'He wants...' - Insider reveals Gerrard plan to bring 'Champions League-level' talent to Villa

Steven Gerrard is aiming to bring ‘Champions League-level’ talent to Aston Villa, according to transfer insider Dean Jones. 

The 41-year-old took over from Dean Smith in November and currently has Villa in ninth place in the Premier League.

He spoke shortly after assuming the role about his desire to lead the club back into European competition.

"}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":14849,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"14":{"1":2,"2":0},"15":"Arial","16":10}">

January presented the first opportunity for Gerrard to put his stamp on the squad through additions, and Villa brought in Lucas Digne, Philippe Coutinho and Calum Chambers that month.

The Brazilian arrived from Barcelona, while the Frenchman’s CV also includes a stint at the Nou Camp, as well as at Paris Saint-Germain.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones revealed Gerrard’s ambition to recruit a number of elite players to take Villa to the next level.

The reporter outlined: “So, he’s got high standards, and if he’s going to bring in Champions League-level players, which is what he wants, he knows that that’s got to be on a major basis. It can’t just be one or two because those players need to have that quality around them.”

Coutinho was perhaps Villa’s first ‘Champions League-level’ addition, having played in the tournament nearly 50 times, and they are hoping to exercise their option to make his loan deal permanent.

In January, they also targeted Juventus’ Rodrigo Bentancur, who has made 31 appearances in Europe’s premier club competition. He ultimately joined Spurs, though, so who else might be on Villa’s radar ahead of Gerrard’s first full season in charge?

According to The Athletic, they are keen on Liverpool’s Joe Gomez, who won the tournament with the Reds in 2018/19. Gregg Evans