Aston Villa are readying an offer for Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse.

The Sun says the ambitious Midlands club are expected to table an offer for the 26-year-old this week as they aim to complete their business early this summer.

Dean Smith has already smashed the club transfer record by landing Norwich City playmaker Emiliano Buendia in a £35million deal which will be confirmed in the next 24 hours.

But Villa are set to buy big again and could top that for Ward-Prowse, who signed a new five-year-deal with Saints last season.

Smith is keen to improve Villa's set-piece stats and wants his team to become a major threat from dead balls.

He believes, in Ward-Prowse, he will be landing one of the best in Europe.

A defensive midfielder was one of the positions prioritised by Smith as well as a creative midfielder and a striker.