Aston Villa

Dean Smith pulled off a bargain in Jota transfer

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Image for Dean Smith pulled off a bargain in Jota transfer

OPINION

Aston Villa have started their transfer business early this season in a bid to bolster their squad ahead of their return to the Premier League.

The Villans have already confirmed moves for Anwar El Ghazi and Jota, with improving their attacking ranks a top priority after Tammy Abraham returned to Chelsea.

On the Transfer Window podcast, Sunday Times journalist Duncan Castles explained the move for Jota and claimed complications in the move were down to financial fair play issues.

Castles went on to report that Villa offered £2million plus Gary Gardner for the Spanish midfielder, and should this be the case Smith has certainly pulled off a bargain.

Jota starred under Smith when the pair were at Brentford and should they be able to recreate the success they had together at Villa, then this move will have been a masterstroke.

The Spanish winger struggled after moving to Birmingham, only scoring three goals in his 40 appearances last season. Smith will be hoping to see the 27-year-old draw inspiration from his time in London, where he scored 23 goals in his 78 appearances for the club.

Either way, the reported £2million figure plus a player in Gary Gardner that was never involved in the first-team set-up last season at Villa can be seen as a great move for the club.

Gardner only ever played 46 times for the Villans despite being at the club since 2011, and now was definitely the right time to move on.

The figure spent on his capture is minuscule in comparison to what some Premier League clubs are spending – the Villans have pulled off a bargain.

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