Aston Villa have signed no fewer than three central defenders this summer with the possibility of a fourth on the way with L’Equipe reporting that the club are in advanced talks with Stade Reims defender Bjorn Engels – which has left some supporters at Villa Park questioning the pecking order in defence, with many believing that Kortney Hause will likely fall victim.
Manager Dean Smith took no time to act upon the £3m clause in Hause’s loan agreement to secure the 23-year-old permanently after impressing in his 12 appearances in claret and blue. However since then, the Villa boss has added both Tyrone Mings (£20m) and Ezri Konsa (£12m) to his defensive ranks with a reported £7m move for Engels potentially on the horizon. If the club were to secure the Belgian, they would have five options at centre-back with long-serving Wales international James Chester still at the club.
Villa have also signed a new left-back in former Southampton youngster Matt Targett which has left some fans feeling sorry for Hause as they believe he isn’t anywhere close to being starting centre-back at the club and now faces serious competition for the left-back spot.
The Villans’ summer spending could surpass the £100m mark if the signings of Engels as well as Douglas Luiz come to fruition which would leave Smith with an almighty task on his hands to keep all his players happy during their first season back in the top-flight since 2016.
You can read a selection of opinions from Villa supporters below:
He’ll have a part to play
— Fake (@JACKGREALlSH) July 14, 2019
He will get game time, the 2 cups this season and Champions league next season
— Matt Brown (@mattAVFCbrown) July 14, 2019
i imagine he’s 2nd choice lb and 2nd choice left cb… smith seems to like balance across the pitch (left and right footed cbs and cms) so that will probs translate to his team selection. and because of his versatility, he’ll almost definitely be on the bench at least
— jamie richards (@j_d_richards) July 14, 2019
3rd choice for me….and a great deputy for Mings
— Roger (@Roger98174125) July 14, 2019
2nd choice LB.
2nd choice LCB.
He will get plenty of games, and he’s hardly a proven Premier League performer anyway. Good move for him, and a chance to push for his place, and take advantage when called on.— Phil Roberts (@iamVilla) July 15, 2019
I feel like he is the LCB cover, we don’t know for sure that Ming’s injuries are behind him. Provides depth at LB too. But I agree, he left Wolves for games :/
— The Meatball Man (@MeatballMcGinni) July 14, 2019
Easily a better CB then Chester and an absolute beast #inhausewetrust
— Archie Cullum (@archie_cullum) July 14, 2019
I think we should all let Deano decide who starts and where, and support whoever is on the pitch. Not start to pre-decide who it’s going to be. There are lots of factors which will come in to play and many of them we, as fans won’t see. ????????UTV
— Mark Edwards (@MarkEUFC) July 14, 2019