Graeme Souness slams relegation-threatened Aston Villa over £142million summer spend

Aston Villa face an uphill task to stay up when the Premier League returns, according to Graeme Souness.

And the Liverpool legend has rubbished the Midlands club’s recruitment policy, after they spent £142million on transfers last summer.

The Villans splashed the cash to overhaul their squad upon securing promotion, having used a number of expensive loan deals to work their way out of the Championship.

The likes of Tyrone Mings and Matt Targett had their deals made permanent, while Villa also spent heavily on the likes of £22million striker Wesley and £15million Douglas Luiz.

Including January arrivals, Villa have signed 16 new players since becoming a Premier League club once more.

Despite their big spending Villa sit 19th on 25 points from 28 games as they prepare for their campaign to resume after the COVID-19 disruption against Sheffield United on Wednesday.

Villa have endured a miserable season (EMPICS Sport)

Now Souness, writing in his Sunday Times column, has let rip over their spending and questioning whether they panicked with a number of their purchases.

"Villa have only 10 games now to prove that they should remain a Premier League side next season and it's not going to be easy," wrote Souness.

"Their £142million net spend last summer was the largest in England and second only to Real Madrid's £153million in Europe.

Souness has not been impressed (Sky Sports)

"They're the biggest club in the second-biggest city in the country, but it hasn't happened for them. They're a yo-yo side.

"Did they end up signing the second or third choices on their list? That's always dangerous... you must hold your nerve and wait until the right players are available rather than signing people for the sake of it.

"Their defensive record is the worst in the Premier League. In 28 games, they've conceded 56 goals. That means, on average, they need to score three to win.

"It's a dangerous combination, if you're conceding too many goals and cannot score at the other end.

"Ultimately, it boils down to the most important things in football: management and recruitment."

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