Aston Villa will be working tirelessly over the summer to ensure that they have a squad which is capable of promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
The Villains were relegated in miserable fashion last season and ex-Chelsea boss Robert Di Matteo is the man who has been selected to revive the club’s flailing fortunes.
It is an exciting new chapter in the history of Aston Villa, with a new owner who is seemingly keen to invest heavily and a manager who must be a seen as a coup for a club about to embark on a season in the second tier of English football.
Villa boast a proud history and everyone associated with the club will hope to pull in the same direction to ensure Premier League football for the 2017/18 campaign.
Football League World writer Lee Clarke takes a look at three Championship strikers who would be ideal for Aston Villa.
Ross McCormack
The Fulham striker is arguably the best striker in the Championship and he would simply guarantee the goals to fire Aston Villa towards the top flight.
Despite playing for a Fulham side who were nearly relegated into League One last season, he still managed to find the net on 21 occasions and is lethal in front of goal.
Interest is thought to be high in McCormack this summer, with several other second tier clubs keen to add the hotshot to their squad ahead of a promotion charge next season.
A Roberto Di Matteo style of play would create ample chances for McCormack in and around the penalty area and he would be a solid signing for the club.
Chris Martin
If you talk to some Derby County fans they will tell you that they are beginning to run out of patience with their influential striker.
Martin netted 15 goals last season which was a disappointing total for a man who had scored over 20 in his previous two seasons.
The Suffolk-born striker is only 27-years-old and would be a solid acquisition for Aston Villa, who would be wise to appoint a target man such as Martin.
Derby are unlikely to sell to a possible rival for a place in the Premier League but he would be an astute signing for Di Matteo nonetheless.
Jonathan Kodjia
The Ivorian striker looks set to leave Bristol City this summer should a club match the Robins’ valuation and he would be a quality addition for Aston Villa.
The 26-year-old netted an impressive 18 goals during his first season playing English football and had been linked with a move to Derby County this summer.
Bristol City are seemingly powerless to prevent him from leaving Ashton Gate should they receive the right fee and the lively talisman would slot into a young Villa side with ease.
Kodjia boasts pace, power and a lethal finish to make him one of the most impressive strikers in the Championship at present.
Aston Villa fans, would you welcome any of these three strikers? Who else would you like to see the club sign?