Villa outspent the majority of the Championship in the summer, though that has not exactly guaranteed success.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has told the Birmingham Mail that he is only looking to add players who can improve the starting XI in January.
The 55-year-old has admitted that he is keen on bringing in incomings in the winter, claiming that he already has one signing ‘in the bag’ as Villa look to maintain their impressive form since he took over in October.
However, Bruce has suggested that he wants Villa to learn after spending huge sums in the summer window to put together a squad capable of pushing for an immediate return to the top flight, only for a number of their signings to struggle so far.
In particular, striker Ross McCormack is yet to replicate his prolific form from Fulham and Leeds United while young goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini has suffered due to his lack of experience on occasions.
And Bruce has confirmed that he is only looking to add players guaranteed to enhance his first-team options as Villa look ahead to a crucial few months in the New Year.
“I will only bring in people now who will improve the squad dramatically,” he told the Birmingham Mail. “In the past, if I am going to be critical, I don’t think that has been the case here.
“We have just brought in numbers and I think that is a mistake. If you only bring in numbers to fill up the squad then you don’t become better.”
Bruce has also expressed a desire to trim the fat from his bloated squad, with at least one of his many strikers likely to depart in the winter.
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