Middlesbrough are eyeing up a move for Aston Villa defender James Chester this January according to Football Insider.
Chester has suffered from a number of niggling injuries in recent months and has fallen down the pecking order at Villa Park behind Tyrone Mings, Bjorn Engels, Kortney Hause and Ezri Konsa.
The 30-year-old is out of contract in the summer and with him not yet having been offered a new contract this has alerted Jonathan Woodgate to his possible availability.
The former West Bromwich Albion centre-back has made just two appearances for Aston Villa this season due to injuries and made his first Villa appearance since last January in the Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Liverpool before Christmas.
Chester was on the bench for Villa’s 6-1 hammering against Manchester City but he has been in and out of the team a lot during the last twelve months.
The experienced defender will have one eye on breaking back into the Wales squad for the upcoming Euro’s in the summer and may seek a move away in search of regular first-team football.
The Midlands side are currently enduring a frustrating season and find themselves in the relegation zone and it is questionable whether they would be willing to allow Chester to leave despite the number of centre-backs they already have at their disposal.
Middlesbrough are looking to add to their squad in this transfer window and in terms of experience, Chester would certainly fit the bill. They have recently been in good form having won four of their last five games under Woodgate but still lie in 16th place in the Championship.
