Fan favourite names two transfers that can take Aston Villa to next level

Yves Bissouma and Kalvin Phillips are two players who can take Aston Villa to the next level. That’s the verdict of former defender Alan Hutton as we enter a pivotal summer transfer window for Steven Gerrard.

The head coach is keen to bolster his midfield ranks with the club identifying Bissouma and Phillips as two targets. Villa, of course, had a £25million bid rejected by Brighton for their Mali international as recently as January while, in terms of Phillips, a lot will depend on Leeds United’s fate as they battle Everton and Burnley in a bid to beat the drop.

England ace Phillips has long been on Villa’s radar, ever since the club gained promotion under Dean Smith back in 2019 before the 26-year-old rejected a move to Villa Park.

That move, though, will be back on should Leeds drop down to the Championship. On Villa’s links to Bissouma and Phillips, Hutton told : “I’ve spotted the weakness within Villa’s midfield and Gerrard has spoken a lot about the number 6 position. I think the likes of Yves Bissouma from Brighton is a standout candidate. He’s had an excellent season.

"The likes of Kalvin Phillips as well, I think a lot depends on what happens with Leeds. These guys, Phillips and Bissouma, will take Aston Villa to the next level and they are the type of players [Gerrard] will be looking to bring through the door."

Hutton added how Villa have enough going forward but says defensively his former side need to cut out errors. He added: “I think going forward is their strength. If you look at the squad they’ve got a lot of choices upfront; Ollie Watkins, Ings, Buendia, Coutinho.

“Where they’ve gone wrong I think, defensively. They’ve made too many mistakes, individual mistakes, and it’s cost them within games.

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