Imagine him and Carlos: Gerrard can form dream Villa duo with move for £70k-p/w “rock” – opinion

Steven Gerrard will be looking forward to the new Premier League season, especially when you consider the signings that Aston Villa have made before the transfer window officially opens.

The 42-year-old has managed to secure Philippe Coutinho on a permanent deal, while Diego Carlos and Boubacar Kamara have also arrived, and the spine of the side looks excellent so far.

The signing of Carlos in particular has been a pleasing one for the Villa faithful, with the defence being an area of concern last season. They conceded 54 goals in the league in 2021/22, so the signing of the Brazilian centre-back should improve this aspect next term.

The question is, who will partner with him? Tyrone Mings (6.74) and Ezri Konsa (6.43) ranked 10th and 17th in the Aston Villa squad on WhoScored for the most recent campaign, signifying that their performances have been underwhelming.

However, with a report from The Athletic stating that Villa are favourites to sign Burnley defender James Tarkowski, Gerrard may have found the perfect partner for Carlos.

The £70k-p/w centre back, who was described as a “rock” by journalist Alex James, has plenty of Premier League experience (194 games) and would slot well into the Villa backline.

Tarkowski ranks in the top 1% compared to positional peers in the big five European leagues for both blocks (2.67 per 90) and aerial duels won (4.95 per 90), so his would certainly appear to be a shrewd signing for Gerrard to make.

His physical prowess and defensive ability would be welcomed at Villa Park ahead of what is a crucial season for Gerrard and his team. A fast start is required or there might be a few doubts lingering in the air as to whether or not the 42-year-old is suited to Premier League management,