Aston Villa must target a new defender when the transfer window opens in a couple of weeks despite financial restraints due to PSR
Villa were unable to sign Geertruida because the deal was contingent on Diego Carlos finding a new club, but a deal was never made for the Brazilian, who will enter the final year of his contract at the end of current season. If Carlos had left, Villa would have freed up wages and a spot in the squad for another newcomer.
Villa are now three points behind fourth place in the Premier League and among the top eight qualifying spots for the Champions League’s first phase. However, they have conceded the most goals in the top half of the table this season, tied with other clubs.
They have also conceded more goals than four other teams in the bottom half. For context, Crystal Palace and Everton have only conceded 21 goals each.
To make matters worse, Villa has conceded five more goals than they should have after posting an expected goals conceded figure of 19.5 this season. Only the struggling Wolves (40 goals conceded, 27.6 xGA) have a worse record this season (-12.4).
Villa have appeared weak at the back, and the statistics back this up, therefore they must improve their defence. Tyrone Mings made his first league debut in more than a year after suffering an ACL injury, and Villa overcame Brentford to snap their eight-match winless streak.
He was Villa’s man of the match that night and was scheduled to start the previous game against Nottingham Forest before withdrawing due to illness. He and Pau Torres are either competing for a single slot or playing in a back three alongside Ezri Konsa. However, if Villa finds a buyer for Carlos in January, he will need to be replaced.
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