Aston Villa have appointed FC Copenhagen technical director Johan Lange as their new sporting director.

Lange, 40, replaces Jesus Garcia Pitarch, who left Villa on Monday a day after the club secured Premier League survival on the final day.

His arrival is part of their strategy to avoid similar struggles in the Premier League next season.

Villa conducted an end-of-season review of their transfer policy after spending more than £100m on players last summer.

Many of those players failed to meet expectations, with Villa subsequently signing goalkeeper Pepe Reina, midfielder Danny Drinkwater and striker Mbwana Samatta in January.

Lange has experience of English football having worked as assistant to Stale Solbakken during his spell as manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the 2012-13 season.