Aston Villa or how to build a great team by selling your star player

Aston Villa lost their star player last summer. Jack Grealish, youth product, icon and star for the Villans, was sold to Manchester City for 117.5 million euros.

However, those at Villa Park already had their roadmap drawn up.

"We have reduced the over-reliance on one brilliant player," explained Christian Purslow, CEO of the Birmingham club, in a video to their fans.

"Our strategy was to analyse and break down his qualities to find them in other players.

"We now have a deeper and broader squad with the new signings."

And so Villa spent 129.82 million euros last season, according to Transfermarkt, on Buendia (38.4m), Bailey (32m), Digne (30m), Ings (29.42m), Chambers (free), Young (free), Coutinho (on loan), Tuanzebe (on loan) and Olsen (on loan).

Tthey made 127 million euros with the sales of Grealish (117.5m), Samatta (6m) and Engels (3.5m) with which they strengthened a squad that was revitalised with the arrival of Steven Gerrard to the bench and which they have continued to strengthen this summer.

The Villans are building a great team with the sale of their star player.

"It's incredible to work for a club that executes its business formula so decisively and smoothly," Gerrard confessed after Coutinho's purchase was made official.

"I am delighted that we have been able to attract one of the most promising young talents in European football. We have a very clear plan to strengthen our team," said the manager after signing Bouba Kamara on a free transfer from Marseille.

Two signings that, together with the addition of Diego Carlos from Sevilla for 31 million euros, have strengthened an Aston Villa side that has already spent 54.5 million euros in this window.

"The tone to follow in the market was set in the winter. We got a lot of support from the owners to make signings. We have moved quickly and discreetly to get great players. We have used the last six months to look at the squad, trying to implement a style and identity in the team," a Gerrard told the club's website.

"I want players who are obsessed with winning and not content with finishing 14th in the Premier League and being knocked out of the cups early. That has to hurt. We want to be at the top of the table."

Aston Villa's eleven signings over the past year

Fourth highest spending team

In the last year, only Arsenal (212.28 million euros), Newcastle (197.5m) and Manchester City (194.5m) have spent more than Villa (184.32m).

In that period, they have made 144.5m euros in sales, including Targett (17.5m to Newcastle)

Gerrard has an almost new squad (Coutinho, Kamara, Diego Carlos, Olsen, Ings, Digne, Bailey, Buendia, Chambers...) in addition to a team which already included Mings, Cash, Emi Martinez, Watkins, Ramsey, McGinn... as they aim to get closer to the European places.

Moreover, they are planning to expand and 'modernise' Villa Park. A new era... without Grealish.

Teams that have spent the most in the last year

Arsenal: 212.28 million euros

Newcastle: 197.5 million euros

Manchester City: 194.5 million euros

Aston Villa: 184.32 million euros

Liverpool: 172.79 million euros

Source: transfermarkt