Steve Bruce says there will not a huge overhaul at Aston Villa this summer.
Aston Villa’s manager Steve Bruce
Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce has told the club’s official YouTube channel that he will only be looking for one or two signings this summer.
Bruce has endured some ups and downs since replacing Roberto Di Matteo as Villa boss in October, but has recently guided Villa to five wins in their last six Championship games, keeping clean sheets in each of those wins.
After a dismal start to 2017 though, it’s all come too late for Villa, who sit 12th in the Championship table, 11 points off the play-offs with just eight games to play.
Bruce has avoided any relegation fears and has Villa comfortably in mid-table, but fans will be expecting a play-off push next season – especially as Bruce’s January signings have now settled in.
James Bree, Neil Taylor, Henri Lansbury, Conor Hourihane, Birkir Bjarnason and Scott Hogan all arrived as Villa splashed the cash, whilst youngster Jacob Bedeau is one for the future and goalkeeper Sam Johnstone is only on loan from Manchester United, but could return.
The busy January – which also saw the likes of Ashley Westwood, Jordan Ayew and Rudy Gestede leave the club – was another signing spree for Villa, having brought in Pierluigi Gollini, Ritchie de Laet, Tommy Elphick, James Chester, Aaron Tshibola, Mile Jedinak, Albert Adomah, Ross McCormack and Jonathan Kodjia last summer.
With so much upheaval even in just the last 12 months, manager Bruce has now told the club’s official YouTube channel that fans shouldn’t expect to see another huge turnover of players this summer, as the club can’t really afford to do it again.
General view inside Villa Park
Bruce added that he wants just one or two signings of quality this summer, before noting that he doesn’t expect many players to leave Villa Park either in what could be a quiet summer.
“There won’t be huge turnover this summer,” said Bruce. “I don’t think the club can expect to do that again, because we’ve seen huge turnovers in the last couple of years. One or two, that little bit of quality, is what we’re looking for.”
“Now, I’ve got a squad – which I’m delighted about – but if there’s a player or a couple of players who can make that big bit of difference, then it will be one or two rather than eight or ten, and I can’t see many going out the other way either,” he added.
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