Gerrard makes Aston Villa admission that will shock every supporter
Aston Villa already have their sights set on next season, after another successful year under Unai Emery.
The Villans finished sixth in the Premier League, narrowly missing out on Champions League football after a controversial defeat against Manchester United on the last day of the season.
Emery’s side also made it to the semi-final of the FA Cup and quarter-final of the Champions League, but were unsuccessful against Crystal Palace and Paris Saint-Germain.
Looking ahead, Villa will already be looking ahead to bigger and better things in all competitions.
Steven Gerrard makes shock Villa call
Steven Gerrard has given his thoughts to TNT Sports (3 June) on who will be challenging Liverpool next season in his Premier League predictions.
Gerrard gave a surprise mention to Aston Villa, saying: “It’s the most difficult league in the world. Liverpool will be well aware that City are going to come back, Arsenal are looking stronger again, the likes of Chelsea are building nicely, Newcastle, Villa are coming in behind.”
The former Aston Villa manager has clearly been impressed with Emery’s work, indicating they could be in with a sneaking chance of entering the battle for the top.
Emery’s time at Villa Park has been a far cry from Villa’s performance under Gerrard, as under the Englishman, they won only 12 games in 38 matches with an unattractive style of play.
Villa’s crucial transfer window next steps
The prediction serves as a reminder of how far Villa have come under Emery, taking them from relegation battles to European football.
Villa fans will be hoping for some more success next season to build on the incredible recent times.
The Midlands club’s actions in the upcoming transfer window will likely define this success, however PSR concerns are already creating issues for Villa, especially after missing out on Champions League funds.
Players such as Ollie Watkins, Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers could be on their way out to help Villa comply with financial regulations.
Villa have already expressed interest in bringing new talent to Villa Park, such as Italian centre-half Diego Coppola and striker Zepiqueno Redmond, who is already set to undergo a medical.
While performances have been turned around since Gerrard’s tenure, further progress in the Premier League, Europa League and domestic cup competitions will depend on maintaining a balanced squad during the summer transfer window.