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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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BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 28: Anwar El Ghazi of Aston Villa is mobbed by team mates after scoring to make it 5-4 during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest at Villa Park on November 28, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 28: Anwar El Ghazi of Aston Villa is mobbed by team mates after scoring to make it 5-4 during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest at Villa Park on November 28, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /

4. Value signing midfielder/forward.

Importance: Low

Attainability: Fairly Easy

This is where it gets fun.

Dean Smith doesn’t *need* another midfielder, but if he can nab someone he likes on a cheap transfer, why not? Akin to the signing of John McGinn, try and get someone who can contribute in the Championship or Premier League.

Glenn Whelan and Mile Jedinak are out-of-contract in the summer. A defensive midfielder will be a critical addition by next season. Why not get ahead of it?

Birkir Bjarnason and Henri Lansbury are still around, but perhaps they could be moved to fund a younger addition. We saw on Saturday Villa’s reliance on Jack Grealish. Someone to compete with Jack, John, and Conor is nothing but a good thing.

No one should expect Villa to complete the above four tasks – especially given FFP concerns. But a minor shuffling of the squad could see 1-3 players incoming next month.

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