Aston Villa will be one of the ‘busiest sides’ in the upcoming transfer window as Steven Gerrard looks to bolster his first-team squad, according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.
The Midlands outfit have shown plenty of ambition in the market since they returned to the Premier League ahead of the 2019/20 campaign and look set to continue their spending spree.
What is the latest news involving Aston Villa?
Villa have spent around £350 million on bringing new acquisitions to the club since they reclaimed their top-flight status nearly three years ago.
The likes of Emiliano Buendia, Leon Bailey and Wesley have all been brought in for big-money but the Midlands outfit’s outlay has perhaps not been matched by their results on the pitch.
Survival was only secured on the final day of the campaign in their first Premier League season following a three-year absence before an 11th-placed finish last term brought fresh optimism.
However, former manager Dean Smith was dismissed back in November following a run of five consecutive defeats and another underwhelming bottom-half finish is on the cards.
As a result, Villa have been credited with an interest in several intriguing stars in recent weeks and have just announced the signing of Philippe Coutinho on a permanent basis from Barcelona.
What has Crook said about Aston Villa?
Star striker Ollie Watkins has been linked with a move to West Ham of late, yet Crooks can’t see him leaving and believes Villa will only be focussed on improving the options available to Gerrard.
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He told GiveMeSport: “I think Steven Gerrard has come out and shut the door on Ollie Watkins leaving, and actually, he’s been Villa’s best striker this season, even though he's had problems with injury.
“So, Aston Villa, I think, will be one of the busiest sides in the window because they really want to turn themselves into European contenders, and they're quite a way short at the moment. So, they'll keep Watkins.”
Who could Aston Villa sign?
Securing a new central defensive midfielder is seemingly at the top of Gerrard’s wish list with Douglas Luiz set to move onto pastures new after entering the final 14 months of his contract.
According to The Times, Villa are leading the race for Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips, although they are set to face fierce competition for his signature.
The likes of Marseille’s Boubacar Kamara, Geoffrey Kondogbia of Valencia and PSV Eindhoven’s Ibrahim Sangare are also believed to be on Gerrard’s radar ahead of the summer.