Journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed Aston Villa will have to pay a lot of money for Newcastle United’s Allan Saint-Maximin and PSV’s Noni Madueke, GiveMeSport report.

The Lowdown: Villa Park rumours

NSWE look set to back Steven Gerrard ahead of his first full season in charge at Villa Park, with reports suggesting the club are willing to spend over £150m.

Villa are expected to break their club record once again and have been name-checked with an interest in Saint-Maximin, with Newcastle prepared to sell for around £50m.

Madueke was reportedly watched by Gerrard against Leicester City last week, and O’Rourke has had his say on the two talented attackers potentially moving to the Midlands.

The Latest: O’Rourke’s comments

Talking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke labelled Saint-Maximin and Madueke as ‘two big targets’, adding that they ‘would cost a lot of money’.

“Madueke and Saint-Maximin are obviously two very talented players.

“Obviously, Steven Gerrard is looking to improve this Aston Villa side right now as well, like we saw in the January transfer window.

“They are two big targets for Aston Villa and either one of them would cost a lot of money.”

The Verdict: Attacking reinforcements needed?

Gerrard has mainly used a narrow 4-3-1-2 system in 2022, so it is interesting to see that two natural wide forwards have been linked with a move to Villa Park in recent weeks.

That could mean that Gerrard wants to alter his system over the summer and doesn’t rate Anwar El Ghazi, Bertrand Traore and Trezeguet, who are all thought to be set to be up for sale in the summer.

Danny Ings is another attacking player who could move on over the coming months, so it does look as if attacking reinforcements will be needed both centrally and out wide.

In other news: 'I'm aware...' - Sky Sports journalist drops big Villa news; Gerrard working on first summer deal.