Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WE’VE SPENT GREAT WAD OF CHINA
Bruce reveals Far Eastern owner has tightened purse strings
STEVE BRUCE admits he cannot spend his way out of trouble despite Aston Villa’s stuttering start.
Promotion favourites Villa were brought crashing down to earth by Cardiff in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat.
It followed an opening-day draw against Hull that already leaves them five points off top spot.
That has turned up the heat on Bruce heading into tonight’s trip to last season’s beaten play-off finalists Reading.
But, having spent more than £20million to bring in seven new faces in his first window in January on top of another £60m last summer, Chinese owner Dr Tony Xia has tightened the purse strings.
Ahmed Elmohamady and Glenn Whelan have arrived for £1m apiece, John Terry and Chris Samba have joined on frees – though the former Chelsea man is on around £60,000 a week – while Sam Johnstone and Josh Onomah are on loan.
Bruce (right) expects to do further business before the window shuts having raised funds by selling Leandro Bacuna to tonight’s opponents and loaning Jordan Amavi to Marseille ahead of a potential permanent switch next summer.
But there is no prospect of Villa spending eight-figure sums as they did for Jonathan Kodjia and Ross Mccormack last summer.
Boss Bruce admitted: “I’ve said it since the end of last season. I’m going to have to box a bit clever.
“I haven’t got millions to splash about and, let’s be fair, this club has splashed around millions in the last few years and it hasn’t brought the success everyone thought there was going to be.
“If there’s anything in the kitty from what has been done the last few days then my job is to try to improve the squad.”
Bruce let rip at his side following their dismal collapse at Cardiff on Saturday – having won just four times on the road in the league last term. He added: “If we want to be successful and mount a challenge our away form has to improve.”
Reading new-boy Bacuna will go straight into battle against his old club tonight. He said: “I’m very happy. I think it’s going to be a different step for me and I’m delighted to get going.
“There have been a few ups and downs, but in the end we got it over the line and I’m really happy to play for Jaap Stam.”