As the full time whistle rung around Villa Park on Saturday afternoon, the home supporters could have been forgiven for heading for the exit with a renewed sense of confidence. Diego Carlos had looked all at sea during his Premier League debut seven days earlier, as newly-promoted Bournemouth triumphed 2-0 on the South Coast.
But, partnered with the returning Tyrone Mings against Everton, the £26 million Brazilian offered a tantalising glimpse into what the future of Aston Villa’s backline might look like. That was, of course, until Steven Gerrard poured enough water to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool on that claret-and-blue parade.
“I am extremely worried about that situation,” Gerrard told Sky Sports, referencing an injury Carlos picked up against The Toffees. “We are going to send him for an MRI scan, but it doesn’t look good.
“I’m extremely happy with the win and the performance. But to lose someone that is so important to us, that could tarnish the win.”
Aston Villa defender Diego Carlos ruptures his Achilles
On Monday, Gerrard’s worst fears seemed to have been confirmed. Carlos, after just two Villa games, could now be out of action until 2023, or six months, with an Achilles rupture. At least, if there is a silver lining to this very dark cloud, it’s that there are still two weeks remaining until September’s transfer deadline.
“While the window is still open, you can never rule it out (signing a replacement),” Gerrard added.
And it just so happens that Victor Nelsson, reportedly a £17 million Aston Villa target earlier in the summer, is on the lookout for a fresh start.
“We want Nelson to stay. (But) our plan is ready in case he leaves,” admits Galatasaray’s deputy chairman Erden Timur. “Nelsson talked to me yesterday (last week). He said he had dreams and wanted to go.”
A 23-year-old Denmark international, Nelsson is a familiar face to one key figure at Aston Villa. Johan Lange, the club’s sporting director, worked with him at Copenhagen. Villa were linked back in 2020 too, via Ekstra Bladet, shortly after Lange took over in the Midlands.
Is Victor Nelsson a solution?
This is not to say he would be an affordable replacement for the stricken Carlos, however. An ambitious Galatasaray side with designs on reaching the summit of Turkish football after a dismal 2021/22 are determined to keep Nelsson in Istanbul.
“Our club’s attitude towards Nelsson is clear,” says bullish head coach Okan Buruk. “We do not want Nelsson to leave, unless there is a huge amount of money (on the table).”
It is not certain, at this stage, whether Aston Villa are willing to pay a ‘huge amount of money’ for a defender who would not be a guaranteed starter when all of Steven Gerrard’s centre-halves are available. Galatasaray reportedly want £17 million.
But those are the decisions facing Gerrard, Lange and co over the next fortnight? Do they make do and mend? Or do they release the purse-strings again, forced back into the market by misfortune and necessity?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
