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Aston Villa needs more additions this summer

Aston Villa needs more additions this summer

Aston Villa completed the £12million signing of striker Ross McCormack from Fulham on Wednesday. The Scottish international arrived after the departures of defender Ciaran Clark to Newcastle and midfielder Idrissa Gueye to Everton earlier this week.

There was optimism ahead of the new season following the arrival of new ownership and Champions League-winning boss Roberto Di Matteo. However, the Villans boss will no doubt need to add more players to his squad for Villa to challenge for promotion next season.

The Italian has added centre-back Tommy Elphick, goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini and midfielder Aaron Tshibola to his squad, although most of the additions have been replacements for players that have departed in the summer.

Villa were woeful last season as they finished bottom of the Premier League. Some critics have described them as the worst team to ever play Premier League football.

A complete rebuild was needed and eight first team players have now left, including experienced ‘keeper Brad Guzan and full-back Kieran Richardson. Di Matteo is unlikely to be finished in the transfer yet though.

The Villans have been drained of quality over the past three years, as their best players have constantly departed for big money. Not many of the Villa players were in demand this summer, so Di Matteo will have the final say over who he wants to go and stay.

The clubs new Chinese owners have already spent a bit of cash, but they have also recouped some through the sales of Gueye and Clark.

Villa have a mighty task on their hands to mount a challenge for promotion in the new season. Without addition strengthening that looks like an unlikely prospect.

Championship Regular Season
OVERALL TABLE PTS GP W D L +/-
1
Leicester City 94 44 30 4 10 47
2
Leeds United 90 44 27 9 8 43
3
Ipswich Town 89 43 26 11 6 32
4
Southampton 84 44 25 9 10 24
5
West Bromwich 72 44 20 12 12 23
6
Norwich City 72 44 21 9 14 16
7
Hull City 69 44 19 12 13 9
8
Coventry City 63 43 17 12 14 13
9
Middlesbrough 63 44 18 9 17 4
10
Preston North End 63 44 18 9 17 -5
11
Cardiff City 62 44 19 5 20 -11
12
Bristol City 59 44 16 11 17 4
13
Sunderland 56 44 16 8 20 1
14
Swansea City 56 44 15 11 18 -5
15
Watford 53 44 12 17 15 1
16
Millwall 53 44 14 11 19 -12
17
Stoke City 50 44 13 11 20 -16
18
QPR 50 44 13 11 20 -16
19
Blackburn Rovers 49 44 13 10 21 -16
20
Plymouth Argyle 48 44 12 12 20 -11
21
Sheffield Wednesday 47 44 13 8 23 -29
22
Birmingham City 46 44 12 10 22 -16
23
Huddersfield 44 44 9 17 18 -27
24
Rotherham 24 44 4 12 28 -53

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