'Money could be no object' for Steven Gerrard as Aston Villa look to return to glory days

Aston Villa have a bright future ahead of them and the Midlands outfit could become ‘real challengers’ to the Premier League’s elite thanks to money being ‘no object’ to the club’s owners, according to Daily Mail journalist Tom Collomosse.

Billionaire businessmen Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens bought majority control of Villa from Tony Xia in the summer of 2018 and they have gone on to show their ambition.

Chief executive Christian Purslow revealed last summer that ‘qualifying for European football is very much part of our strategic plan’ and Villa’s owners went on to back then-boss Dean Smith to the tune of close to £90million last summer.

Although a downturn in form saw Smith axed in November, Villa appointed Steven Gerrard as his successor and the 41-year-old immediately suggested his long-term goal is to lead his new club into Europe.

Having already spent big in the summer, Sawiris and Edens allowed Gerrard to splash the cash in last month’s transfer window and they proved to be the continent’s sixth biggest spenders.

Philippe Coutinho, a Champions League winner, joined on an initial loan deal which could be made permanent for £33million at the end of the season.

Villa then forked out up to £25million to acquire Lucas Digne from Everton, while Robin Olsen sealed a temporary switch and Calum Chambers headed to Villa Park on a three-and-a-half year deal.

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Collomosse feels Villa’s owners are desperate to return the club to its former glories, having previously won the European Cup along with seven top flight titles and FA Cups.

The journalist believes Sawiris and Edens have the financial acumen to allow those dreams to become a reality.

Collomosse told