“Open to conversations”: Gerrard drops huge Villa transfer update, it's good news – opinion

Steven Gerrard has the chance to lead Aston Villa to a top-half finish in the Premier League if they can end the season strongly.

With matches against Crystal Palace, Burnley, and Manchester City remaining, six points out of nine should be their realistic target from that trio of fixtures.

It has been a mixed season for Gerrard at Villa Park since his arrival from Rangers in mid-November. They started brightly under his tenure but have been inconsistent in 2022, winning 10 matches under the 41-year-old so far but also losing 11.

With the manager perhaps looking to rejig the playing squad and bring his own players in, there will likely be plenty of outgoings during the summer transfer window, and Gerrard has been discussing what will happen with his fringe players.

As per Birmingham Live on Friday, he said: “If it’s better to go and play elsewhere because they’re guaranteed more game time, then we’re certainly open to conversations with one or two of them. In terms of naming names, I don’t think that’s professional.”

He could be referring to numerous players with this message, and supporters may well be glad to see the back of some fringe members of the Villa squad who have been eating up the wage bill.

One player who looks set to leave is Morgan Sanson, while wingers Anwar El Ghazi and Trezeguet have been sent out on loan to Everton and İstanbul Başakşehir respectively, so it seems unlikely that they will feature at all for Villa next season.

The 41-year-old landed his top target in Philippe Coutinho on a permanent deal this week in a bargain £17m deal until 2026, and these are the types of players Gerrard needs to be signing in order to take the next step with the club and lead them into the European places.

Getting rid