If Aston Villa graduate from the Championship to the Premier League, they want a striker with Southampton’s Charlie Austin in their sights.
Aston Villa have a long way to go before they can call themselves a Premier League team again.
Steve Bruce’s side are not mathematically assured a place in the play-offs just yet – and even then they will to navigate that arduous mini-tournament over three tense encounters with some very good Championship teams.
But, according to The Sun, Aston Villa are already thinking of players they could sign if they are promoted and freed from the shackles of Financial Fair Play. It is understood that Southampton striker Charlie Austin, who has scored six goals in six starts during an injury hit season, is right at the top of their hitlist.
But if it’s a hard-working and physical centre-forward Aston Villa are looking for, it would make perfect sense to renew their interest in Ashley Barnes – so long as they aren’t forced to spend a third season in the second tier that is.
The Independent claimed in January 2017 that Aston Villa were big fans of the Burnley centre-forward. He was then rated at £5 million but his reputation, and probably his price-tag, have soared since then.
The 28-year-old has scored a career-best seven Premier League goals this season and has netted in each of his last four games – capped by that wonderous volley at West Brom. Suddenly, links with Chelsea and a potential call-up for Austria don’t seem so preposterous.
Barnes is a striker cut from the same cloth as Austin and has now proven himself in the top flight. Villa could do worse than to make another move if the stars align this summer.
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