Steven Gerrard lays down the gauntlet to Aston Villa squad ahead of summer transfer window

Steven Gerrard says he is ready to fish out the weak at Aston Villa as he bids to transform the club's fortunes.

The 41-year-old was given a clear and concise remit after replacing Dean Smith back in November and that's to bring European football back to Villa Park for the first time in well over a decade.

Gerrard is targeting a top-10 finish come May while, in the summer, Villa's billionaire owners are prepared to once again open their ever-expanding cheque books to allow the manager to shape his own squad, one that's fit to really challenge for Europe next term.

With Villa on a hapless run of five defeats from their last eight - and just one victory in that time - Gerrard was asked about the squad's mentality and what he's constantly doing at Bodymoor Heath ahead of another summer of big change in B6.

"There are different ways to build a winning mentality," he said. "Obviously, recruitment is one. That is a big thing. We have identified areas in the team where we need to improve and get better which we will do in due time.

"It's about raising the standards of the club in every single compartment, identifying the players who maybe can't bring that and, also, playing the players that you know do have it in the short-term.

"It is not something which can change overnight. You have to keep working on it, players need to keep improving and believing.

"The reason I believe that the group has got it is because when I first came in we won four games in a short space of time. Without a doubt we can change where we are right now."

Ahead of Brighton on Saturday, Gerrard added: "We need to become tougher to beat, especially in this league.

"You and I know that if your mentality is not right and, collectively, you are not prepared