Aston Villa have shown over the last 12 months they are looking to make the step up in becoming top four regulars.
It has been quite the turnaround since Unai Emery‘s arrival at Villa Park with the Clarets now back in the Champions League.
In doing so, Villa have been able to rival the likes of Tottenham Hotspur who have established themselves as part of the ‘big six’.
It was the north London side who were Villa’s closest rivals for the fourth spot last season but the aspirations at Villa Park will be higher than just finishing fourth.
To do so, Emery’s side will need to close the gap on the club which have set the standard over the last decade in Manchester City.
Aston Villa and Tottenham wanted Manchester City chief
Villa have shown their ambition away from the pitch in the summer transfer window with Emery’s squad bolstered over the summer.
Despite landing a spot in the Champions League, it was apparent the owners were not looking to rest on their laurels.
However, there was one off-field appointment to help bridge the gap to some of the top sides in Europe.
According to Portuguese outlet Mais Futebol, Villa were keen to land Sporting CP’s sporting director Hugo Viana.
But the 41-year-old has now agreed to join Manchester City as their next director of football at the end of the season.
But it was not just Villa who have shown an interest in Viana with Tottenham also one of the clubs who admired the Sporting chief.
Aston Villa rivaling the top European clubs again
Viana would have been a huge coup for Villa had they been able to land the sporting director who has been so highly rated.
“Hugo Viana’s capability and caliber have completely transformed Sporting,” the President of ANDIF told the media.
Hugo Viana is a prime example of this. It is an honor for us to have him as a leader.”
Clearly a highly-valued member of Sporting’s off-field set-up which shows what standard Villa are trying to establish off the pitch.
Villa have already beaten Bayern Munich in the Champions League but there is seemingly still some work to do behind the scenes to catch sides of that ilk up.
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