This article is part of Football FanCast's Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers...

Aston Villa's European Cup-winning legend Dennis Mortimer has defended Dean Smith's summer spending ahead of the meeting between his two former teams.

What's he said?

The midfielder made over 400 appearances in the claret and blue over a decade at the club and has praised the Villa boss for the business conducted over the summer.

The west Midlands side host Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday, the club Mortimer joined for a season upon leaving Villa Park in 1985.

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Smith spent approximately £144.5m on 12 new players while breaking the club-record fee for Wesley at £22m.

His other signings included the permanent move for Tyrone Mings, which has now surpassed the £21m mark, Matt Targett for £17m, and Douglas Luiz for £15m.

Speaking to the Seagulls' official website before this weekend's fixture, Mortimer said:

"Since winning the play-off final they have bought well. There was no way they could have stayed up with the team from the Championship.

"They spent a lot of money, and more than Brighton did, or have done since. But they have gone for it and brought in good players, which is testament to the manager and his scouting system.

"Well done to Dean Smith for getting the players he has. They have the firepower, a good defence and a decent squad."

Too early to judge

Having spent such a vast amount of money over the summer, Villa were quite rightly going to be put under the microscope, especially after they were deemed to be replicating Fulham's exploits last year.

The Cottagers were relegated after signing a similar number of players for a fee of over £100m, though most of which came on deadline day.

Aston Villa's summer signings' performances so far this season are rated in the video below...

Villa started the season slowly winning just one of their seven league games, but right before the international break, they displayed the potential at which they could genuinely reach by thrashing Norwich City 5-1 - a team that beat them to the title last season.

How times change.

It should also serve as a reminder that there is still plenty of football to be played this season, so anything can happen between now and May.

Therefore, it is far too early to judge whether Smith was right or wrong to spend such vast amounts this summer.

We should reserve judgement until the Villans have proven their worth in the top-flight.