With 51 points from 38 league outings, Aston Villa have thoroughly failed to impose themselves this season in the Championship after getting demoted from the Premier League last season. 5 wins and a draw in their last 6 matches might indicate that the club is doing the basics right once again but it has indeed arrived a little too late.
An immediate return to the Premier League is next to impossible and without any shadow of a doubt, Steve Bruce would need to start doing his homework with respect to the targets he needs to lure to ensure a strong footing next season. Here are three players Bruce should try to sign once the summer transfer window opens.
Tammy Abraham
19 goals and 3 assists in 33 appearances for Bristol City in the Championship, Abraham has been a revelation this season. Aston Villa have found the back of the net merely 39 times in 38 outings and quite obviously, they have lacked in producing a serious attacking threat to their opponents.
The 19-year-old youngster can be a shrewd addition to the Villans who can share the striking duties along with the likes of Jonathan Kodija and Scott Hogan. Tempting him out of the Stamford Bridge would make sense, for he could add quality as well as depth to the attacking arsenal of Aston Villa.
Sam Johnstone
Aston Villa have started to be a lot more resilient at the back of late and a major chunk of the credit for the same has been traced to the stupendous outings by Johnstone. Brought on loan from Manchester United, the 23-year-old goalie has claimed the support from the Lions’ faithful as they have started to believe that he is the goalkeeper they were in the dire need of.
A permanent move for the Red Devils’ youth product in the summer should be on the wish-list of Bruce.
Ezri Konsa
Charlton Athletic’s 19-year-old defender, Konsa, is arguably one of the finest defenders of his age. Ever since his arrival at the Villa Park, the former Hull City manager has shuffled a lot to get his tactical nous hit the right chords but hasn’t really been thoroughly satisfied with what he has at his disposal.
The Charlton youth product can very well be slotted into the central defensive role of Aston Villa and should be easily gettable if they are willing to cough up the right transfer fee to lure him into their ranks.
