"?West Ham are targeting Aston Villa defender Micah Richards, hoping to secure a loan deal for the former Manchester City full-back, "?according to ESPN.
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Richards left City in 2015 in search of regular first-team football, signing for Aston Villa. He was part of the side that endured a miserable 2015-16 season, finishing last in the Premier League and being relegated to the Championship.
Richards has fallen out of favour with new Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo, with the former Chelsea manager bringing in Tommy Elphick and James Chester over the summer as preferable centre-back alternatives to Richards.
Richards' only match this season came in the EFL Cup, playing in a 3-1 defeat to League Two outfit Luton Town.
West Ham have had problems in their right-back position recently, and winger Michail Antonio has been forced to play there during the only parts of the Premier League season. The Hammers see Richards, 28, as an experienced option going into the final day of the transfer window, and could make an offer to give their current defensive options more depth.
Richards made 24 Premier League appearances for Villa last season, scoring once as his side were relegated. He also had a loan spell at Fiorentina during the 2014-15 season in a bid for regular first-team action, featuring in 10 Serie A matches.
Should Richards make the move to London, he would join the likes of Gokhan Tore, Jonathan Calleri and Simone Zaza at the Premier League club who have also made the move to the Hammers on loan.