Aston Villa should target ‘someone like Wilfried Zaha’ in the upcoming summer transfer market, according to journalist Josh Holland.

The Midlands outfit are expected to be active when the market reopens for business after making a slow start to life under the tutelage of new manager Steven Gerrard.

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Villa have shown ambition with their signings since returning to the Premier League for the 2019/20 campaign, splashing out around £350 million on new acquisitions.

However, not all of their purchases have been successful, and Gerrard’s charges are currently lingering in the bottom half of the top-flight table following an underwhelming campaign.

The 41-year-old tactician replaced former boss, Dean Smith, back in November and put his stamp on the first-team squad in January, bringing in Lucas Digne and Philippe Coutinho from Everton and Barcelona, respectively.

Yet results and performances have scarcely improved since, and Gerrard recently revealed he is prepared to bring players into Villa Park who will help him ‘fix’ their current problems.

“At the moment, we are looking like a 45-minute team, and that is on me,” the retired England midfielder said. “I've got to fix it, and I will fix it. The players here have to help me now for the next eight games, and if not, we'll get players who will help me fix it.”

What has Holland said about Zaha?

Holland believes one player who could help Gerrard turn Villa’s fortunes around is Crystal Palace forward Zaha, who has entered the final 15 months of his contract at Selhurst Park.

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He told GiveMeSport: “Someone like Wilfried Zaha, who can play out wide, sit behind or play ahead (would be a good signing).

“But winger-wise, they could do with someone as well, yet the system that Gerrard played against Spurs, for example, didn't have any wingers. At some points, you see Watkins go on the left and Coutinho on the right, but mainly it's a 4-3-1-2.”

Do Aston Villa need another forward?

Zaha has long been linked with a move away from Palace after excelling for his boyhood club, and his future remains up in the air as the current campaign draws to a close.

Villa could potentially use a player with the Ivory Coast international’s skillset, though, as summer signings Emiliano Buendia and Leon Bailey have struggled to produce their best form in claret & sky blue.

Whether Zaha would be tempted to swap life at Palace for Villa remains to be seen, but the £36m-rated sensation would surely be regarded as a significant coup for Gerrard’s side.