Rumour: Ex-Liverpool defender Aly Cissokho close to Aston Villa switch

Aly Cissokho in action for Liverpool last season.

Valencia left-back Aly Cissokho is close to sealing a Premier League return with a move to Aston Villa, according to reports.

Cissokho spent last season on loan at Liverpool. However, he failed to impress Brendan Rodgers, leading to the Reds declining upon the option of making his move permanent at the end of the season.

Last season saw the French international make only 12 starts for the Merseysiders in the Premier League with Rodgers largely favouring Glen Johnson, Jon Flannagan and even Daniel Agger over the ex-Lyon man.

Cissokho’s reputation has taken a slide in the last five years. Once touted as the next big thing coming at the left-back spot from France, the Frenchman’s career has gone from a medical away from joining to AC Milan to being linked with Paul Lambert’s Aston Villa.

No disrespect to the team from England’s second city. The club is certainly rich in history and deserves much better fortune than it currently conjures. But, when Cissokho is getting recruited in a year when Villa is getting run on a shoe string, it’s fair to assume how much Cissokho’s stock has plummeted in recent times.

However, at the reported £2.5 million, the deal should be good value for money. If it goes through, the Frenchman would represent the fourth player to arrive at Villa Park this summer following the signings of Joe Cole, Phillipe Senderos and Kieran Richardson.

Cissokho is thought to be an upgrade over the Antonio Luna, who departed on a season long to Hellas Verona earlier this week.