Dean Smith has reassured Aston Villa fans that players don’t need to be sold in January and instead hinted that there could be activity in terms of incomings.
What did he say?
Recent reports have suggested that, because of their huge outlay in the summer, the club are aiming to offload players to generate income.
Villa spent more than £90m in the summer as they rebuilt the squad which won them promotion last term, yet they have struggled for much of the season and sit in the relegation zone.
Some signings have proved shrewd additions, such as Matt Target and Frederic Guilbert, who have made 2.1 interceptions and 2.8 tackles per game respectively, but other additions haven’t lived up to expectation.
Wesley’s four goals in 18 games should be the biggest concern for Dean Smith and those in charge, but the Villans boss is confident there will be money to spend and therefore he could address that issue.
Speaking to The Mirror, Smith said:
“I’m not looking for any players to go at all and we are not under pressure – contrary to popular belief – that any players need to leave Villa.
“We are looking all the time.
“We have two wealthy owners who want to move this club forward. To do that you keep your best players and add better players to the squad.
“We have a healthy list of players who are possibilities.”
Easing fan concern
While Smith didn’t explicitly say there would be no outgoings whatsoever, he did suggest the club are under no pressure to sell and that should be a big relief for supporters.
Jack Grealish and John McGinn have been highlights of the season so far, and their performances have led some big clubs to take notice.
Red Herring or Real Hero: Only hardcore Villa fans will get all of them right….
The former in particular is a player surrounded by speculation, with his manager playing down talk of a reported £60m release clause amid interest from Manchester United.
The midfielder’s 2.8 key passes and 1.9 successful dribbles per game make him key to everything Villa do well going forward, and therefore it is imperative they hang onto him.
His loss would likely devastate fans and that is why Smith’s positive message could have a big impact on the fanbase, and news of signings could act as a boost for the squad too.
The likes of Jonathan Kodjia could still depart according to reports, but considering he is a bit-part player that would actually be a sensible decision, as it would counter FFP concerns and possibly provide the club with more funds to bring in players.