Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard is planning for major squad surgery this summer.

The Mirror says Gerrard is set to be backed in the summer by Villa's billionaire owners to bring in a new defender, midfielder and striker.

Targets include Brighton's Yves Bissouma - who could be swapped with Danny Ings - and Liverpool's Joe Gomez.

On the other side of the coin is a mission to ditch the deadweight around Villa Park.

Eight players are ready to be put up for sale this summer. Philippe Coutinho's £425,000-a-week wages are in excess of the club's current structure, with newly minted Newcastle ready to take on that financial burden.

The positions of Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa are under scrutiny - as is one-time Arsenal target Douglas Luiz - and a glut of fringe players will be allowed to leave.

They include the likes of Anwar El Ghazi, Bertrand Traore and Trezeguet. Surprisingly, if Villa receives bids for midfielder Morgan Sanson and Leon Bailey, they too will be considered.