Five Aston Villa players Michael Beale could sign for QPR

After already making four signings this summer, Aston Villa's focus will shift to moving players out of Steven Gerrard's first-team either on loan or permanently.

Gerrard is set to receive a whole raft of returning loanees this pre-season and many of the youngsters who enjoyed spells across the EFL last season will be sent back out on loan to continue their development. However, they will be eager to impress the Villa head coach and his new assistant Neil Critchley, who has a track record of improving young talent.

The former Blackpool boss left his role as manager for Bodymoor Heath last week to replace Michael Beale in Gerrard's backroom team. Beale has himself filled the vacant managerial post at Queens Park Rangers. And Gerrard's former assistant could turn to a few Villa youngsters while shaping his QPR squad for the upcoming campaign.

Still fresh from an excellent loan spell at Preston, Cameron Archer will have a spring in his step this pre-season. Villa boss Gerrard will take a good look at the 20-year-old before assessing what he wants to do with the youngster. Archer is more than capable of playing a role in the first-team next season, but a player of his quality needs minutes on the pitch. Villa could sanction another loan spell away from the club, this time a full campaign rather than just six months, or sell the striker after he netted seven goals in 20 appearances and will no doubt be on the wish lists of many a Championship club.

The winger impressed on loan at Stoke last season, but Michael O'Neill's side couldn't sustain their play-off push and ended the campaign miserably. Jaden Philogene-Bidace joined on loan in January and played 10 games for the Potters, scoring once during that time. At 20,