Aston Villa hero Gabby Agbonlahor is a fan of Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos but believes Steven Gerrard should aim higher than the Rangers pair, speaking to talkSPORT (17 November, 9.20am).
Dean Smith certainly enjoyed plenty of success when signing players from his former club, snapping up Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa from Premier League newcomers Brentford in successive summers.
Whether Gerrard takes a leaf out of his predecessor’s book, however, remains to be seen.
Last week, 90Min reported the new Aston Villa manager was looking to reunite with two of his former Ibrox charges – left-back Borna Barisic and swashbuckling Scotland international Nathan Patterson.
Agbonlahor, however, believes the funds available to Gerrard means he should look elsewhere in the transfer market – even if Kent and Morelos do have the talent and potential to thrive south of the border.
Will Aston Villa boss Gerrard raid Rangers for Morelos and Kent?
“I wouldn’t buy any (players from Rangers),” says Agbonlahor, a former Aston Villa captain.
“I like Kent, I like Morelos – but I think Steven Gerrard now has a bigger player he can buy.
“At Rangers he only had a certain amount of money. But now, with the money Villa have got… look at the signings they’ve made, £30 million, £40 million.
“I feel like managers don’t always have to go back to the club they left and go back to players they know. He’s got the whole world (available to him) now.”
When pressed on where Aston Villa could improve, Agbonlahor believes a left-sided winger would be a welcome addition while questioning whether Ollie Watkins – who has struggled for goals this season – could adapt to a wider role.
“I’d get another winger,” adds the one-time England international.
“(Anwar) El Ghazi is good on his day but another left winger – one with speed (may be needed). Can he put Watkins on the left and play Danny Ings down the middle?”
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