Aston Villa have set their sights on Middlesbrough striker Jordan Rhodes as a replacement for Ghana striker Jordan Ayew when he departs for AFCON 2017 in January with the Black Stars.
The transfer window opens in just over a month, but already, the rumours are starting to circulate that Rhodes will be brought in to serve as cover for Ayew and Jonathan Kodjia who will be away with Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire respectively at AFCON 2017 in Gabon.
This isn't the first time that Villa have been linked with the Scottish striker, as Boro allegedly blocked a deadline day move last summer.
Rhodes is expected to cost Villa around £10m.
Villa boss Steve Bruce believes there is one reason why signing a new striker might not be a bad idea, and that would be the African Cup of Nations.
Benin failed to qualify so bench warming striker Rudy Gestede will not feature at the tournament. Nonetheless, losing two key strikers for almost a whole month is not ideal.
But Villa are already in a position in which they can replace the missing duo. Ross McCormack and Rudy Gestede are proven starters, and Gabby Agbonlahor, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy and even Libor Kozak are adequate backups at this level.