Barcelona transfer theory emerges as Steven Gerrard faces £90m Aston Villa dilemma

Here are your headlines...

Aston Villa spent in the region of £90million to replace Jack Grealish last summer as the England international became the first £100million British footballer in history - but Steven Gerrard is yet to get the best out of the trio of signings who replaced him.

Danny Ings, Emiliano Buendia and Leon Bailey all joined the club after Grealish signed on at Manchester City, but they struggled in their first campaign at Villa Park. Ings and Buendia would later help their cause with with impressive cameos off the bench, but in the case of Bailey, he's yet to show what he can do barring a sensational ten minute blitz against Everton back in September.

Villa sacked Dean Smith in November after a five-match losing streak, and he struggled to get the best out of the new attacking trio. However, it's tricky to fit all three, plus Ollie Watkins - who ended the 2020/21 campaign with 14 goals - in the same team, without affecting the overall balance.

Aston Villa are reportedly looking to bolster Steven Gerrard's attacking options this summer if the right player becomes available.

talkSPORT transfer expert Alex Crook claims Villa are 'scouring the market' for a new number nine, and head coach Gerrard has already suggested he wants to add at least one more player to his team before the start of the new season. A midfielder appears to be the club's current transfer priority, however.

But The Sun have also suggested that Villa are eyeing a move for a new striker, despite already having the likes of Ollie Watkins, Danny Ings and prospect Cameron Archer in the squad. Supporters have also been discussing the possibility of another striker arriving at Villa Park this summer after one report claiming an unnamed