Aston Villa dealt major blow as £26m summer signing Carlos ruptures his Achilles tendon
Aston Villa have been dealt a major blow as their £26m summer signing Diego Carlos has ruptured his Achilles tendon and he requires surgery.
The centre-back joined Villa from Sevilla earlier this summer and he limped off during his side’s 2-1 win over Everton on Saturday.
“I’m extremely worried about that situation,” said Gerrard in his post-match press conference. “We’re going to send him for an MRI scan but it doesn’t look good.
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“I’m extremely happy with the win and the performance but, if we happen to lose someone who’s so important to us, that could tarnish the win.
“It’s around the ankle, Achilles area. He felt an awkward mechanism in there. You can see by the player and the man that he’s not the type to go off easy. He looks concerned about it and the medical staff seem concerned and that’s the reason why I’m worried about it.”
Villa can expect to be without the 29-year-old Brazil international for much of the season.
A statement from the club read: “Aston Villa can confirm Diego Carlos has ruptured his Achilles tendon. The player will require surgery and will then begin his rehabilitation programme.”
Carlos’ performances for Sevilla last season made him a sought-after talent but it was Villa who won the race for his signature, announcing the deal in May.
The centre-back settled well into the side and to lose him after only two competitive appearances for the club is a major blow that could affect Villa’s plans for the rest of the transfer window.
Aston Villa may also be without Ollie Watkins soon. This is if reports are to believed that the Villans are ‘willing’ to sell him.
Watkins did impress over the weekend, grabbing two assists in the win over Everton. This was after he was on the bench against AFC Bournemouth on the opening day.
Ex-Premier League goalkeeper Paddy Kenny thinks Villa will need to sign a new striker if Watkins does leave:
“It’s quite early to be making a decision like that [to leave out Watkins],” Kenny told Football Insider.
“It is also a bit late in the transfer window to decide to get rid of somebody like Watkins. This is an England international who has never let Vila down.
“It is a bit strange that they would let him go. Is this another Gerrard decision? Danny Ings is a fantastic striker but he’s not exactly hit the ground running.
“If Watkins goes then who do Villa have if Ings gets injured? They would have to bring someone in the replace him straight away.
“Maybe they already have someone in mind and they are now waiting for Watkins to leave, that would make sense.”
