NO BIG SIGNINGS

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has said that he does not expect to make big signings during the summer transfer window. The club were threatened with the prospect of relegation for most of the campaign.

It was only in the final few weeks of the Premier league season that they managed to climb out of the relegation zone. After the arrival of Lambert last summer, Aston Villa made several low-key signings. Christian Benteke, who has been a star performer for the club this season, was one of the several players to arrive last summer.

Lambert expects similar transfer window this time around as well, as he does not want to bring in big name players. Aston Villa spent a lot of money during the regime of Martin O'Neill, but they have curbed their expenditure since then. Lambert has also managed to bring down the average age of the squad to a great extent. He has stressed the importance of keeping the players at the club more than bringing new ones in the summer. Striker Christian Benteke has been linked with several clubs across England after an impressive debut season.

He was responsible for more than a third of the goals scored by Aston Villa this season.

"Those days have gone. We have stripped it right back. We want players who are hungry. I look at players with character, not those who just want money. Christian is one of a few who have been brilliant for us, collectively as a team and as individuals they've been great. We're coming to the end of the season and we'll sit them down and try to get things done. Every one of the players have helped us stay up, it's not just one player - they all contributed something," said Lambert after the club secured its Premier league status.

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