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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
James Nursey

5 players Aston Villa could sign in next step of Steven Gerrard's transfer rebuild

Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard has been one of the most active managers in the transfer window so far this summer.

Boubacar Kamara signed as a free transfer from Marseille just after the end of last season and has since been joined by Sevilla centre-back Diego Carlos, while Philippe Coutinho and Robin Olsen have made their loan moves permanent.

Gerrard is now keen to further add to his squad after selling Matt Targett to Newcastle for £15million and there could be further out-goings among fringe players. Mirror Sport takes a look at five potential other stars Villa could target in their transfer business as they aim to improve on last term's 14th place and push for European qualification.

Sergio Gomez

Villa are in the market for a new left-back after selling Targett to Newcastle for £15million. Sergio Gomez, 21, has been mooted as a possible target. He currently plays his football in Belgium for Anderlecht and could provide solid back up for Lucas Digne next season.

Villa want a young promising full-back to compete with Digne and Gomez is seen as a better value option than Calvin Bassey from Rangers and Aaron Hickey from Bologna. Digne will be one of the first names on Gerrard's team sheet next season but he is searching for back-up for the France international.

Ryan Kent

Rangers winger Ryan Kent, 25, excelled in the Europa League last season and would provide Villa with some pace in wider areas. Kent was one of Gerrard's first signings at Ibrox in 2018 and is a quality player who was key for Rangers in their Scottish Premiership title win in 2020/2021.

Kent, who used to play for Liverpool with Gerrard, only made one senior appearance for the Reds in an FA Cup clash with Exeter City in January 2016, has been linked with a move away from Scotland, with fellow Premier League side Leeds also said to be interested in the attacking ace who has just a year left on his contract.

Luiz Suarez

Former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, 35, is a five-time La Liga winner who has come to the end of his contract at Atletico Madrid. Gerrard and Suarez enjoyed a very successful three-and-a-half years playing together on Merseyside.

The Villa boss has already used his Anfield connections and history to pull off a coup attracting Coutinho to Villa Park. Uruguay's all-time leading goalscorer scored 82 goals in 133 games during his spell with the Reds from 2011 to 2014 and could now follow in Coutinho's footsteps. Villa were linked with a January move for the Uruguayan but ruled it out yet now it could be on the cards as a free transfer would be a different proposition.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Where will Villa finish under Gerrard next season? Let us know in the comments section

Luis Suarez is on the lookout for a new club having left Atletico Madrid at the end of last season (Getty Images)

Ben Brereton Diaz

Danny Ings was hardly prolific with just seven goals and Villa are likely target a new forward for next season despite Ings showing glimpses of a decent rapport with Ollie Watkins.

Blackburn striker Ben Brereton Diaz, 23, enjoyed a sensational campaign with 22 goals in 37 Championship games. He also starred for Chile with four goals in 14 caps since making his international debut a year ago. Brereton Diaz has also been linked with a move to Sevilla and the star could be sold this summer as he has just a year left on his contract

Joe Gomez

Gerrard is known to be an admirer of Joe Gomez and was linked with a move for the Liverpool defender earlier this summer. The 25-year-old defender, who has 11 England caps, has two years left on his contract and would like to play more regularly after just eight Premier League appearances last term.

But he would prefer to move to a club who can offer European football and Gerrard may have to use all his persuasive powers if he is to get his man.

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