The team Aston Villa boss Dean Smith could pick next season as transfer spree continues
ASTON VILLA have been busy in the transfer market this summer as they spend big to try and secure their Premier League survival, so how could Dean Smith's side line up this season?
Glenn Whelan, Mile Jedinak, Ross McCormack, Mark Bunn, Micah Richards and Alan Hutton were all released upon the expiration of their contracts while Tommy Elphick, Albert Adomah and Ritchie De Laet have also moved on free transfers.
This has freed up space in the squad and on the wage bill for a swathe of new arrivals, with the first of those being the permanent signing of Anwar El Ghazi from Lille after an impressive loan deal.
Villa also snapped up Kortney Hause from Wolves after his temporary spell last season while Frederic Guibert has joined up with the first team following his loan at Caen.
Tyrone Mings has also returned permanently from Bournemouth for around £20million after becoming a fan favourite in the Midlands, playing a crucial role in the promotion campaign.
Around £4million was spent on prising Jota from rivals Birmingham while Bjorn Engels, Matt Targett and Ezri Konsa have bolstered the rearguard.
And most significantly, Villa smashed their transfer record to sign Wesley from Club Brugge for a reported £22m then snapped up exciting winger Trezeguet from Kasimpasa.
Tyrone Mings is one of nine arrivals at Villa Park this summer (Image: GETTY)
Jed Steer is expected to get the nod over Lovre Kalinic and Orjan Nyland in goal unless Villa can secure the signing of Tom Heaton while Ahmed Elmohamady will hope to retain his spot at right-back, completing a rearguard made up of Konsa, Mings and Targett.
Conor Hourihane, John McGinn and Jack Grealish will form a familiar midfield unit if Smith opts for a 4-3-3 formation, although Birkir Bjarnason offers some steel off the bench.
El Ghazi and Trezeguet will compete for places out wide while Jota is a versatile alternative who can be deployed on the wing or centrally.
Wesley will surely feature in attack after such an imposing transfer fee, although Jonathan Kodjia, Scott Hogan and Kienan Davis should all lead the line at some point during the campaign.
Smith looks set to continue throwing money around with two weeks of the transfer window still to go - so there may even be a couple more tweaks to this projected XI.
Is this how Dean Smith's side will line up at the start of the 2019/20 season? (Image: buildlineup.com)
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