'A domino effect' - Aston Villa yet to strike Watkins deal, Grealish latest, the big £60 million question

It's just 18 days until the new Premier League season and 41 days until the transfer window slams shut for Aston Villa.

Head coach Dean Smith discussed transfers in detail for the first time during his sit-down Villa TV interview and explained how he put his preplanned trip up to Scotland on hold in order to meet with Villa's new transfer instigator, sporting director Johan Lange.

"Wheels are in motion," he said, "that was the reason I stopped back, to sit down with Johan and strategically plan what we are going to do.

"Nobody is satisfied with finishing 17th in the league – owners, supporters, players and coaching staff. So we need to improve the squad. We improved after the lockdown and Project Restart and we need to improve again because we don’t want a season of struggle."

This past week, supposed targets and players have continued to stick and be linked with Aston Villa, with new names in the frame from Atletico Madrid's Kieran Trippier to West Ham winger Grady Diangana and £18 million-valued Omar Colley.

The likes of Ollie Watkins, Said Benrahma and Odsonne Edouard remain high on Villa's agenda, while a move for Werder Bremen attacker Milot Rashica is appearing less likely by the day.

Here, in our latest Aston Villa transfer tavern Q&A, we discuss a number of big talking points from this transfer window and what it all means.

The transcript of our fan forum is below, including details of Villa and Brentford being some way off in terms of agreeing a fee for 26-goal hot-shot Watkins...

Stuart Marlin: Latest on Watkins?

Brentford are waiting to tie up a replacement for Wakins. They've been snubbed by Toney at Peterborough, hence a big delay in this one. Once the Championship club get a new goal-scorer in place then it'll be a domino effect. Villa and Brentford are still way apart on agreeing a price for Watkins, too. Discussions ongoing. He's valued at £25 million, remember. Villa reluctant to keep smashing their £22 million club record.

Jack Cooke: Is there any interest in Edouard?

 

Yes, I believe there's genuine interest in Edouard. Villa are looking at the best way to spread their reported £100 million-or-so budget. Villa aren't willing to put all their eggs in one basket with this one, Jack. Lange and Smith are scouring the market. I fully expect Watkins to go through, though.

GMurphy82: Are Villa willing to spend big because if we won't I assume someone else will...

Just look at Smith last year, he spat his coffee out if you like at the fee Villa ended up paying Bournemouth for Mings (£21m). If Villa just go out and spend whatever clubs want for their assets then it will have a knock-on effect in future deals with other clubs, knowing Villa are more than happy to pay over the odds. It's very much a domino effect at the moment, targets could yet kick up a fuss and force moves to Villa which would help matters.

SeanVilla: Any idea if Grealish is to receive an England call up? Worried it'll have a significant impact on whether he stays or not.

 

Yes, fully expecting Grealish to earn his first call-up. It's about bloody time! I'm with Tony Daley, too, who said call-up will persuade the skipper that there's no need to move! Grealish deserves everything and a new contract at Villa as well.

Sherm: Who do you think will be leaving the club this summer?

James Bree could well be heading back to Luton on a permanent. Scott Hogan's another one deemed surplus to requirements, you just wonder whether it could be a loan to a Championship side again given his wages. Lovre Kalinic and Jota have uncertain futures, too.

Villa18741: We need to strengthen our left-sided full-back position. Are Villa looking for a left-back?

Neil Taylor's contract is up in 10 months' time and he won't be given a new one despite his popularity amongst the dressing room. I'm with you, I think Matt Targett needs healthy competition. He was a big buy remember (£14m) and hopefully there's much more to come. I'd prefer a new left-back over a right-back if I had the choice. Villa have Guilbert, Elmo, Konsa and Kesler at RB. But yeah, a full-back will be on the list, right or left depending on the quality they can bring in. Mike McGrath from the Telegraph reported on Trippier interest. I think he could play right or left and would be an asset for Villa. What a coup that could be. Deal would have to be right, though. Villa have more pressing areas to add quality in, mind.

Sherm: Any idea if they'll target a midfielder? A couple injuries there and it looks bleak pretty quickily.

 

Weston McKennie, above, is on Villa's radar, the American No.8 from Schalke. I'm totally with you, I think Villa are desperate for a central midfielder to play in with Douglas Luiz and John McGinn. Conor Hourihane would have something to say about that but there's not a lot in reserve is there. Villa need another McGinn-type player in there.

SeanVilla: Do you expect us to pay the £25mill quoted for Watkins, I would happily sign Edouard instead for £35mill.

That's the Catch 22 situation Villa are in. Do they go out and get Watkins or go all-out to get Edouard for £10-15 million more? A deal for both will set Villa back some £60 million for two players. Are they both worth that, though? I'm not too sure.

VillafanLuke: Do you know if getting Luiz to sign a new contract if that will remove his buy-back clause?

Yes, Villa are looking to get this buy-back clause wiped out with a new deal. It expires next summer but City can act at any time. Just imagine if Rodri and Gundogan suffer bad injuries close to the new season...

