Aston Villa are expected to be in for a busy summer transfer window as they look to build a squad capable of improving on their 14th place Premier League finish this season.
It was a relatively disappointing campaign for Steven Gerrard, who replaced Dean Smith in the dugout in November 2021, but the former Liverpool skipper will now have his first Summer transfer window as Villa manager to really shape the squad in his own image.
The 41-year old has already secured former Anfield teammate Philippe Coutinho on a permanent deal and could turn to another player who he shared the dressing room with on Merseyside as his next ‘big name’ capture.
The Reds might not be the only one of Gerrard’s old stomping grounds that he turns to for fresh faces as more than one of the stars who featured under him during his time as Rangers manager have been linked.
There are also players from across the Premier League and Europe that the Villains are rumoured to be tracking ahead of the transfer window officially opening next month.
Some would command substantial transfer fees while others might be available on a free but would still be joining on the higher end of the club’s wage scale should they make the move.
Here are nine ‘big money’ transfer deals that Aston Villa have been rumoured to be eyeing up in the 2022 summer transfer window:
5. Calvin Bassey
A reported fee of £20m might actually be a bargain for the 22-year old defender who made his Rangers debut under Gerrard and played a crucial role in their run to the Europa League final this season | Getty Images
6. Dwight McNeil
Villa were linked with England under 21 winger last summer but Burnley were on record as unwilling to sell. However, their relegation will almost certainly have changed that stance | Getty Images
7. Ryan Kent
The Rangers winger has been linked with Villa pretty much since Steven Gerrard first made the move from Ibrox to Villa Park but they are far from the only Premier League club monitoring the former Liverpool man | AFP via Getty Images
8. Duje Caleta-Car
After bringing in his Marseille teammate Boubacar Kamara, Villa could swoop for the Croatian defender and it could cost as little as a reported £15m for his signature should they wish to do so | Getty Images