Aston Villa will face Bournemouth on the opening day of the Premier League season and could hand Calvin Bassey his debut with Steven Gerrard interested in the Rangers star.
The Birmingham natives see in the new campaign on the south coast following the Cherries’ promotion from the Championship. Villa then follow their trip to Dean Court by hosting Everton, before facing Crystal Palace (A), West Ham United (H) and Arsenal (A).
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Gerrard will be keen to see the Villans get the term off on the right foot, having kicked off last season with just three wins in 11 games under Dean Smith. Aston Villa would also end the 2021/22 campaign with two wins in 11 to finish up in 14th, having sat ninth on April 1.
Aston Villa have already moved to improve Gerrard’s squad in the hope of climbing up the standings next season. Philippe Coutinho returned to Villa in a £17m deal after a loan spell from Barcelona, Diego Carlos joined from Sevilla and Boubacar Kamara departed Marseille.
Gerrard interested in reuniting with Rangers ace Bassey at Aston Villa
Gerrard is far from finished with his summer spending, it seems, ahead of starting the new season at Bournemouth. Sky Sports report Aston Villa are among a clutch of Premier League and Bundesliga outfits interested in Rangers star Bassey, who will cost over £25m.
Bassey is open to discussing a move from Rangers to Villa Park after two years in Glasgow. The 22-year-old joined the Premiership club under Gerrard for just £230k in compensation after leaving Leicester City without a first-team outing, but has made 65 in Scotland so far.
Any deal for the six-cap Nigeria international can see Bassey line up beside Carlos in Aston Villa’s backline when they face Bournemouth on the opening day of the new season. So, with that in mind, what could Gerrard’s XI look like when the Premier League returns?
Emiliano Martinez (GK): Aston Villa have no need to be interested in new stopper
Aston Villa have no need to be interested in a new number one goalkeeper before the new Premier League season. Emiliano Martinez kept 11 clean sheets over his 36 appearances in 2021/22. Robin Olsen has also returned in a €3.5m (£3m) deal with Roma after a loan spell.
Matty Cash (RB): Poland star staying put at Villa Park with new contract
Matty Cash has committed his future to Aston Villa by signing a new, five-year contract in April. His presence in Birmingham had crept into doubt following the January market, with The Sun claiming Atletico Madrid were interested and that the Poland ace was keen to go.
Diego Carlos (CB): Aston Villa locked up Sevilla star in summer swoop
Aston Villa have already moved to improve their defence this summer with Carlos leaving Sevilla for £26m. The 29-year-old helped Los Nervionenses record La Liga’s best defensive record last term over his 34 appearances, with the Andalusian natives conceding 30 goals.
Calvin Bassey (CB): Gerrard interested in Rangers reunion at Aston Villa
Bassey is open to leaving Rangers for Aston Villa this summer with Gerrard interested in a potential reunion. The Nigerian enjoyed a strong campaign in Scotland last season over 50 appearances, offering six assists and proved his ability at centre-half as well as at left-back.
Lucas Digne (LB): Defender made instant impact after January arrival
Lucas Digne made an instant impact at Villa Park last term, after joining from Everton in a £25m January switch. The full-back offered Gerrard a clear improvement on Matt Targett in the position and ended the season with three assists over the Villan’s final five fixtures.
John McGinn (CM): Gerrard will hope to see Scotland star scoring again
Last season saw John McGinn battle relentlessly for Aston Villa and he ended the campaign nearing his best form. Gerrard will now hope he can continue it into the new season and is scoring regularly, having hit home three in 35 games last term but not one past November.
Boubacar Kamara (CM): Aston Villa signed French anchor in free from Marseille
Aston Villa will hope Gerrard has solved their defensive midfielder search this summer by signing Kamara as a free agent. The Frenchman was out of contract at Marseille on June 30 and has agreed to move to England, having proven himself to be a sensational ball winner.
Jacob Ramsey (CM): Gerrard knows there is still more to come from stunning talent
Gerrard knows there is still more he can coax from Jacob Ramsey, despite the midfielder’s stunning season last term. The 21-year-old scored six goals and created one over 34 league outings, including efforts against Arsenal, Manchester United, Leeds (two) and West Ham.
Philippe Coutinho (RW): Aston Villa retained Brazilian after loan from Barcelona
Coutinho will hope continuing at Aston Villa next season sees him find greater consistency, as his levels sporadically dropped while on loan from Barcelona last term. The 30-year-old started strongly with four goals and three assists in eight, then just one goal in his next 11.
Ollie Watkins (ST): Top-scorer at Villa Park still has room to grow
Ollie Watkins ended last season as Aston Villa’s top-scorer across all competitions (11) and in the Premier League (11). The 26-year-old was the only Villans player with double figures, but will know he still has room to grow and must to earn an England role at the World Cup.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (LW): Aston Villa interested with Liverpool ready to sell
Aston Villa are rivalling interest from West Ham in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain this summer, with Liverpool ready to sell the 28-year-old. The Mirror report both claret-and-blue sides are on high alert for a potential £10m transfer as the Englishman is out of contract in 2023.
Gerrard is a long-term admirer of the 35-cap star he played eight games beside at Anfield. Now, Oxlade-Chamberlain could join Kamara, Bassey and Carlos in making their Aston Villa debuts on the opening day of the new Premier League season against Bournemouth.
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