Villa boss Remi Garde still reeling from deadline day Seydou Doumbia blow

Garde – whose side are bottom of the table and in real danger of dropping to the Championship – is planning to assess his future in the summer after being unable to add a single player to his squad during the January transfer window.

Arsenal right-back Mathieu Debuchy – who went to Bordeaux, and strikers Seydou Doumbia and Wahbi Khazri – who joined Villa's relegation rivals Newcastle United and Sunderland respectively – were targets for Garde.

The club's failure to sign anyone prompted speculation the Frenchman may quit, with his chances of saving a team eight points from safety further decreased, but he is prepared to stay at Villa Park should the worst happen – providing he is given enough money to build a squad capable of mounting a promotion challenge.

"We'll talk again in the summer," it is reported Garde told French radio station RMC.

"My aim in the short term is not to return to France.

"I have nothing against France, but I like a lot what happens here. We will see about a return much later.

"I'm ready to stay if the club gives itself the means to get up again.

"Of course I would have liked money in January. I'd targeted a few players who could have strengthened us. But it didn't happen for various reasons.

"The squad and players have potential but the squad is small. The club's been fighting relegation for four years. This season we're last, so what I'll say is there are no miracles.

"We might be in the Championship next season, but if I'm given the means then obviously it's a project that could interest me.

"On the outside Villa are a prestigious club. On the inside there's a lot to do.

"At the moment we'll really start preparing for next season at the end of this season, even a little bit before, when we'll have more certainty. There's in-depth work to be done at this club."