Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard could sign the club's modern-day successor to John Carew in towering Genk striker Paul Onuachu.

What's the story?

Reports in recent weeks had suggested that the Premier League side are interested in making a move for the 6 foot 7 man-mountain, and now, The Express and Star's Luke Hatfield has thrown his backing behind a potential move.

He said: "Yeah, I mean, any player of that stature certainly does that (brings a presence to both penalty areas)."

Shades of John Carew

When Carew was in his pomp at Villa Park, Premier League defences were left bullied and terrified by the Norwegian's incredible combination of power and technique.

Just like the former Valencia man - who scored 48 goals in 131 games for Villa - Onuachu is a real handful up front, with his natural height and physicality making him an unsurprising threat in the air especially.

Three of his 12 strikes this season in the Belgian top-flight have come from headers, while he wins a monstrous 62% of his duels in the air - to put that into context, Tyrone Mings wins just a touch more at just 66%.

The £19.8m-rated forward, was once dubbed a "goal king" by former Wimbledon star John Fashanu, while Alexander Scholz, Onuachu's former teammate at FC Midtjylland, once claimed he was "impossible to beat."

Onuachu's profile makes him completely different to what Gerrard currently has at his disposal in the likes of Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings, and could give Villa a hugely imposing option off the bench or even to challenge for a starting spot.

It's been so long since Villa fans watched Carew run riot at Villa Park. Onuachu's arrival would give them another battering ram-like striker to idolise once again.

Meanwhile, Villa can finally replace Idrissa Gueye by signing this star...