Will Villa’s ‘giant’ bids help their quest to break into the Big Four?

Football FanCast columnist Rob Facey wonders whether Villa's giant bids can help them break into the Big Four.

Aston Villa are set to launch a double bid to secure the services of two Premier League giants.

Fulham's Brede Hangeland, 6' 5" and Pompey striker Peter Crouch, 6' 7", are on Martin O'Neill's wish-list, according to The Sun.

Hangeland impressed all who saw him in action for Roy Hodgson's side last season and he has been earmarked as the perfect replacement for Martin Laursen, who was forced into retirement at the tail end of last season.

The Norwegian recently turned down a much improved contract at Craven Cottage throwing his future into doubt with a bid of £9m thought to be enough for the West London side to allow Villa to talk.

Surely this would be a bargain in the current climate and strength in depth is exactly what Villa need as they look to ensure they do not fall away like last season.

As well as Hangeland, The Sun is linking the club with a bid with former player Peter Crouch.

Crouch, expected to be the subject of a £10m bid from Sunderland, was at the club under the Graham Taylor and David O'Leary eras but only lived up to his potential after he left Villa Park.

With Carew and Heskey already at the club, Crouch's addition would turn that into a huge and hefty strike-force for defenders to have to deal with, and that is without thinking of the threat posed by Young and Agbonlahor.

With Hangeland at the back and Crouch leading the line, Villa would be prepared for a double assault of the Premier League and Europa League.

It should be noted that Randy Lerner is cautious when it comes to splashing the cash; will O'Neill have to convince him that these are the sort of players that change a decent push into a sustained challenge when it comes to breaking into the Big Four, or is this just the usual transfer tittle-tattle?

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