Aston Villa looked in doldrums after the last season ended as the Financial Fair Play rules were ready to tighten the noose on them. However, a timely take over of 55% of the shares by Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens provided them with some much-needed relief. In the end, they managed to keep hold of their star players like Jack Grealish, Jonathan Kodjia and James Chester, and Steve Bruce can once again believe that he can challenge for a Premier League spot. That belief must have increased further when the Villans managed to land Yannick Bolasie of Everton and Tammy Abraham of Chelsea on loan.
Last season, Wolverhampton Wanderers showed how getting players on loan can help in a promotion run and given the financial constraints Villa had, they did well in the transfer market by bringing in the likes of Abraham and Bolasie.
There were earlier reports that Bolasie wouldn’t step down a division to revive his career. Ever since Marco Silva came in, the 29-year-old’s future at the club was in doubt as the manager also brought in Richarlison. Villa’s major rivals like Middlesbrough were also in the mix for his signature so signing him could be termed as a double success for Steve Bruce, as it also stopped their rivals from getting stronger.
What will Bolasie bring to the squad?
The former Crystal Palace winger is known for his pace and dribbling skills down the flanks. His career took a downturn due to various injuries, but when up and running, he would take some real stopping from the defenders. The Lyon born winger can rip through Championship defences and after a below-par start to the Villa season, Bolaise could be thrown into action after the international break straight away. Even in the Premier League, he used to terrorise defenders in his prime and Bruce would hope that he can regain that level of form soon at Villa Park.
Tammy Abraham: A proven goalscorer
The Clarets and Blue pulled out the signing of Abraham on the last day of the transfer window, and the Chelsea loanee would be desperate to showcase his worth. He would have loved to be part of the Chelsea first team, but he was left out of the first three matchday squads, which made him realise moving to the Championship would be a better idea. He has experience in the Championship as in the 2016-17 campaign. He was on a season-long loan with Bristol City, where he managed more than a healthy tally of 26 goals in all competitions. He has only become a better goalscorer since then, and the Villans have a real 20 goals striker at their disposal.
The financial problems earlier took the attention away from this side, but if one looks at the attacking options in the squad, which comprises of Abraham, Kodjia, Grealish, Bolasie and El Ghazi, that is quite easily an attack worthy of pushing the side to the Premier League. The last moment scalps of Bolasie and Abraham have made them a team to watch out for this season.
