Hutton: Aston Villa to sign new defender after source's £150m transfer reveal
Alan Hutton has suggested signing a new centre-back will be a priority for Aston Villa this summer.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Villa full-back insisted Steven Gerrard's current options need competition to lift their games.
As revealed by Football Insider this month (1 April), the Villans' board are prepared to finance a "huge" spending spree this summer, with the club expected to splash out £150million-plus.
A midfielder is among their top targets, with an initial move made for Brighton's Yves Bissouma.
Gerrard has also been critical of his defenders and, as quoted by the Express and Star (10 April), admitted he has "issues", both "collective and individual", at the back.
As such, Hutton suggested a new defender would be among Villa's top targets.
Asked if he thought centre-back reinforcements would be a priority this summer, Hutton told Football Insider's Russell Edge: "I do. I think it's somewhere that Gerrard will look to strengthen.
"It's difficult for me to say because I know the players but the facts are the facts. Defensively, it's not being good enough and I think reinforcements are needed.
"This is not me saying that that's them out the window. You need players coming in to push those already there.
"I had it my whole career. People came in and tried to take my place and I went: 'You know what? You're going to have to fight me for it.'
"It raised my game. That is probably what needs to happen."
Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa, Calum Chambers and Kortney Hause are currently Gerrard's senior centre-back options.
Mings has featured the most of the quartet, with 30 appearances under his belt.