Aston Villa, under Dean Smith, witnessed a stunning uprise to secure a Premier League return. But the battle to stay up in the top flight is even harder considering the level of competition and standard of football. They are having a busy summer in terms of new inclusions and set to continue their spending spree to bolster the squad furthermore.
Villa are financially stable under the ownership of Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens. Moreover, a playoff triumph over Derby County has boosted them with an astronomical £170m return to the top tier. They are wealthy enough to pursue their transfer targets. But, at the same time, they must invest the amount wisely to avoid the catastrophe that resulted in Fulham’s relegation last season.
Why They Are Having A Busy Summer
Aston Villa have a wide fanbase who are now eager to see the Claret and Blue reclaiming their lost status gradually. The manager, therefore, must be feeling the pressure but has defended the decision of spending around £90m on eight new signings. He has suggested that there would be a few more additions before the window is slammed shut on August 8.
“The owners have shown their intent with the money they’ve allowed us to spend to strengthen the squad. It needed strengthening, because of the amount of players we lost. We feel we have bought a lot of youth, a lot of legs into the team, but also a lot of quality as well and that can only help our season this year.”
Stated the gaffer who guided his men to clinching a 3-0 friendly win against Minnesota United in the USA (as cited by the Mirror).
How They Have Fared So Far In The Transfer Window
They, so far, have roped in Bjorn Engels, Ezri Konsa, Wesley Moraes, Matt Targett, Jota, Kortney Hause, Anwar El Ghazi and Tyrone Mings. Hause, El Ghazi and Mings had productive spells on loan, and their deals have been made permanent to secure their services for the upcoming term. They are closing in on Douglas Luiz and Trezeguet and might tie down a few more before the deadline.
The business they have done is understandable, though. Villa have parted ways with Mile Jedinak, Alan Hutton, Tommy Elphick, Albert Adomah, Glenn Whelan, Ritchie De Laet, Mark Bunn and Micah Richards along with Axel Tuanzebe and Tammy Abraham who returned to their parent clubs Manchester United and Chelsea upon completion of their loan stints.
Jota could be viewed as a replacement of Adomah, whereas the likes of Engels and Konsa would occupy the central defensive roles to succeed Elphick and Tuanzebe. Moraes is a like-for-like alternative of Abraham and Targett should see himself replacing Hutton as a fullback. Luiz would add more strength in the middle of the park particularly after Whelan and Jedinak’s egress. Smith is also in the market to bring in a new custodian having been linked with a move for Martin Dubravka and Tom Heaton recently.