OPINION
While Premier League sides might have to do with the squad that they have at their disposal following the closure of the transfer window, Championship clubs can still strengthen with loan captures – and Aston Villa must be looking to make the most of that.
Four new faces through the door at Villa Park should be seen as successful business considering the financial difficulties suffered following their failure to secure promotion, as should the retention of star man Jack Grealish – heavily linked with a move to Tottenham all summer.
So just who else can the Villans target to make a difference in their side?
One Premier League man who seems to face a bleak future is Newcastle United winger Rolando Aarons, having initially featured in pre-season but left out of the final few games before the top flight season kicks off.
Now his fate appears to have been sealed, with the Magpies exiling him from the first team through a lack of a squad number, as confirmed on the club’s official website.
Newcastle United have confirmed their squad numbers for the 2018/19 @premierleague season.
Full details: https://t.co/jxfxBGkpiT #NUFC pic.twitter.com/XZOoHMR2fy
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 10, 2018
Injuries have hampered the 22-year-old’s progress but on his day the speed demon has the ability to change the game in an instant, and he is deserving of a chance to display his talents at an ambitious side like Villa.
Bruce could use Aarons’ pace and trickery to good effect in a Villa side who did not strengthen much in attack, and his experience of both the top flight and second tier will stand him in good stead were he to make the switch.
Looking like an available capture, it should not be hard for the Championship side to convince Newcastle or the winger of a move, and they must push for his capture to give themselves another element in attack.