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BIRMINGHAM. — Aston Villa manager, Dean Smith, yesterday credited billionaire owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens for putting the club “on a sound footing,’’ after they were not forced to sell some of their players, during the January transfer window, to balance their books.
Smith has also been backed extensively, throughout his 28 months at Villa Park, after accepting the job back in October 2018.
Sawiris and Edens have bankrolled Villa ever since the pair took over ownership of the club and handed Smith over £240 million across his five transfer windows which includes 22 permanent signings, since his first window back in January 2019.
This included an investment to secure a number of African players, including Zimbabwean midfielder, Marvelous Nakamba.
Fast-forward to the winter window that concluded on Monday, and Villa spent £14 million on Marseille man Morgan Sanson.
Only West Ham spent more after signing Said Benrahma on a permanent deal for £20.8 million.
Ahead of tonight’s showdown with West Ham, Smith was asked about the backing he’s had from NSWE.
Smith was also quizzed on the fact he’s proven himself in the Premier League after 18 months in the top division, and referred back to his hotel meeting with Christian Purslow before accepting the post.
“I’ve always had an idea of how I want my teams to play,” Smith explained. “A lot of that comes down to players you’ve got as well. I had an eye on the style I wanted at Aston Villa and, obviously when I got interviewed, I portrayed that style to the interviewees.
Villa are ninth in the Premier League table after winning 10 from their first 19 matches, and Smith added:
“We want to be progressive on the football. We’re speaking to our defenders all of the time. The easy ball is back to your goalkeeper but you’re just allowing the opposition to squeeze up to the halfway line and play in your half. We want to be a progressive team; our build-up play could be better but we’re still working on that.”
Smith’s African Acquisitions Rated
Marvelous Nakamba — £11m from Club Brugge
The Zimbabwean was Suso’s cheaper alternative to the man Smith wanted, Kalvin Phillips from Leeds. Nakamba endured an up-and-down first year at Villa Park. He looked good from the outset with form dipping thereafter. He was Villa’s best player prior to the pandemic break but, again, that wasn’t saying much given they were spiralling towards relegation. Lost his place and didn’t feature much at all during the Restart. Currently a back-up player, he played well in the absence of John McGinn against Newcastle United earlier this month.
Bertrand Traore — £17m rising to £19m from Lyon
It was an area that needed strengthening and Villa went with a player known well to John Terry, his former Chelsea teammate Bertrand Traore. The Burkinabe is after a bit of love after falling out of favour at Lyon. He’s still only 25 and comes with Champions League pedigree given his previous clubs include Chelsea, Ajax and Lyon. He knows Nakamba well too from their days at Vitesse Arnhem in Holland. Scored a beauty at Bristol City in the cup on his debut and gives Smith’s squad something different knowing his rangy, tricky and left-footed. Smith confirmed Traore can also fill in as a No.9 as well. The winger netted four goals in six games while Barkley was out injured.
Hit or miss — Reserving judgment
Trezeguet — £9m from Kasimpasa
A funny old signing pushed through by Suso who scouted the Egyptian at the African Cup of Nations alongside Smith. The boss was keen on Said Benrahma at his former club but Trezeguet was the man they went with, a winger with a desirable work rate.
He finished with six Premier League goals from 20 starts last season and registererd one assist. This season, he’s come back with a real fire in his belly and was excellent against Liverpool in the 7-2 win, assisting Ollie Watkins brilliantly. Before missing games through injury before the turn of the year
Hit or miss? Hit. — Birmingham Live.
Online Reporter