Steve Bruce will be aiming to take Aston Villa back to the Premier League next season and will have to do so on a shoestring budget.
With such a low amount of money to work with, the Villa Park boss must begin to look at loan deals and free agents to be able to prepare his squad for a second shot at promotion.
The Newcastle Chronicle have reported that Vurnon Anita will be released by Newcastle at the end of this contract within a matter of weeks and he is a player that Bruce should be desperate to sign.
The 28-year-old has just helped the Magpies to the Championship title and ultimately promotion to the Premier League – which is definitely the experience that Villa should be looking for in their summer recruitment.
A player who knows the league, knows English football and can play in a few different positions would almost certainly make a brilliant addition to a squad that has been ravaged by injuries in recent months.
Anita has played a brilliant back-up role at St. James’ Park and their promotion back to the top-flight might not have been accomplished if they didn’t have a player to step in when star players such as DeAndre Yedlin and Isaac Hayden picked up injuries.
The three-times Netherlands international, who is a product of the illustrious Ajax academy, can play mainly as a defensive midfielder or at right-back and would provide the perfect back-up – or even improvement – to Alan Hutton.
Time is also starting to catch up on Mile Jedinak too, who has been a rock in the heart of Villa’s midfield this season, and Anita would again prove to be the perfect understudy or long term replacement.
It should be a no brainer for Bruce really.
Anita will be available for free, has Championship and Premier League experience and can play in a number of different positions which, as already proven, is critical in keeping together a promotion challenge.
At the end of the day, Aston Villa belong in the top-flight of English football, and a player like Anita would definitely play a massive part in achieving that.