When Aston Villa fended off competition to sign Sevilla defender Diego Carlos soon after the end of last season, they were justifiably applauded for being ruthless in pulling off a deal of that magnitude. With the fee said to be in the region of £26m, the club's hierarchy had backed Steven Gerrard in the transfer market with Villa attempting to catapult themselves into the top seven of the Premier League standings.
However, after just two appearances, the Brazilian is expected to spend several months on the sidelines after sustaining a ruptured Achilles towards the end of Saturday's 2-1 victory over Everton. Whether the injury was a consequence of the intense playing conditions over the weekend is irrelevant. Villa are now without arguably their star signing of the summer until the latter winter months at the very earliest, and the 29-year-old's absence will be felt.
Gerrard and the club's transfer team are now left with a predicament. In Tyrone Mings, Calum Chambers, Ezri Konsa and Kortney Hause, Villa have alternatives for the middle of their backline, but the reason that Diego Carlos was signed in the first place was because the aforementioned quartet were deemed not good enough to take Villa to the next level.
Given the financial outlay on Carlos, spending a similar amount of money is simply out of the question, and Villa will have to get creative if they want to acquire the services of a player with the same kind of presence and leadership as their injured summer signing.
With that in mind, Sports Mole takes a look at five realistic alternatives.
Eric Bailly
© Reuters
With seven senior centre-backs on their books, it is inevitable that Manchester United will part ways with at least one of their fringe defenders before the end of August.
Having failed to convince Gerrard in a previous spell at Villa, Axel Tuanzebe is not a realistic option, nor is Phil Jones who has made five first-team outings in over two-and-a-half years. That leaves Eric Bailly, who is only going to reignite his career with first-team football away from Old Trafford.
Like with Jones, there will be doubts over his ability to stay fit, but the Ivory Coast international would be motivated to make a point having spent several years out of favour under different managers.
Naturally, there would have to be some negotiation over a fee and whether any deal would be temporary or permanent, but Bailly feels like the perfect option for Villa given that he possesses a similar profile to that of Diego Carlos.
Nat Phillips
© Reuters
At one stage, it appeared inevitable that Nat Phillips would be departing Liverpool this summer with the Englishman having an array of admirers.
However, Jurgen Klopp hinted last weekend that the knee injury sustained by Ibrahima Konate, which will keep him sidelined "for a while", could lead to Phillips being kept as backup.
Much will depend on how Konate improves over the next couple of weeks, but Gerrard may be prepared to use his Liverpool links to negotiate a deal for the 25-year-old.
Although the likes of Fulham and Bournemouth will remain as options, Phillips would likely give strong consideration to instead moving to the West Midlands if he is given permission to leave Anfield before September 1.
Davinson Sanchez
© Reuters
There was a time when Davinson Sanchez was regarded as first choice in the centre of the Tottenham Hotspur backline, the Colombia international making 181 appearances across five seasons.
However, on the back of the arrival of Clement Lenglet, he is now only regarded as backup to Cristian Romero and Eric Dier for the positions on the right-hand side and centre of Antonio Conte's three-man backline.
In a World Cup year, the 26-year-old is unlikely to want to settle for that role, especially when he could become a key man at a club like Villa.
With Spurs having the option of keeping Japhet Tanganga over Sanchez, there is leeway for Sanchez to be allowed to leave North London, but his current club may insist on any loan arrangement leading to a permanent switch in 2023.
Samuel Umtiti
© Reuters
Injuries and dropping down the pecking order at Barcelona have led to a spectacular fall from grace for Samuel Umtiti, who helped France win the World Cup in 2018.
Barcelona are desperate to part ways with the centre-back as soon as possible, even on a free transfer given their need to reduce their wage bill.
Signing a player plagued by injury concerns and inactivity would not be regarded as ideal by Gerrard, but he will also recognise that Umtiti will be motivated to revive his career.
Officials from both clubs found a way to negotiate the transfer of Phillipe Coutinho in a deal which suited all parties, and there is potential for further conversations to be had over Umtiti, who turns 29 years of age in November.
Abdou Diallo
© Reuters
Out-of-favour players at big clubs is an obvious avenue for Villa to take, and it is why Abdou Diallo may enter their thinking over the coming weeks.
While the 26-year-old featured among the replacements for Paris Saint-Germain at the weekend, the Ligue 1 giants are open to a sale for the right price.
The Senegal international has proven to be a solid squad member at Parc des Princes, making a total of 75 appearances across three seasons, but there is a feeling that a transfer elsewhere would suit all parties.
When you throw into the equation that his younger brother Ibrahima Diallo currently represents Southampton, there is scope for Abdou linking up with a Premier League club in need of a proven central defender before the end of the month.
