Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard admits that is looking to add quality to his team in this summer’s transfer window - and dropped a hint over the areas he is keen to strengthen.
Villa sit 14 th and well clear of relegation going into their final two games of the Premier League season against Burnley (Thursday) and Manchester City (Sunday), with both games potentially having a major impact on how the Premier League title race and relegation fight ends.
Gerrard has been at Villa Park since mid-November when he inherited a side that was 16 th in the table and just two points clear of the relegation zone. However, while Gerrard could yet steer his side to a top half finish, he is keen to improve the quality of players currently at his disposal for a further climb up the table next season.
"Let's just leave it pretty vague and say we are looking to upgrade the eleven,” Gerrard told Sky Sports. "I think the spine of the team needs some support,” he adds, with Villa conceding more counter attack goals than any other team in the Premier League this season.
"You can never stop working with your players, trying to improve them. But sometimes individual errors are on the individuals. If things don't change you are left with no choice. You either change them with someone else in the building or you upgrade them."
Since his arrival, Villa have the eight best points per game (PPG) record with a return of 34 from 25 games (1.36 PPG). If the season had started when Gerrard arrived, only the ‘big six’ and Newcastle United would be above Villa.
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It's clear he is beginning to put his stamp on the team, but he was keen to stress any summer recruitment needed to be focused on quality, rather than quantity, if Villa are to improve. "We have got enough volume here. We have got enough bodies here," he added. I don't need quantity.
"I am looking for upgrades in certain areas of the team, who will naturally make the squad better. We are looking to bring in players who are ready to play."
The comments from Gerrard come just days after they completed the permanent signing of Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona, just four months after his arrival on loan. The Brazilian’s move to Villa Park will cost around £17million.
Gerrard and his Villa side play their final home game of the season on Thursday night when they take on Burnley at Villa Park. Burnley themselves are fighting to steer clear of relegation, knowing that a point or three would take them out of the drop zone tonight.
Villa then travel to the Etihad Stadium to Manchester City on the final day of the season where a win for City or matching Liverpool ’s result against Wolverhampton Wanderers would ensure they win a sixth Premier League crown.
