10 Players You Didn't Know Aston Villa Almost Signed

By Crip Cooke /

9. Sergio Canales

Former Real Madrid attacking-midfielder Sergio Canales was linked with a move to Aston Villa back in 2011, according to the Mirror. Then-manager Alex McLeish was locked in an attempt to find a replacement for Ashley Young who was heading to Manchester United after an impressive spell at the club, and had pulled ahead in the race to procure the Spaniard€™s signature, despite the likes of Valencia, Everton, Atletico Madrid and Villarreal offering stiff competition. Villa missed out in the end, and Canales ultimately went on to spend a campaign on loan with Valencia, before signing on a permanent deal in 2012. The Midlands side signed Charles N€™Zogbia instead, but the French international endured a testing time at Villa Park, making just 60 appearances and scoring five goals in the three years that he's "graced" Villa Park. What could have been....