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Ranking Aston Villa’s Biggest January 2018 Transfer Needs

By Josh Tonti

WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 07: Aston Villa Manager Dean Smith looks on ahead of the Sky Bet Championship match between West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa at The Hawthorns on December 7, 2018 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 07: Aston Villa Manager Dean Smith looks on ahead of the Sky Bet Championship match between West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa at The Hawthorns on December 7, 2018 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /
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BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND – AUGUST 28: Neil Taylor of Aston Villa controls the ball during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Burton Albion and Aston Villa at Pirelli Stadium on August 28, 2018 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND – AUGUST 28: Neil Taylor of Aston Villa controls the ball during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Burton Albion and Aston Villa at Pirelli Stadium on August 28, 2018 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images) /

1. A new, long-term option to compete at left-back.

Importance: Very High

Attainability: Difficult

Neil Taylor looks like a different player under Dean Smith, but the bar for improvement was so low in previous years. He’ll play an important part for Aston Villa the rest of the season, and presumably the coming years as well with a contract until 2021.

But he’s 30 in February and fairly injury-prone.

Villa never got their man as summer target Joe Bryan elected to join Fulham over the claret and blue. Who’s the next Joe Bryan? Left-back rumours have been extraordinarily quiet over recent weeks, but it’s the most crucial position in need to strengthening. Alan Hutton is the only reserve option, but he’s out-of-contract at the end of the year.

If Smith doesn’t sign a left-back in January, he absolutely will in the summer.

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