Speaking recently on The Athletic’s Headline podcast, Gregg Evans stated that Aston Villa could well have Bertrand Traore, as well as new signing Emiliano Martinez, in their squad for the club’s fixture against Sheffield United on Monday.
Sky Sports recently reported that Villa and Lyon have agreed a £17 million deal, plus £2 million in add-ons for Traore and that the player has already passed a medical with the club.
It has also recently been confirmed that Dean Smith’s side have captured of Arsenal goalkeeper Martinez after they agreed a £17 million deal for the Argentine.
And, Evans said that both players could well be with the Villa squad ahead of their next Premier League fixture on Monday.
He said: “Once the game starts against Sheffield United on Monday, Villa will hopefully have Martinez and Traore in their ranks as well, and that will just further strengthen the team. I feel like all the areas that Villa have signed players in this season have strengthened, so that can only be a good thing.”
Do you think we could see both Martinez and Traore in the Villa squad for Monday's fixture?
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TIF Thoughts…
Following the earlier acquisitions of Matty Cash, in what was a £14.18 million deal from Nottingham Forest, and Ollie Watkins, who arrived in a £27.72 million deal from Brentford, in addition to Jack Grealish recently penning a new five-year deal with the club, the further signings of Martinez and, potentially, Traore would indeed appear to strengthen Villa in both their goalkeeping and the attacking departments respectively, as Evans states.
Considering the fact that Villa narrowly avoided relegation last season, surviving on the final matchday thanks to a 1-1 draw with West Ham, it was evident that the playing staff did require improvement over the summer if Villa were to attempt to solidify themselves as a Premier League outfit.
And, in our opinion, the business that Villa have already done this summer, in addition to the seemingly imminent signing of Traore, has certainly not harmed their chances of Premier League survival this time around.