Alan Shearer believes Aston Villa will need reinforcements in January to be regarded as genuine Premier League title contenders.
Villa are enjoying a sensational season under Unai Emery. The West Midlands club are third in the Premier League table, just one point behind leaders Arsenal. They are also the favourites to win the Europa Conference League after reaching the last 16.
Much of Villa's success is down to star striker Ollie Watkins, who has bagged nine Premier League goals this season. Only Erling Haaland (14), Mohamed Salah (11), Jarrod Bowen (10) and Son Heung-min (10) have found the net more frequently in England's top tier.
Watkins, 27, scored Villa's winner at his former club Brentford on Sunday and was involved in a row with a fan who was 'abusing him all game'. Villa have come out in support of Watkins, who insists he still 'loves the Bees after his three-year spell there.
Shearer is worried that Villa are too reliant on Watkins. He's urged Emery to act in the transfer window to ensure they have enough depth. If Villa beat Sheffield United on Friday and Arsenal draw with Liverpool on Saturday, Emery's side will be top at Christmas.
"My biggest concern with their squad would be their depth in forward positions, particularly as back-up to their leading scorer Ollie Watkins, who has started all 17 of their league games so far," said Newcastle legend Shearer in his column for BBC Sport.
"Watkins is such an integral part of what they do, and I am not sure how they would cope without him... They will also have the chance to bring in some reinforcements when the January transfer window opens, and it is going to be interesting to see what happens then."
Shearer has praised Villa for doing a "good job of keeping most of
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