ASTON VILLA boss Dean Smith is building a force to be reckoned with next season.
The Midlands club have already confirmed they have agreed a £38million deal to land Norwich star Emiliano Buendia.
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The Argentinean, 24, spearheaded the Canaries’ return to the Premier League with 15 goals and 16 assists last campaign.
Villa are even believed to have beaten Arsenal to his signature in a major statement of intent from Smith.
And it appears the gaffer is eager to get his business done early as he lines up an audacious move for James Ward-Prowse.
SunSport exclusively revealed how Smith is eager to land the England international to bolster his defensive midfield.
Smith is keen to improve Villa’s set-piece stats and wants his team to become a major threat from dead balls.
With Grealish’s ability to win free-kicks in dangerous positions, Ward-Prowse’s delivery will prove to be another chink in their armour.
Villa could face a fight to keep hold of Grealish as Manchester City circle for his signature.
But Smith will be determined to keep hold of his captain for at least one more season to help spearhead an exciting attacking force.
With striker Ollie Watkins leading the line, goals shouldn’t be too hard to come by.
The ex-Brentford man scored 14 in his debut Prem campaign and is only likely to get better.
Buendia and Grealish can produce moments of magic at any moment while Bertrand Traore is proving to be a real asset.
The Burkino Faso ace endured a difficult start to his Villa career having arrived from Lyon last summer but came on leaps and bounds after Christmas with seven goals.
Douglas Luiz is taking to Premier League football like a duck to water and will add grit in the midfield alongside Ward-Prowse.
And Smith is unlikely to tinker with his back line and goalkeeper that shared the joint best defensive record in the bottom half.
They also conceded less goals than Everton, Leeds, West Ham and Leicester.
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