Aston Villa are ‘a team to watch’ when it comes to the Premier League top four race this season, according to four football pundits.
Unai Emery guided the Villains to an impressive seventh place finish last term and as a result, they are set to
compete in Europe for the first time since 2011.
Aston Villa were in serious danger of relegation before Emery replaced Steven Gerrard as manager in October.
The new season comes with a sense of optimism among the Villa fanbase, who have seen their team make several exciting additions
already this summer.
Spain international centre-back Pau Torres, along with prolific winger Moussa Diaby are two players who could help cement the Midland
club’s spot at the top of the Premier League.
Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham will all be looking to bounce back from disappointing 2022/23 campaigns, though, so we are certainly
in for an interesting season.
Aston Villa last competed in the Champions League in 1983 when it was named the European Cup, which they won the year prior, but
talkSPORT pundits think a return could be on the cards very soon.
“Villa is the team to watch,” Darren Bent told talkSPORT when asked about his dark horse for the top four race.
“I think when you look at their recruitment and what they’re doing with Unai Emery, I’m not saying they’re going to win the league
because I don’t think they will but I think they’ll be a lot closer to Europe.
“Maybe even push it for long spells, the Champions League, so I’d probably say Villa are my outside bet.”
As mentioned, Villa have brought in Torres and Diaby this summer, as well as Youri Tielemans on a free transfer, and
former Birmingham player Darren Ambrose also thinks Villa can take the next step.
“I mean is that a dark horse? They finished seventh last season but I think Emery is recruiting really well.
“I think they could be in the next pack but without the top one to challenge for that top four.”
Another former Blue, Jermaine Pennant, agreed with Ambrose: “On the back of last season maybe you could say Villa. They could be a
dark horse depending on how they get off.”
Tottenham are another team who could be in the mix, though. Ange Postecoglou will be looking to help his side bounce back from a
dismal 2022/23 campaign which saw them finish in eighth place.
The manager has focused on improving his defence this summer after they conceded 63 Premier League goals last term.
Spurs have just signed Micky van de Ven from Wolfsburg and still want to sign another centre-back as well as him.
The most important thing for them, though, will be whether or not they can keep Harry Kane, after Bayern Munich tabled a fourth bid worth £94.6m for him on Tuesday.
Regardless, Mark Goldbridge thinks Aston Villa, along with two other teams, should finish above Spurs this season.
“I think it will be really interesting, I personally think Brighton, Newcastle and Villa should all be finishing above Spurs… so we’ll see.”
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