Steven Gerrard gives Aston Villa ‘no excuses’ with Diego Carlos transfer
Diego Carlos #DiegoCarlos
Aston Villa made their latest statement in the transfer market after agreeing a deal for Sevilla defender Diego Carlos.
After reportedly attracting interest throughout Europe, Villa announced that they had agreed a deal for the centre-back, subject to completing a medical and finalising personal terms. BirminghamLive understands that the two clubs have reached a £26million deal, with the move coming days after the signing of Marseille midfielder Boubacar Kamara.
With reports emerging on Wednesday that the club were interested in the Sevilla defender, it represents another quick-fire deal for Villa as Steven Gerrard aims to get his transfer business done early. Following the announcement, both Dan Rolinson and Aston Villa reporter Ashley Preece delivered their verdicts on the Claret & Blue podcast .
READ MORE: Aston Villa make huge announcement after striking stunning Diego Carlos transfer agreement
READ MORE: Sevilla send Diego Carlos message after Aston Villa transfer agreed
‘Real calibre, real stature’
Ashley Preece: “Steven Gerrard’s on a mad one, just put it as simply as that. He really is. I spoke to him last week, he wants to get fans excited with the acquisitions he’s bringing in and Diego Carlos certainly does that.
“29-year-old, been around the block. He knows Douglas Luiz quite well, he was a fellow Olympic gold medal winner with Douglas last summer. This is a player of real calibre, real stature, really physical, really aggressive, a winner.
“Gerrard wants winners, Dan, and Diego Carlos ticks a lot of boxes. £26million, we’re hearing, and on the face of it that’s decent value.
“Similar to what Villa brought Tyrone Mings in for and a penny for his thoughts here because Diego Carlos is a left-sided centre-back. He is right-footed but he likes being on the left-hand side and I think Steven Gerrard’s sent a bit of a shockwave through the Villa dressing room with the announcement of this one.
“Huge (signing) and to get it done so quickly as well. We heard the murmurings yesterday that Villa were keen on it; 24 hours later, deal done, near enough. So they’re not messing around.
“He becomes the third summer signing after Philippe Coutinho and Boubacar Kamara. Just the calibre of those three players – some of the best players in Europe.”
Dan Rolinson: “It’s next level, isn’t it?”
Ashley Preece: “ It’s crazy! Villa finished 14th last season, Dan.”
Dan Rolinson: “ Well, you say last season as if the season finished three months ago. The season finished four days ago and we’ve signed two really high-profile players straight away – Boubacar Kamara on Monday then Diego Carlos on Thursday.
“Loads of comments flying through, somebody says, ‘Shall I book the European tickets yet?’ Hold off just for now but it’s promising isn’t it?”
‘No excuses’
Dan Rolinson: “ I don’t know whether Gerrard said it specifically about Villa but he certainly said it about his Rangers days, about offering the players no excuses. He talked about upgrading the training ground and canteen and everything up in Scotland so that the players have got no excuses.
“I kind of feel like that is the same attitude here with getting the transfer business done early. You don’t want to be signing somebody on deadline day and then they’ve got the easy excuses of not being settled into the league, they haven’t moved over here yet, they don’t know the language.
“Boubacar Kamara and Diego Carlos know in May – whenever it was that they were first approached by Villa – you’re moving to England next season. Get yourself ready for it, get yourself in, you’re going to be there on day one of pre-season. No excuses.
“And that’s what I want. A proper, smart, professional club that gets their business done early. None of this faffing around. None of this yellow tie, deadline day nonsense.
“Get your men, get them in, get them ready and start winning games ASAP. Because Villa, in my opinion, I feel like you have to get into Europe next season to match the ambitions of the players that you’re signing. So Villa have to hit the ground running with no excuses and hopefully that’s what we see.”