With the transfer window remaining open between Premier League and EFL clubs until the 16th October, there remains unfinished business to be done.
Although Villa have certainly completed their substantive moves after acquiring Watkins, Cash, Martinez, Traore and Barkley, Dean Smith will be mindful that we remain light upfront.
With Wesley out until at least the New Year, Samatta all but sold to Fenerbache (season long loan initially) and promising American striker Indiana Vassilev with Burton, it leaves just Keinan Davis in reserve.
Davis, despite many admirable qualities, is yet to find the net in the top-flight.
KING-MAKER
Embed from Getty ImagesVilla remain heavily linked to Norwegian international striker Josh King. We’ve tracked negotiations for the Bournemouth striker for a number of weeks, but the latest reports indicate that Villa are willing to compete with West Ham for his signature.
The Hammers have had a £13 million bid rejected by the South Coast club, with Bournemouth thought to be holding out for as much as £17m.
As eye-watering as the fee for the 28 year old is the reported wage demands, believed to be in the region of £130,000 per week.
Whilst West Ham’s recruitment attempts this summer have been less than impressive, Smith must also be conscious that Everton are also monitoring the situation.
Somewhat amusingly, our neighbours West Brom were snubbed in their pursuit, with King reported to have ‘no interest’ in the move as looking to join a ‘bigger club’.
EVERTON WATCHING
Embed from Getty ImagesEverton look a changed team and club under Carlo Ancelotti and having allowed Moise Kean to depart Goodison Park, are in the market for reinforcements.
There is a similar headache for both Smith and Ancelotti, with the reality that any injury to Watkins / Calvert-Lewin, could leave both clubs striking options looking decidedly short.
For Villa, we risk going into a long campaign without a back-up striker, an omission which could easily unravel a summer of promising recruitment.
Indeed, we need look no further than what played out last season following Wesley’s ACL injury on New Year Day. That injury prompted a desperate scramble for January replacements in the form of Ally Samatta & Borja Baston and the disintegration of a league form thereafter.
The question must ultimately be, if not Josh King, then who?
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Bertrand Traoré is well capable of playing as a centre forward. Many Lyon supporters felt he was more effective in this role, so I wouldn’t be overly concerned about the lack of cover for Ollie Watkins.