Gerrard: It’s time to reach for the stars

STEVEN GERRARD claims Boubacar Kamara and Diego Carlos turned down Champions League clubs to join Aston Villa. Villa caught the eye this summer by snapping up two of the best available players in their positions early in the window, with midfielder Kamara arriving after his Marseille contract ended, and centre back Carlos leaving Sevilla for a deal that could be worth £30million.

‘To attract players who had options to play in the Champions League is a big coup for the club,’ said Gerrard, whose side face Manchester United in Perth today. ‘There was no point in me trying to recruit players that were going to make us stand still. I wanted to sign players that were good enough for the XI, to make a difference. ‘Diego’s going to be a really big man and a leader for us at the back. Kamara’s going to give us style and a passing range I didn’t feel we had.’

Gerrard is still keen on signing another midfielder depending on the futures of Douglas Luiz and Carney Chukwuemeka, who have 12 months left on their contracts. The Villa boss added: ‘We want to try to upset the natural dynamics of the Premier League. If that means we snatch a European place, fantastic. We’ve got to reach for the stars. But the minimum for me is we’ve got to be operating in the top half.’