Aston Villa would be sending a strong message to their rivals if they can sign someone like Ajax striker Sebastien Haller in the summer, according to journalist Josh Holland.

The Villans are expected to have a busy summer under manager Steven Gerrard and bringing in a new source of goals is believed to be at the top of his wish list.

What is the latest news involving Aston Villa?

According to The Mirror, Gerrard is eager to bring in a new centre-back, a commanding midfielder, and a top-class striker ahead of next season.

Results have been relatively mixed since the arrival of the retired England legend in November, and he has previously admitted that Villa’s current crop of first-team stars are playing for their futures at the club.

Goals have been an issue for the Midlands outfit throughout 2021/22, though, with Ollie Watkins’ eight strikes in all competitions making him the top scorer.

A recent report from 90min listed Villa as one of the potential suitors for Benfica’s in-demand forward Darwin Nunez following an exceptional season for the Eagles.

However, transfer expert David Ornstein has claimed that European giants Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are leading the charges for the Uruguay international.

What has Holland said about Aston Villa?

Holland believes that signing Nunez is ‘very unlikely’ for Villa given the level of competition for his signature but has outlined Haller as a possible alternative to the South American.

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He told GiveMeSport: “That would be like saying to everyone, ‘Villa are back’ if they can get Darwin Nunez or even a player of the same quality as Nunez; he is outstanding.

“It's very unlikely, but if they get someone who's got Champions League experience, maybe someone like Sebastien Haller, who’s obviously been in the Premier League before and struggled but is now doing well in Holland.”

How well has Haller been performing?

Haller joined Ajax for £20.25 million in January 2021 following an underwhelming 18-month spell with West Ham where he registered just 14 goals and three assists in 54 appearances.

Nevertheless, he has successfully revived his career in Amsterdam, notching 46 strikes and setting up a further 16 efforts in 62 outings, taking his career total up to 152.

The 6 foot 3 ace’s exploits have established him as one of the continent’s leading marksmen, even setting a record for the most Champions League goals in a player's opening five games in the competition, and Haller would surely be seen as a significant coup for Villa.