The midfielder has been a season-long loan at Stoke, but by agreeing to take up the remaining months of his Villa contract, Stoke can circumvent Premier League loan roles and sign another Premier League player up on loan deal.The irony of this is that Stoke would become Villa's rivals in the race to secure the loan services of Manchester City's John Guidetti.
Mark Hughes said "We are looking to conclude the Stephen Ireland deal. That will give us flexibility to loan another player in. We will be pleased if it does come off."
Ireland was signed as part of the deal that took James Milner to Manchester City and before Gerard Houllier had been installed as manager. Failing to impress the Frenchman, he was loaned out to Newcastle United where he failed to make a single starting appearance.
He was given chances back at Villa by both Alex McLeish and Paul Lambert, actually winning "Supporters Player of the Year" under the ginger one by picking up more fans' Man of the Match awards than anyone else.
However, his Villa career was dogged by inconsistency and his invisible performance against Bradford City in the League Cup Semi-Final proved to be the straw that broke the back of his Villa career.
Meanwhile, exciting Villa winger Jordan Graham has joined Bradford City on loan. Graham, 18, will stay with the Bantams until 8 February 2014.
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