The £60m summer transfer window battle that will see Aston Villa and Arsenal go head to head again

Aston Villa are preparing for what promises to be anther busy transfer window this summer.

Head coach Steven Gerrard will be given the funds necessary to attack a competitive market with the aim of continuing to build a squad capable of challenging for European football next season. In January, Villa signed Lucas Digne, Calum Chambers and Robin Olsen, while Philippe Coutinho joined on loan until the end of the campaign.

The Brazilian could sign permanently for £33million this summer and it is expected that Villa will trigger that option, though Coutinho must take a large cut on his weekly wage. His form in claret and blue has been largely encouraging, having made seven goal contributions in 12 games.

But more recently, due to Villa's poor run of form, Coutinho's influence on games has dried up. He remains a crucial part of Gerrard's team and the Villa boss has already signalled his intentions to make his stay permanent despite having other priorities to attend to this summer window.

Villa are aiming big this summer and will face strong competition to seal their top targets. Gerrard wants to sign a holding midfielder and bring in defensive reinforcements as priorities, with the likes of Kalvin Phillips, Yves Bissouma and Matthias Ginter all linked.

Manchester United are said to be progressing with a move to sign Phillips from Leeds United, while Arsenal admire both Coutinho and Bissouma. Mikel Arteta's side are set to go head-to-head with North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the race for the top four as the season draws to a close, and that could be a huge bonus for the Gunners in the market.

Though, Villa remain frontrunners to land Coutinho on a permanent deal, while Bissouma is a midfielder that Gerrard is a big