Expert ‘expects’ Aston Villa to complete defender signing after source’s update
Aston Villa will attempt to sign a new centre-back before the transfer window closes.
That’s according to former Villains boss Alex McLeish, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about a crushing blow to new Aston Villa star Diego Carlos.
On Tuesday (16 August) sources told Football Insider that Carlos is expected to be out for the rest of the season after rupturing his Achilles tendon.
The Premier League club announced on Monday (15 August) the defender will undergo surgery on the injury sustained in Saturday’s (13 August) win over Everton.
McLeish expects Villa will now enter the transfer market to boost Steven Gerrard’s defensive options.
“If Villa don’t have faith in the guys they already have then they will have to go out and do something else,” McLeish told Football Insider’s Ben Wild.
“It’s a big blow to lose one of the guys you have just brought in, especially when he cost a lot of money.
“I had James McFadden from Everton while I was at Birmingham. There was a clash in training and his cruciate was gone, I missed him for the whole season.
“These things happen, it’s a crushing blow. Carlos could be out for a very, very long time as well so it’s a blow to Gerrard’s plans.
“Now he has to improvise. With the money that is in the game, you would expect the club to get him a backup.”
Carlos moved to the Midlands giants this summer for £26million from Sevilla and looked set to be one of Steven Gerrard’s first-choice centre-backs.
Aston Villa finished 14th in the Premier League last season, 11 points behind the top seven.
In other news, Philippe Coutinho could be axed by Aston Villa as new details emerge.