Walnut-AVFC: Are we likely to see any movement with transfers this week? My phones getting fed up of refreshing Twitter!

Tell us about it, Walnut! It's a frustrating time for everyone at the minute and it's not helped how the transfer window is tighter than ever given the season starts in a few weeks. I've said this many times, patience is required sadly. There's not too much being done in the Premier League at present, other than Chelsea going mental.

Mallon: What are your thoughts about bringing in a new keeper? I'm worried about Heaton's recovery. Butland, perhaps?

 

I think a GK is in order. I think Kalinic and Nyland have had their chances now. The Norwegian's deal expires in 10 months! I'm worried about Heaton as well, seeing how he'll recover. Jed Steer is always a trusted understudy. As for Butland, he didn't convince me last year. £8 million? The man to ask re that will be Neil Cutler. A GK department of Heaton, Butland and Steer, perhaps?

Glad80: Is there scope to buy both Watkins & Edouard? I'd like both with Watkins on the wing, is he likely to play there?

Smith during his Sky punditry for the play-off final says he sees Watkins as a No.9. He is versatile which will be a bonus. Villa crying out for a brilliant right-winger, too. As for a deal for both, £60 million, would you? They're both good ages (24 + 22) with room to grow.

Villa18741: Can you tell us if the work on BMH is finished yet, the performance center?

I'm looking forward to seeing that, the builders have been working on it all summer. The last time I was at Bodymoor was prior to the postponed Chelsea game!!! It's a two-tiered massive gym that mirrors the one used by NFL teams in the US. It's going to be special. Improvements ongoing all the time.

SimonLines: Expect anything to get done this week?

 

Deals this week: Smith desperate to get one/two in. There's a friendly this week which will be a good run-out but the boss will want new additions in by the time we hit September so they can bed in. He bemoaned the Douglas Luiz deal last year didn't he when he arrived two days before Spurs and it affected the midfielder.

GMurphy82: Do you think Steer should be given a chance? I think he would do a job for us in the Prem.

He fully deserves his chance. Always suffered with injuries, sadly. Villa will have a Carabao Cup game prior to playing Sheffield United and I fully expect Steer to start both games.

SimonLines: Do you get the feeling Dean’s under a bit of pressure? I think from the statement the owners put out when Lange was appointed and Smith’s comments about ‘no ones happy with coming 17th’ suggests to the owners really do want better and are not afraid to do the tough things to get there...

Comments mentioned within that statement and reading into Smith's quotes today do suggest NSWE are not here to mess around, you're right. They're very serious about taking Villa onto the next level - and by next level I mean knocking on the door of the Europa League in the not too distant future.

Jonathan Ridgeway: Any idea of how many players we're in for this summer and in what positions?

A new No.9, a right-winger and a No.8 are top priority. A goalkeeper and a full-back are next on the list. I don't understand Monday's link in Italy surrounding Sampdoria's left-footed centre-back Omar Colley. Strange, that. Villa are OK at CB!

KingsyAVFC on Twitter: Liklihood of keeping Jack at this stage? Personally, I think Tuesdays England squad could be key. If Jack misses out, it would not surprise me if that's a head-turner for him.

Jack will be in Southgate's squad. There's a bit of chaos surrounding Man Utd at present as well given the Maguire situation, Sancho snub and being dumped out of the Europa League by Sevilla. If I'd put a percentage on Jack staying in B6, I'd go as strong as 90 per cent at this stage.

VillafanLuke: If and when we sign a winger or two can you see Grealish getting moved to central midfield or attacking midfield?

I actually prefer him where he is currently in that inside-forward role from off the left. He was far too deep in CM last year and Smith didn't really play a 4-2-3-1 system to play him as a No.10.

@CDG5805 on Twitter: Any news on Milot Rashica? Are Villa as annoyed with the situation as I am??

Now this is a sore subject. I've been that fed up with it I penned an opinion piece saying Villa should walk away from it. He's such a good player, though, but it's clear he's not sold on moving to Villa Park. The Kosovan's back playing with Bremen now in their pre-season and scored on his return in a win over a second-tier Austrian outfit. £22.5 million is the ask price Villa have reportedly met.

Do you see a lot of the youngsters (Barry and some of the better academy players) playing in the Carabao Cup? Seems perfect for them and we could have 4 rounds to play in September...

I see a couple playing, yes, perhaps coming on late like Cam Archer did last year at Crewe. The Carabao Cup will be Villa's first game back don't forget just days before the big PL opener against Sheffield United. Will Smith go full-strength in both? Perhaps the Carabao Cup team would be: Steer; Elmo, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Hourihane, Nakamba, Jacob Ramsey; El Ghazi, Davis, Grealish?

Are we going in for any unknown players from Belgium and leagues like that?

Belgium was so last year! I've looked at Lange's track record in the transfer market and he likes to buy players from the Bundesliga from his time at Copenhagen.