Source: TheGuardian
Are Aston Villa repeating mistakes Fulham made last summer? Not at all
Villa have already signed seven players this summer but every one of them is an essential addition to their depleted squadBy Martin Laurence for WhoScoredNorwich City and Sheffield United have been relatively quiet in the transfer window following their return to the Premier League, but the same cannot be said for play-off champions Aston Villa. This week the club have agreed a permanent deal for Tyrone Mings and brought in young centre-back Ezri Konsa, meaning they have now signed seven players so far this summer – and they aren’t finished yet.Some outsiders have suggested Villa have been too gung-ho in the market: that they are repeating the mistakes Fulham made last summer. However, Villa’s signings have not been made out of desperation or greed, but necessity. As many as 14 first-team players left the club at the end of the season, leaving Dean Smith with a squad that contained just 17 players over the age of 21. And that includes Gary Gardner, Aaron Tshibola and Scott Hogan, who returned from loan spells with little chance of resurrecting their careers at Villa. Related: Transfer window: 10 bargain signings of the summer so far Related: 'I try to trigger all the senses': the artist behind the banners at Anfield Continue reading......read full article
