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Aston Villa's summer recruitment is under fresh scrutiny after stinging criticism from Alan Shearer and the axing of two expensive fitness experts.

MirrorFootball understands a pair of fitness trainers recruited in July from a top US company have already been sacked by the bottom club which could cost Villa up to £1million.

But Villa still look doomed to relegation after their latest loss to Arsenal which leaves them eight points from safety.

Their record of just six points from 16 matches is the club's worst-ever record and a new Premier League low.

It has left fans and pundits pointing the finger at the club's summer transfer activity when they brought in 13 new players.

In pictures - Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal:

After selling Christian Benteke to Liverpool for £32.5million and Fabian Delph to Man City for £8m, Villa recruited “aggressively” according to US owner Randy Lerner, who wants to sell up.

But former boss Tim Sherwood did not have as much control as he wanted as chief executive Tom Fox, head of recruitment Paddy Reilly and new sporting director Hendrik Almstadt spearheaded purchases.

(Image: David Price)

Their £50m spree on 13 players netted just three with Premier League experience and the likes Idrissa Gana, Jordan Ayew, Jordan Veretout and Adama Traore from abroad look out of their depth.

(Image: David Price)

Sherwood ended up carrying the can when he was axed in October before Villa brought in Remi Garde who has been unable to stop the rot at Villa Park.

Now pundit Shearer, who played with Sherwood at Blackburn where they won the title in 1995, has ripped into Villa's dealings.

Shearer told the BBC: “They have a head of recruitment and a sporting director at the club and it cannot just be the manager's fault.

“My old Blackburn team-mate Tim Sherwood was sacked at the end of October but was in charge at the time those players were brought in.

(Image: Getty)

“I know Tim well, and I know he knows what the Premier League is all about - not all 13 of those players were his buys.

“So, as well as looking at how badly Villa are struggling on the pitch, you also need to look at who is signing their players in the first place.

“They have spent £50m and I would ask them what return are they getting on that? I cannot see much of one myself.”

(Image: Neville Williams)

Villa also spent £500,000 in the summer hiring two new fitness experts, including Michael Minthorne, from American athletic performance specialists Exos.

Exos was recommended by Arsenal's head of performance Shad Forsythe who used to work for them and knows Fox and Almstadt from their own spells at The Emirates.

(Image: Stuart MacFarlane)

The pair linked up with Sherwood on pre-season in Portugal but have already been dismissed by successor Garde.

The bungle is believed to have cost Villa up to £1m as Garde has instead opted to bring in his former fitness coach from Lyon, Robert Duverne, to work with him.

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