Aston Villa news: Opinion – Mike Taylor on transfer window

Over the course of Wednesday, we have been putting your questions to BBC Radio WM’s Mike Taylor. In this part, we look at what Aston Villa might do in the summer to strengthen their hand for a tilt on all fronts next season.

Jimmy asked: What does Villa’s summer look like if they don’t qualify for the Champions League. Is it simply quiet or will it involve selling a first-team player or two?

Mike said: I would imagine that there might be some churn in the squad whatever happens, but the nature of it might change.

The published figures take months to come out, but internally Villa will know where they stand in each case, and assess whether they need to sell a player as they did with Douglas Luiz last year.

But that is always likely to be a moving picture. It is entirely possible that an offer arrives for a player you have no intention of selling but, combined with other moves, can become good business.

My guess is that it might actually be a quieter summer if they do qualify for the Champions League than if they do not, because there will be less pressure to sell, and players might be less eager to leave.

The prospects of making the loan players permanent might hold the key in that instance.

Steve asked: In what positions do you think Villa need to recruit for in the summer?

Mike answered: If money were no object, then I think ideally a direct deputy, or rival, for Ollie Watkins might again seem to be the most useful gap to fill.

However, Unai Emery’s preferred system – and the clever signings of versatile players – make Villa less exposed in this area than it felt for most of last season, when Jhon Duran was unproven and you worried every time Watkins winced.

Had the late loan signings not been made before the window closed, this would have felt like a bigger immediate problem, so this assessment depends a lot on whether they stay. At this particular moment, though, Villa look stronger than they have at any stage this season, with only Ross Barkley injured.

Come back later for our final part where Mike dives into the ever-thorny issue of PSR…