“We will add some different players for the project but the most important players are here now.”
That was Unai Emery speaking in the final week of the season before Aston Villa secured their place in the Europa Conference League after collecting 49 points from 25 games under the Spaniard’s control.
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Villa have built a strong squad over the past three to four seasons and have players at the peak age of their careers tied down to long contracts. Finding the missing pieces of the jigsaw this summer could be crucial to the next stage of their journey.
Emery will have funds to spend and is expected to dig into the Spanish market, weigh up options in Italy and Portugal, and also look at picking up a bargain deal closer to home.
Here’s what to expect this summer.
Last three summer window spends
Villa’s net spend over the last two years is around £40million, partly because of the £100million sale of Jack Grealish to Manchester City in August 2021.
The money they have invested over the last three summer windows looks like this:
- 2022-23: £55million
- 2021-22: £88million
- 202o-2021: £78million
How much money is likely to be available this summer?
There’s room for significant investment in new players because Villa slowed down their spending last season and worked with a tighter squad, although there are no plans to overspend in pursuit of success.
Villa’s “big spenders” tag has changed slightly in recent times as they have become more savvy. Granted, Diego Carlos and Philippe Coutinho cost £43million between them, but there were specific reasons to sign both; Carlos because of his versatility and experience in Europe and Coutinho to appease former manager Steven Gerrard after the Brazilian did just about enough during a loan spell to justify a permanent move.
The bargain deals Villa were able to strike with Boubacar Kamara (free) and Alex Moreno (£12million) helped even things out, though.
There was also a calculated risk to not spend big in Emery’s first window in January.
Emery was comfortable tackling Villa’s matches after the World Cup break with a small squad and also seeing out the final 18 games of the season with those already at the club.
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That has enabled more freedom this summer to move things around as Emery was promised serious backing when he agreed to join in November.
Villa are prepared to flex their muscles but will still have a challenge to land top talent ahead of other established Champions League clubs.
Who makes the key decisions over signings?
Expect to see a change in the process as Emery and his ever-growing support network get stuck into reshaping Villa’s squad.
For the past five years, Villa have worked around a strategy loosely termed the “triangle of power”, where the head coach and sporting director report into CEO Christian Purslow.
That has worked relatively well and allowed both Dean Smith and Steven Gerrard the opportunity to identify or prioritise targets. Johan Lange, the sporting director, has also worked closely alongside the head of recruitment, Rob Mackenzie, his chief scouts, and a talented team of data experts to draw up a list of options in each position and then, alongside Purslow, pitch to the owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens.
Emery is now the most powerful figure at the club behind NSWE, though, so he will have the overriding say on new arrivals. His off-field assistant Damia Vidagany will help, as will Alberto Benito and Pablo Rodriguez, two new additions to the global recruitment team who Emery has known for two decades.
Villa say that Benito will work alongside Mackenzie while Lange is expected to remain in a senior position within Villa’s holding company V Sports. There’s room for a new sporting director-type figure after Mateu Alemany decided to stay as the director of football at Barcelona.
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What positions are priority?
Central midfield and across the forward line.
Villa allowed midfielders Morgan Sanson and Marvelous Nakamba to leave on loan in January and have no plans to reintegrate them back into the team.
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Emery also tried to sign a replacement in the last window and was keen on the Juventus man Weston McKennie but the USMNT midfielder’s loan move to Leeds United was already close to completion, so Villa could not move quickly enough to compete. It’s understood they have since moved onto other targets.
Villa’s forward options have also been limited since Danny Ings’ sale to West Ham United in January. Ideally, Emery would like a wide player who can also play down the middle. He’s happy with the top scorer Ollie Watkins but wants further competition.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see a new centre-back, right-back, and goalkeeper either. Villa need additional numbers this season as they prepare for the Europa Conference League.
Emery will look at some of the club’s youngsters over the summer to see whether any are ready to step up. Cameron Archer, the striker who spent the second half of the season on loan at Middlesbrough, stands the best chance.
Who are known targets?
Already, the rumour mill is in full swing and Villa have been linked with dozens of players.
Emery has a long list of names under consideration, some of whom have already been reported and others that remain private.
When Marco Asensio made it clear he was leaving Real Madrid upon the expiration of his contract, Villa quickly registered their interest, but he is expected to move to Paris Saint-Germain. It remains to be seen whether Sporting star Pedro Goncalves, 24, who scored 20 goals and set up 15 more in 2022-23, is worth the huge investment of around £60million. Signing a player of such value would see Villa almost double their record transfer fee.
Athletic Club’s Nico Williams is another option and Emery is keen on Tottenham’s Giovani Lo Celso, who he worked with at Villarreal and PSG.
As reported earlier this week, Youri Tielemans is a target following his exit from relegated Leicester City. Villa are happy with their current midfield options, especially Douglas Luiz, Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey, but would like further competition and see Tielemans on a free as good business.
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Emery still rates Matteo Guendouzi but Marseille want a transfer fee in the region of £25million if he leaves and that might be too expensive.
If Villa decide to recruit another high-level centre-back, then Pau Torres is top of the list. He is expected to leave Villarreal this season. Other options in Italy and Portugal are under consideration, but Villa will only be signing one player in this department as they already have Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa and Diego Carlos.
Valencia’s Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is another player under consideration, as The Athletic reported last month.
Who is an outside name to keep an eye on?
Leeds United’s Tyler Adams. The central midfielder, 24, captained the USMNT at the World Cup and is expected to leave Leeds this summer following relegation. Villa have him on a list of potential options.
Who could be heading out?
Ashley Young and Jed Steer have already departed as Villa decided against extending their deals.
Sanson spent the second half of the season on loan at Strasbourg and the French club would like to keep him, but still have to negotiate terms. Likewise with Nakamba, who helped Luton Town win promotion from the Championship.
Robin Olsen, Calum Chambers and Bertrand Traore may also look to play regularly elsewhere as new arrivals this summer will push them further down the pecking order.
Jhon Duran could be considered for a short-term loan move to get him up to speed following his January move from Chicago Fire. The 19-year-old Colombia international is rated highly but has yet to start a game for Villa.
(Top photos: From left to right, Pau Torres, Youri Tielemans and Pedro Goncalves; Getty Images)
