Transfer insider Dean Jones believes Steven Gerrard’s “hands-on approach” to scouting targets should be seen as a “good sign” for the club in terms of recruitment.
Gerrard was appointed Villa boss back in November and is set to be bankrolled by club owners Wes Edens and Naseef Sawiris this summer ahead of his first full season in charge.
Despite being Europe’s sixth-biggest spenders in January, the former Liverpool captain recently admitted that the club only got “90-95% of business done” and with a view to making further deals happen Gerrard was recently spotted in the stands at the Stade Velodrome reportedly to watch Marseille’s Boubacar Kamara who has been linked with the club.
Journalist Jones thinks it is refreshing for supporters of the west Midlands club to see this level of planning from their 41-year-old manager.
He told GIVEMESPORT:
“It’s good from Aston Villa’s point of view to see that Gerrard is taking such a hands-on approach to this.
“I think that it also means that they will be in much safer hands when it comes to recruitment if Steven Gerrard has a thorough view and opinion of exactly what these players are bringing in.
“It’s a good sign, whoever he is trying to sign, that Gerrard’s leading it.”
TIF Thoughts on Gerrard and Villa…
Can Villa make it into Europe next year?
Yes!
No!
The former Rangers boss made it clear following his appointment that he has a long-term goal of guiding the club back into Europe, thus further recruitment will be needed following a disappointing campaign on all accounts.
NSWE spent over £133m in the summer prior to the club’s first season back in the top-flight in 2019/20 and they managed to survive on the final day.
That figure had raised to almost £330m since their return to the Premier League before the January window where they brought in Philippe Coutinho with the option to buy for £33m and Everton’s Lucas Digne for a further £25m yet they find themselves in 13th place, eight points above the relegation zone and 12 from the European places.
It is fair to say that some of the signings during Dean Smith’s tenure were misses with the likes of Brazilian striker Wesley, signed for £22m, making just four league appearances for the club in the past two seasons and is currently on loan in his native country at Internacional.
Morgan Sanson is another player that has failed to make a “difference” according to former Claret and blue defender Alan Hutton so it should come as a welcome sight for Villa supporters to see their commander in chief meticulously planning their next moves as a lot of money has been squandered and with a view to climbing the table each signing that is brought in will have to improve the team.