Ayew's possible departure could enable to bring Rhodes to the club, handing Bruce a proven Championship goalscorer, and enabling him to sign a long-term target having also wanted Rhodes at Hull.