Steven Gerrard has been promised by the Aston Villa board that he will get their full backing in the summer, says journalist Dean Jones.

The Villa boss had quite a productive transfer window last month, and it looks like it could be a similar theme in the next one.

Who did Gerrard sign in January?

There is no doubt that Gerrard will be happy with how his first transfer window at Villa Park went.

The 41-year-old managed to strengthen both his defence and attack by bringing in Lucas Digne, Calum Chambers and Philippe Coutinho, with the last of that trio making an immediate impact.

Coutinho, who arrived on loan from Barcelona, scored on his debut against Manchester United to help Villa earn a point before netting again and providing two assists in the exciting 3-3 draw with Leeds United.

Digne will also be happy with the start he has made as a Villa player. The Frenchman joined the Midlands club from Everton in a £25m deal and was the architect of their downfall when the two sides met last month, setting up Emiliano Buendia's winner.

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What has Jones said about Villa's future plans?

Jones has told GIVEMESPORT that Villa owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens plan to give Gerrard their full backing in the next window.

Speaking to GMS, the transfer insider said: "Gerrard's been promised by the Aston Villa board that he'll get their full backing, and I think again in the summer, they'll be one of the clubs with the most ambitious transfer shopping list."

Who could Gerrard sign?

Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma looks like a strong possibility, with Gerrard confirming last month that Villa had a bid for him rejected.

"It was well documented that we put in a bid for Bissouma at Brighton which was turned away, and we respected and appreciated that," the Liverpool legend recently told The Telegraph and other outlets.

Bissouma will have just 12 months to run on his contract in the summer, so Brighton could very well be forced into selling the Mali international before the start of next season to avoid losing him on a free.

Villa were also linked with Liverpool defender Joe Gomez in the last transfer window. You would suspect that if his playing time does not go up before the end of the campaign, with the 24-year-old yet to start a Premier League game this term, he will consider his options - and Villa look like they could be one of them.