Smith’s striving to Phill midfield void in summer
VILLA return to pre-season training in just over a fortnight with club-record signing Emiliano Buendia due to link up with his new team-mates at Bodymoor Heath.
Head coach Dean Smith was pleased to get his No.1 transfer target in once again after landing Buendia from Norwich for £33 million.
Last summer, Smith signed top target Ollie Watkins for £28 million with the former Brentford ace enjoying his breakthrough Premier League campaign by rattling home 14 goals in 37 top-flight games.
The Championship market has been pretty productive for Villa in recent seasons, with Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Matty Cash excelling at Villa Park.
Smith, meanwhile, has spoken of his transfer “sweet spots”, knowing how he prefers British-based players, while sporting director Johan Lange and head of recruitment Rob Mackenzie are tasked with plucking European gems for knockdown fees.
In terms of further business this summer, it’s clear Villa want another midfielder with 18-year-old Metz man Pape Matar Sarr and Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse both linked with strong interest.
It is understood no bids have been lodged for either, while it’s known Ward-Prowse will be a difficult deal to pull off should Villa wish to pursue one. Will Hughes is another who has been mentioned but there’s nothing concrete surrounding links to the 26-year-old Watford ace. Villa will be bolstered by the return to fitness of Morgan Sanson, while it’s clear Smith isn’t set on his engine room at present,
despite having John McGinn, Sanson, Douglas Luiz, Marvelous Nakamba and Jacob Ramsey to choose from.
Carney Chukwuemeka’s firstteam involvement will be stepped up next season, while it is expected Conor Hourihane will move on to pastures new.
Back in the summer of 2019, Smith wanted Kalvin Phillips from Leeds, but he turned down Villa’s approach in favour of one more crack at promotion with his boyhood club.
At the Euros on Sunday, Phillips was in sensational form as the topclass, deep-lying midfield operator Villa have been lacking in recent months. With a midfield enforcer next on Smith’s agenda, where else do Villa need to strengthen?
The full-back situation is an intriguing one knowing Matt Targett doesn’t have competition at left-back while, on the opposite flank, Frederic Guilbert will return to Villa to rival Cash.
Although expected to stay, Guilbert
could viably move on should an interested club guarantee him first-team football after his impressive four-month stint on loan at Strasbourg.
A new left-back is expected to arrive once Villa secure another midfield option, while the last piece of Villa’s 2021/22 jigsaw could be a striker, although Watkins will be the main man once again next season.
Smith and his coaching staff will assess Wesley when he returns, with the club willing to give the Brazilian a decent crack at returning to Premier League action after his horrific knee injury.
Villa’s other option is Keinan Davis who, in fairness, could do with a loan to help enhance his game given his lack of match minutes.
As it stands, Villa aren’t too pressed on adding another striker with Watkins proving his robustness and quality throughout last term. There’s the carrot of the Qatar World Cup for the forward next season, too.