Finishing the 2021-22 Premier League campaign in 14th place was far below the expectations of Aston Villa, who had hoped to be jostling amongst the European positions. Having made a poor start to the season, Dean Smith was promptly replaced by Steven Gerrard early in November, although even with several notable additions in the January transfer window, the team continued to produce frustrating results.
Heading into his first full campaign at the club, Gerrard and the technical department have already been busy, having secured four new signings before the transfer window opens officially on 10th June. Philippe Coutinho joins permanently for £17 million from Barcelona, following an exciting and stellar loan spell, joined central defender Diego Carlos from Sevilla, costing £26 million.
For the bargain price of £3 million, Swedish international Robin Olsen will arrive to provide additional goalkeeping options, while highly rated midfielder Boubacar Kamara has been grabbed on a free transfer from French side Marseille. But it seems these move won’t be the last, during what promises to be a highly active transfer window for Aston Villa. Indeed, the latest name being linked has been one of the most consistent in Spain’s La Liga.
Quality and versatility
Appearing in the live daily transfer blog at Spanish outlet Sport, one interesting option Aston Villa and Steven Gerrard are said to be monitoring is Yannick Carrasco, who has also attracted the attention of Tottenham Hotspur. According to additional reports from the same outlet earlier in the week, Newcastle United has also made enquiries.
Perhaps the most notable factor that Carrasco would offer Gerrard is versatility. The 28-year-old can perform comfortably in several different positions, ranging from defensive to attacking. He is most frequently deployed on the left flank by Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone, despite being primarily right-footed and occasionally appearing on that side of the pitch.
Carrasco was also the most consistent player with Atletico Madrid, throughout the 2021-22 campaign, achieving the top average rating in the team based on WhoScored statistics. During the course of last season, he made a total of 34 appearances in all competitions, scoring 6 goals and providing 6 assists, primarily operating as a wing-back or winger on the left.
The only stumbling block for Aston Villa could be the asking price, amidst suggestions that Atletico Madrid will only consider offers matching his clause valuation, which is currently set at €50 million. This works out at roughly £43.6 million when converted to the UK currency, while Carrasco is also contracted to the Spanish club until June 2024, meaning the Spanish club also have no urgent need or desire to sell.
Villa aiming for European push
Considering the signings made so far, along with those recently linked as potential transfers, including Carrasco, Aston Villa seem to be making a clear statement of their intentions. Insofar as the club is concerned, finding the right ingredients will be absolutely vital during the summer, given that Gerrard will be looking to push this team into contention for Europe.
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Should they join the bidding for Carrasco, it would undoubtedly be a signal that Gerrard and Villa are serious about their ambitions. The club is keen to back the former Liverpool and England star in the current squad rebuild, as he shapes the team to suit his own preferences, showing considerable faith in his coaching ability as the foundation of a strong project.
Indeed, aside from those already signed up to the cause, Gerrard could make several more additions to his increasingly talented squad, ahead of the 2022-23 Premier League campaign. His own background in the game and hunger to succeed as a manager, those attributes are encouraging when bidding to sign players, which is always a big plus for Aston Villa whenever they head into negotiations.
