The four Premier League-experienced strikers Villa could sign this week

Much was made of the number of signings Aston Villa made in the summer, so just four months on from the start of the campaign it's alarming that the promoted club look likely to be the most active in the transfer window again.

That highlights two things, first of all that Villa desperately needed the huge squad overhaul that took place in the summer having lost so many players, and secondly that they've had rotten luck with injuries.

Tyrone Mings, John McGinn and Matt Targett were all sidelined in December and in the same game that the former made a much needed return, summer signings Tom Heaton and Wesley suffered season-ending injuries. While McGinn's absence has been patched up to a degree by the arrival of Danny Drinkwater and Heaton subsequently replaced by Pepe Reina, Dean Smith's need for a striker is painfully clear.

Teenager Indiana Vassilev has been the only centre-forward in the last two matchday squads, starting both from the bench, and ahead of a huge run of fixtures against relegation rivals the wait for reinforcements can't afford to go on much longer.

A number of names have been linked to the club over the past fortnight but very little headway has been made on any transfer, with Villa ideally hoping to bring in two strikers before the deadline. We run through the most realistic options available, with Premier League experience having been highlighted as a top priority.

Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace)

Were any other club linked to a striker with such an unavoidably appalling recent record as Benteke, the fans would be up in arms but the feeling from the Villa faithful is very different. There are certainly still some that would oppose such a deal but such is the esteem that the Belgian is held at Villa Park following his excellent spell in the Midlands - notching 42 goals in 89 league appearances -  that most would be delighted to see him return.

Benteke would undoubtedly welcome such a move to a club where he knows he is already loved and he needs regular minutes ahead of the Euros. Indeed, the only goals the big man has scored this season have come for Belgium, having found the net just once in 31 league appearances for Palace since the start of last season. That said, Villa need an out ball. Someone who can win aerial duels and bring Jack Grealish in particular into play.

The Eagles are reportedly open to a loan deal having signed Cenk Tosun until the end of the season themselves but wages are a stumbling block. There remains a decent chance a compromise can be reached.

Daniel Sturridge (Trabzonspor)

Another former Villan, although he left the club before his teens, Birmingham-born Daniel Sturridge unquestionably has Premier League pedigree. The issue with the former England international, who only turned 30 in September, is match fitness, and Villa need someone that can play consistently straight away.

Following a free transfer to Trabzonspor over the summer, Sturridge has slowly began to do just that, starting six matches in the league and cup in December alone. His record is that of a man that still has plenty to offer too, having scored seven goals and registered four assists in his last nine appearances.

If Villa could negotiate a reasonable fee, persuading Sturridge to initially sign on a pay-as-you-play basis would be savvy for a player who should have a huge point to prove.

Islam Slimani (Leicester - on loan at Monaco)

That Slimani has potentially become available this month is a shock given his superb start to life in Ligue 1, having fallen out with coach Leonardo Jardim at Monaco and subsequently out of favour. That said, he's still having an impact, scoring an equaliser from the bench in a six-goal thriller with PSG at the weekend. It was his seventh league goal of the season, whilst the Algerian has notched a further seven assists from just 966 minutes of action.

His productivity in France is of course counteracted by a difficult spell in England but his first season at Leicester wasn't a total disaster. Seven goals and four assists in 1280 minutes wasn't an awful return by any stretch and he, like Benteke, is the sort of focal point to an attack that the club have prioritised. Any loan move is reliant on Monaco agreeing to a termination of their current deal for the striker.

Fernando Llorente (Napoli)

There's a reason why, at the grand old age of 34, Llorente has still been linked to some big names in Europe. Watching the Spaniard in action isn't always pretty but he's undeniably effective. He played a pivotal role in Swansea avoiding the drop in 2017, scoring 15 league goals that season, and whilst used sparingly at Tottenham, Llorente still made pivotal contributions.

He scored the goal that effectively booked Spurs' place in the Champions League semi-finals and the Londoners have even been linked with a rekindled interest in a man they let leave on a free, following injury to Harry Kane. He's at Napoli as things stand, but with Dries Mertens and Arkadiusz Milik ahead of him in the pecking order, has once more found minutes hard to come by. He's marked three starts and 18 substitute appearances with four goals across the league and Champions League, while Villa could offer Llorente perhaps the last chance for regular football of an impressive career that may otherwise fizzle out.