Aston Villa could greatly improve their squad with the signings of four free agents, including a former Liverpool star.
Roberto Di Matteo has a lot of work to do to get Villa back to where they belong
Aston Villa are preparing for a long and hard season in the Championship, following their abysmal 2015/16 campaign that culminated in their relegation.
Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo must ensure that he makes the necessary additions to his squad to give them the best chance possible of bouncing back immediately to the Premier League.
Here are four free agents who Villa could snap up in key areas of the pitch that Di Matteo desperately needs to address:
Steven Taylor, 30:
Steven Taylor has been released by Newcastle
Villa were woeful at the back last term, with a lack of cohesion and fighting spirit eventually proving to be costly.
Steven Taylor is available on a free following his release from Newcastle United and would instantly install a die-for-the-cause attitude to the Villa back-line.
The 30-year-old has plenty of years left within the game, and could re-establish himself at Villa.
Raul Meireles, 33:
Raul Meirelles would be a fantastic addition for Villa
The former Chelsea and Liverpool star is available on a free transfer following his release from Fenerbahce, and would slot perfectly into Villa’s midfield.
He would bring a level of experience currently not present in the Villains’ engine room, and a touch of class that would instantly improve Di Matteo’s side.
Jack Grealish would benefit tremendously from having someone of Meireles’ calibre in the side, and a move for the 76 time capped Portuguese star seems to be a no-brainer.
Kevin-Prince Boateng, 29:
Kevin Prince-Boating is available on a free after his release from AC Milan
The Ghanaian has just been released by AC Milan, and at 29, he would be an absolute steal, should Villa decide to make a move.
He oozes class in possession and would give the Midlands outfit an instant lift. He is tenacious in the tackle and has an expert range of passing that would take Di Matteo’s men to a new level entirely.
He also has experience in the English game, having spent time at Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth respectively.
Emmanuel Adebayor, 32:
Emmanuel Adebayor still has plenty to offer and could fire Villa back to England’s top tier
The Togolese striker is one of the best in his position on his day. He has power and pace in abundance, and his availability on a free transfer is a fantastic opportunity for a club like Aston Villa to gain a world-class performer.
He has spent extensive time in the English game, and is perfectly accustomed to the high tempo style. He would provide Villa with a terrific outlet, and has the ability to score 20 plus goals, which is invaluable for a promotion chasing side.
Di Matteo should make every effort to bring the former Arsenal man to Villa Park.
Here’s how the Villa side could look with the addition of these four free agents, should any moves come to fruition:
Quite an impressive looking outfit, and one that would surely stand an extremely good chance of achieving promotion to the Premier League.
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