Aston Villa: Gerrard aiming for another centre-back signing

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard may look to bring in a centre-back to the club that he already knows this summer.

That is according to Dean Jones, who was speaking to This is Futbol about Villa’s remaining transfer business, heading into the final few weeks of the transfer window. 

Gerrard had initially looked to have signed his first-choice centre-back, when Sevilla’s Diego Carlos arrived at the club earlier in the summer for a fee of £26m.

However, the Brazilian ruptured his Achilles tendon in the club’s 2-1 Villa Park victory over Everton this weekend, meaning that the centre-back is now set for six months on the sidelines, meaning that Gerrard may have to dip into the market for another centre-back this summer.

And Jones believes that the club may look towards a player that Gerrard already knows, or someone who he already has a good knowledge of. 

“I mean, we know they’ve looked at people like Nat Phillips for example, and players of that kind.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if Gerrard looks now at a signing he’s had at least some history with or a good knowledge of that player, rather than signing somebody random from Europe, I don’t think that would be the best solution for him at the moment.

“I think that Gerrard would probably look to find somebody that he knows.” 

TIF Thoughts on Jones’ comments

We believe that Villa fans will be relieved to hear that the club are back in the market for another centre-back, with the manager likely to use Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings as his central partnership as it stands.

Gerrard’s side conceded 54 goals last season, the 10th most in the league, but will be hoping to keep the backdoor locked on more occasions this season, as Gerrard looks to fire his club into the top-half of the league.

Therefore, we believe that it is absolutely vital that the club bring in more defensive reinforcements for Gerrard this season, in order to push on and progress.