How good a signing would Jermain Defoe be for Aston Villa?

It’s only been talked about in whispers around Villa Park but the fact his name is being mentioned at all is exciting. Paul Lambert has obviously realised, like every Aston Villa fan, that we need another striker - and the fact he appears to be targeting Defoe should be music to everyone’s ears.

Whether he’ll leave Tottenham Hotspur is another matter. It could be more likely if Luka Modric stays, and the fact Emmanuel Adebayor has just signed for £5 million could also aid Villa's attempts to lure him away.

It’s still far too early in the season to seriously worry about the team, but it is plainly obviously we need more firepower.

Everton will be a massive test on Saturday, especially after their great performance against Manchester United on Monday night. The first game of season at Villa Park is always a great occasion and it will be great to finally see Lambert’s work in pre-season begin to fall in to place.

I still have ultimate faith in the manager and believe he is looking to strengthen in all the right areas. The full backs, Alan Hutton and Stephen Warnock, were Villa’s worst players last season and they’ve pretty much been shown the door. He then realised the defence was weak and replaced where he had sold and where he knew he was about to let players leave.

Now he knows the front line, or front one, is the next area where he needs to strengthen.

Another player being earmarked for a possible move to Villa Park is Kenwyne Jones – a completely different player to Defoe and one I’ve never been 100 per cent sure about. On his day he can beat the best defenders, but his scoring record isn’t great and whether he’d work well with Darren Bent is another matter.

He could play very well with Gabby Agbonlahor, holding the ball up, playing in the quicker players and getting on the end of crosses. Most importantly, however, he would give us more strength in depth.

But can you imagine how well Bent and Defoe could play together? Two of the best goal scorers in England lining up together each week, ready to terrorise defences.

Villa haven’t spent much money this summer and have bought very wisely, so I’d be very surprised if another player isn’t added before the transfer window closes - even Villa's chief executive Paul Faulkner admitted the squad needed freshening up.

Who the players will be is still a mystery, but if we can sign Defoe or a player of his quality it would give everyone at the club yet another lift, just as it did when Gerard Houllier signed Bent.

Villa haven’t signed a big player since then and it might all be a pipe dream, but you never know, Villa could soon be firing on all cylinders and ready to give any club in the Premiership a good game.

Article by James Fisher

Calling all Villa fans: How much would you like to see Jermain Defoe in a Villa shirt? What could he bring to the squad? How likely do you think it is that Spurs will sell their diminutive striker? Who would you rather see at Villa Park and why, Defoe or Jones? What do you think the outcome will be on Saturday? Whatever your view, we'd love to hear from you.

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