Aston Villa owners Nassef Sawiris and Wesley Edens are willing to spend money in this transfer window, says Express & Star journalist Luke Hatfield.

The Midlands club have already forked out on winger Emiliano Buendia, bringing in the 24-year-old from Norwich City for £40m.

They have also bid £30m for Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe, so perhaps he could be their next big signing, though that £30m bid was, of course, unsuccessful.

Whatever happens with the English youngster, Hatfield expects Villa to continue to be aggressive in this year's summer transfer market as they look to build on their solid 2020/21 campaign.

"This is the point with Villa, they've got very wealthy owners and they're willing to spend money," the Aston Villa journalist told TT.

"Reports earlier this summer kind of suggested that it was going to be a quiet one for Villa, but now it seems they've changed tack a bit.

"They've probably seen the likes of Everton and Spurs as the sides who they feel that they can maybe try and leapfrog this season coming up, so they're always going to be willing to spend money."

Villa fans will surely love to hear that Sawiris and Edens are willing to get their wallets out.

While they finished in 11th last term, in terms of points, Villa were not miles away from the last European football place. With more backing in the transfer window, Dean Smith may be able to take them even closer and perhaps eventually into those European spots.