Aston Villa have enjoyed an excellent transfer window so far.

After narrowly avoiding relegation last season the brief from the club's hierarchy was to improve the level of quality in Dean Smith's squad to move themselves up the table.

They've certainly managed that.

Villa have won both of their Premier League fixtures so far this season with plenty of plaudits being pointed in the direction of their transfer business.

Deals to sign Matty Cash, Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Martinez and Bertrand Traore have already been completed, while more deals are being tipped to go through before the deadline.

One position that Aston Villa are keen to strengthen is their midfield.

Several players have already been linked with a move to Villa Park including Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

The Chelsea midfielder has fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge with Frank Lampard having an embarrassment of riches at his disposal.

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This has led to reports that he could be on the move in the next week or so - something that Lampard himself said was a genuine possibility.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Lampard said: "I am very open with Ruben.

We have had a couple of conversations in the last week. He is fit as a fiddle so he could play week in, week out, but he needs to play.

"He has done a lot of work now and would have been playing a lot of games earlier if it wasn't for lockdown and Project Restart.

"There is a possibility Ruben might go out [on loan] to play games because I think that would be great for him.

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"We hold him in very high regard here, I certainly do, and that could be a good option for him.

"But if it's not the right option, he will be competitive in this squad as well because of the qualities he has and hopefully be a big plus for us, so I am relaxed about it.

"But I want to find the best path for Ruben and I want to find the best path for us, so at the minute we will see with the week we have got ahead of us."

GIVEMESPORT'S Phil Spencer says...

Ruben Loftus-Cheek looks like a guarantee to move on before the transfer window closes.

With the additions of players such as Kai Havertz and potentially Declan Rice in the coming weeks, it seems that first team opportunities will certainly be limited.

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At the age of 24, Loftus-Cheek deserves to be playing regularly in the Premier League, and that's something that he'll know.

Valued at £21.6million by Transfermarkt, the England international is at a pivotal point in his career and that's why a move is needed.

Aston Villa would be an ideal place to continue his development and I think that he would be an ideal fit for Dean Smith and his system.