Does Aston Villa's impressive January window show their intentions of pushing the 'big 6'?
By Oli Dickson Jefford
It has been a quiet transfer window for the ‘Top Six’ so far, with none of Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham or Chelsea having signed a single player yet.
But elsewhere there have been some interesting moves made, with no team causing a stir quite like Aston Villa.
The second city club managed to seal the loan signing of Philippe Coutinho, ahead of the likes of Arsenal, while they also brought in Lucas Digne from Everton for £25m ahead of a raft of clubs.
A loan move for Roma defender Robin Olsen and the £2.5m signing of former Dundee United youngster Kerr Smith are further statements of intent under new boss Steven Gerrard.
Just over a decade ago Villa were regulars in the top half and often pushing for European football, though a decline over the past decade saw them spend multiple seasons in the championship.
However, their intentions of returning to the top half and challenging the league’s biggest sides have certainly been set.
But elsewhere there have been some interesting moves made, with no team causing a stir quite like Aston Villa.
The second city club managed to seal the loan signing of Philippe Coutinho, ahead of the likes of Arsenal, while they also brought in Lucas Digne from Everton for £25m ahead of a raft of clubs.
A loan move for Roma defender Robin Olsen and the £2.5m signing of former Dundee United youngster Kerr Smith are further statements of intent under new boss Steven Gerrard.
Just over a decade ago Villa were regulars in the top half and often pushing for European football, though a decline over the past decade saw them spend multiple seasons in the championship.
However, their intentions of returning to the top half and challenging the league’s biggest sides have certainly been set.
Rejuvenated squad set to strike
Villa currently sit 13th in the table after a bumpy season to date, with Gerrard replacing Dean Smith as manager after five straight league defeats earlier in the season.However, it is hard to see them still sitting in the bottom half by the end of the season or at any point in the next campaign.
The Villains already had a relatively strong squad with Emiliano Buendia demonstrating why he cost £35m in recent matches, and Coutinho’s arrival shakes things up even further.
The Brazilian is only on loan until the end of the season but a permanent deal looks possible after that, and he has already had a big impact.
He scored the equaliser in their 2-2 draw against Man Utd last weekend and made their attack look more lively and clinical on that occasion.
The arrival of someone of Coutinho’s quality and calibre may also benefit Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings, who haven’t been firing on a regular basis just yet.
Defensively, the arrivals of both Digne and Olson will also help them push up the table.
Digne brings an array of experience and was targeted by the likes of Chelsea earlier in the window, with the Frenchman ostracised at Everton towards the end of his time there.
He is incredibly strong not only as a defender but also pushing forward as well, meaning he will also be a factor in making Villa’s attack more potent.
Olson also brings in a great deal of experience, and should hopefully help strengthen the back line.
Villa have looked vulnerable defensively more than they perhaps should have and can easily be caught on the counter, and the Swede will provide another option for Gerrard to address this issue.
Smith is also a defender and though he is unlikely to be breaking into the first team immediately (at the age of 17) it is the type of signing that shows Villa are investing in their future.
Villa are one team that epitomise the idea of the ‘sleeping giant’, a side that has won an array of trophies throughout their history - but none since an EFL Cup triumph back in 1996.
However, their signings this January show that they are not settling for mid-table football and want to push England’s top sides in the league and for silverware.
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