View: Aston Villa’s defensive options are more than good enough, now it is time to improve elsewhere
Aston Villa have finally sorted their defence out with their early transfer business and Steven Gerrard can finally improve other areas.
Just one day after the end of the 2021/22 Premier League season, the club announced the signing of Boubacar Kamara from Marseille.
Villa moved quickly to beat the likes of Atletico Madrid to Kamara’s signature and fill the gap in defensive midfield that had existed for months.
The signing of Diego Carlos gives Villa the high-level centre-back they needed to help support Tyrone Ming and lifts the defensive burden on his shoulders.
This has left Villa with Mings, Carlos, Ezri Konsa, Calum Chambers and Kortney Hause as centre-back options, with Kamara, Douglas Luiz and Marvelous Nakamba to support them from midfield.
They also have the likes of Lamare Bogarde, Kerr Smith and Josh Feeney ready to step up from the academy.
Villa are now well-stocked at centre-back and defensive midfield, but they cannot rest on their laurels.
Where else needs improving?
The main issue Villa need to solve is depth as they have high-level players in every position now.
Villa could need backup full-backs on both sides if Ashley Young refuses a new contract and the club not having a recognised senior right-back beyond Matty Cash.
If Villa are to upgrade the starting line-up, it will likely be a striker.
Despite Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins grabbing 26 goal contributions between them last season, the pair drew criticism for not playing well as a pair.
Cameron Archer and Keinan Davis leaving on loan in January also left Villa without any backup there and both players are being linked with fresh moves away.
Villa scored 52 goals last season, the ninth highest in the league, but still not enough if they want to realise their European ambitions.
Luis Suarez was proposed as an option earlier in the window, but BBC journalist Phil McNulty poured cold water on those rumours on Monday (20 June).
Villa will also want to be cautious not to block the development path of Archer, as a younger striker could limit his game time.
Gerrard’s early business has put Villa in a good position, they can look for quality rather than quantity, but the depth issues need sorting.
In other Aston Villa news, young midfielder Tim Iroegbunam could be heading out on loan.