'Brutal' - NSWE now closing in on another Villa signing for Gerrard after Carlos; pundit fuming

Pundit Frank McAvennie has been reacting to Aston Villa’s reported interest in Rangers defender Calvin Bassey, as per Football Insider.

Steven Gerrard and NSWE have been extremely busy over recent weeks, getting a number of deals in place ahead of the summer transfer window.

Villa have secured permanent deals for Philippe Coutinho and Boubacar Kamara and have also reached an agreement for centre-back Diego Carlos.

It looks as if another defender could be on the way, with The Times suggesting that Villa are also closing in on a move for Rangers colossus Bassey, who played under the 42-year-old at Ibrox.

Scottish pundit McAvennie was talking to Football Insider regarding a potential reunion between Gerrard and Bassey.

He didn’t seem too impressed, though, believing that the 22-year-old isn’t good enough for the Premier League and would get ‘ripped apart’ by the likes of former Villa star Jack Grealish.

McAvennie said:

“Can he go in and play in the Premier League right now? No.

“I don’t think he is good enough for the Premier League. If Gerrard is buying him, it’s because he has done a job in Scotland.

“England is a whole different game. He’s muscle-bound but if he comes up against someone like Jack Grealish he will get ripped apart.

“I’m sorry to say Bassey but that’s the truth. Another year up with Rangers and maybe he might be ready.

“At this moment in time, the brutal truth is he’s good enough.”

Bassey starred in both the Europa League final and Scottish Cup final this month and appears to have outgrown the Scottish Premiership, picking up Rangers’ Young Player of the Season award.

The Nigerian was a regular at Ibrox in the 2021/22 season, lining out as a centre-back and left-back and duly providing Gerrard with cover