Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard is reportedly targeting both Joe Gomez and Yves Bissouma as signings this summer.
After a fourth consecutive Premier League defeat this past weekend, the need for reinforcements and strengthening the squad was once again in question as Gerrard has made no secret of his plans to bring in new players this summer.
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On one hand, Villa perhaps would have wanted to see more improvement and development of the current squad to show that Gerrard can help players kick on and step up a level, but it seems as though he’ll be given the opportunity to stamp his mark on the group over the summer with a crucial pre-season ahead to prepare them.
As per The Mirror, it’s reported that Gomez and Bissouma are Gerrard’s top two targets, while a new striker could also be under consideration.
It’s added that the likes of Anwar El Ghazi, Bertrand Traore, Trezeguet, Douglas Luiz and Danny Ings could be at risk of being moved on, with Ings tipped to be involved in a potential swap deal with Brighton for Bissouma.
Further, it’s suggested that Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa could come under more intense scrutiny and pressure to keep their respective places in the Villa line-up, and that in turn has led to the link with Gomez.
Two other players who could be at risk of being shipped out at the end of the season are Leon Bailey and Morgan Sanson, with the report noting that Villa could listen to offers for the pair.
It seems as though Gerrard is set for a real shake-up this summer, and that should then give him the opportunity to mould this squad into his own and dismiss any excuses about players he inherited not fitting his plans and philosophy.
The pressure will be on him immediately next season to deliver results given the way things have gone this year, and it’s hoped that he makes the right decisions both in terms of bringing in the quality needed, but also only selling players who are indeed surplus to requirements and not those who have significantly more to give us.
