Deam Smith: Aston Villa is the place to be
Dean Smith believes Villa are an exciting proposition for any potential signings this summer.
Villa will again be active in the transfer market as they look to build on an impressive season which will see them finish 11th in the Premier League.
The priority will be on increasing their creative options and easing the burden on skipper Jack Grealish by adding pace in wide areas and recruiting a No.10.
Smith is convinced Villa, who only avoided relegation by a point last season, are very much a club on the up under billionaire owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens.
He said: “From the moment I have come here the ambitions of the owners have excited me.
“It is an interesting place to come into every day. There is a learning culture about the place because everyone wants to improve and get better and that comes from the owners down.
“For me, I think it is an interesting and exciting place to come for any young player who wants to get better and come to a team where the culture is continually evolving to make people better.”
Backed by Sawiris and Edens, Villa have spent more than £260million on players since returning to the Premier League two seasons ago.
Smith knows the challenge is to keep progressing with the aim of making a sustained challenge for European qualification next term.
