![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IJYYF6TYCA3VHQCEC4P6PWQRPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e1f0f4b43ba02b68a4f13bb05af2f9044a62fe7208d19db972ee71726dd4ce8a&width=400&height=225)
Aston Villa's English midfielder Jack Grealish. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H6ZPXXDSEWFYRI2LFEYB7WCKYA.jpg?smart=true&auth=cc268ac3b5679665425e9390be4bb115921522c323f6952527032fb6759ffacd&width=400&height=225)
Aston Villa's Keinan Davis looks dejected after the 1-1 draw to Everton. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CNJ3EXBZ6TXSKVLSMGS26LJI2U.jpg?smart=true&auth=89fe153d8961bc0f1f3f0550dbe337955516cf0d8e93a600350d31caf7c3847c&width=400&height=225)
Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa scores the opening goal. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3YK2AIOJYBIJUVU3MNOTXAYWFU.jpg?smart=true&auth=add3fad59a02c2e156c077c58942fc7991aa19cf0b348e86c52d70612c1c33be&width=400&height=225)
Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish, right, reacts after the final whistle at Goodison Park. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QD3542SHO5SUUQOZY5SJWMT75E.jpg?smart=true&auth=1c5d712b1d067ee27f0963d01d3d0ce7965c246368fa01d7f7cc199604db58f4&width=400&height=225)
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin vies with Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings and midfielder Conor Hourihane. AFP
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Aston Villa are currently 18th in the Premier League with two games left. AFP
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Aston Villa's Jack Grealish shoots at goal. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NY2CLQBOD4W5VFPQB65AUET3DM.jpg?smart=true&auth=52ec9bc2d3e3de43fec9a6c0814b4fe2be690434d8645e731e2e8f661d99e957&width=400&height=225)
Pepe Reina of Aston Villa. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OHU2GWIEXNJ2YLYZZLDZ6ARBCI.jpg?smart=true&auth=f51f0307484c7ec33fa2df00de7e7edada0841e5df1ed800175c581053ac9097&width=400&height=225)
Aston Villa's English midfielder Jack Grealish. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HFO26IVL7DX4FSKQ52ZZQZTYII.jpg?smart=true&auth=c58cb186c11fba9e537614f1d1419a1e254a801f4749d5a4aa95e3d2fd2af1d3&width=400&height=225)
Everton's French defender Lucas Digne vies with Aston Villa's Scottish midfielder John McGinn. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NALK52SVGB7I2NCA5WRM2ARTKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=986a3d0a3fabd2d26d9ab87114c2808a9c03499ff95b0087e90e4f590160790c&width=400&height=225)
Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IJYYF6TYCA3VHQCEC4P6PWQRPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e1f0f4b43ba02b68a4f13bb05af2f9044a62fe7208d19db972ee71726dd4ce8a&width=400&height=225)
Aston Villa's English midfielder Jack Grealish. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H6ZPXXDSEWFYRI2LFEYB7WCKYA.jpg?smart=true&auth=cc268ac3b5679665425e9390be4bb115921522c323f6952527032fb6759ffacd&width=400&height=225)
Aston Villa's Keinan Davis looks dejected after the 1-1 draw to Everton. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CNJ3EXBZ6TXSKVLSMGS26LJI2U.jpg?smart=true&auth=89fe153d8961bc0f1f3f0550dbe337955516cf0d8e93a600350d31caf7c3847c&width=400&height=225)
Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa scores the opening goal. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3YK2AIOJYBIJUVU3MNOTXAYWFU.jpg?smart=true&auth=add3fad59a02c2e156c077c58942fc7991aa19cf0b348e86c52d70612c1c33be&width=400&height=225)
Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish, right, reacts after the final whistle at Goodison Park. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QD3542SHO5SUUQOZY5SJWMT75E.jpg?smart=true&auth=1c5d712b1d067ee27f0963d01d3d0ce7965c246368fa01d7f7cc199604db58f4&width=400&height=225)
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin vies with Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings and midfielder Conor Hourihane. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LTZ5FUK3N43RML3KB7D6SPWYXA.jpg?smart=true&auth=39a60ad35c81aaa93311a8d75a0e23fd98063f3463f8ff67e37189328bcebffb&width=400&height=225)
Aston Villa are currently 18th in the Premier League with two games left. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H5FHCVK5YFBYYEZLEP4MZQZ43M.jpg?smart=true&auth=639e1974dfb943af18cb14d88cfdb86c975192961b6a21eafe1dd10cdc4c05ea&width=400&height=225)
Aston Villa's Jack Grealish shoots at goal. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NY2CLQBOD4W5VFPQB65AUET3DM.jpg?smart=true&auth=52ec9bc2d3e3de43fec9a6c0814b4fe2be690434d8645e731e2e8f661d99e957&width=400&height=225)
Pepe Reina of Aston Villa. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OHU2GWIEXNJ2YLYZZLDZ6ARBCI.jpg?smart=true&auth=f51f0307484c7ec33fa2df00de7e7edada0841e5df1ed800175c581053ac9097&width=400&height=225)
Aston Villa's English midfielder Jack Grealish. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HFO26IVL7DX4FSKQ52ZZQZTYII.jpg?smart=true&auth=c58cb186c11fba9e537614f1d1419a1e254a801f4749d5a4aa95e3d2fd2af1d3&width=400&height=225)
Everton's French defender Lucas Digne vies with Aston Villa's Scottish midfielder John McGinn. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NALK52SVGB7I2NCA5WRM2ARTKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=986a3d0a3fabd2d26d9ab87114c2808a9c03499ff95b0087e90e4f590160790c&width=400&height=225)
Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IJYYF6TYCA3VHQCEC4P6PWQRPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e1f0f4b43ba02b68a4f13bb05af2f9044a62fe7208d19db972ee71726dd4ce8a&width=400&height=225)
Aston Villa's English midfielder Jack Grealish. AFP
Big spending Aston Villa counting the cost of poor recruitment
Around £140m spent on players inferior to those loaned to get them promoted last term
![Richard Jolly](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Febc0c166-5a55-4620-acb4-81b42c495c64.png?smart=true&auth=d10b82c9721741924fda860bd011ae7e541234a5246170b9aaa44425179ea9ce&width=70&height=70)
Richard Jolly
21 July, 2020
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