Steve Bruce is reportedly hoping that Aston Villa's new owners will sanction a return to the club for free agent defender John Terry.

The 37-year-old left Villa Park in May following the Villans' failure to reach the Premier League, as they fell just short with defeat in May's playoff final to Fulham.

Terry was rumoured to be contemplating retirement, having failed to find a new team since leaving Villa, but The Sun suggests that he may be offered a route back into the game by his former employers.

Bruce is said to be desperate to sign Terry, and is holding out for Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens to greenlight a move for the veteran centre-back.

Villa have slipped to 12th in the Championship following a promising start and have yet to keep a clean sheet in the league.