Aston Villa are facing a pivotal summer transfer window, with expectations of more incoming players than initially anticipated. Last summer, the club's most significant sale was Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle United for £39 million, alongside the departures of several fringe players. Donyell Malen and Evann Guessand left in January.
Tammy Abraham arrived to replace Malen, while Leon Bailey returned from an unsuccessful loan spell at AS Roma. Douglas Luiz also rejoined on loan following injuries to Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans, and John McGinn.
During the summer window, Villa brought in Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott on loan, although Elliott hardly featured as Unai Emery opted to give Emi Buendia more minutes. Villa would have been obliged to pay £35 million to Liverpool had Elliott made 10 league appearances last season. However, after Emery made his decision early in the campaign, the 23-year-old will not need replacing per se.
Sancho, however, will need replacing, as will Bailey, who could leave the club this summer. Aside from Bailey and Alysson, who is still inexperienced, Villa do not have a natural winger in their squad. Instead, Morgan Rogers, Buendia, and McGinn can all operate in wider roles across the three positions behind the striker.
A right winger is therefore a priority this summer, but there is a strong argument that both a left and right winger should be recruited. Of course, Rogers’ future also raises further questions about the volume of incoming players. If Villa were to accept a significant bid for the 23-year-old, then as many as three forward players could be signed before the window shuts on Monday, August 31.
Villa will be competing in the Champions League, and Emery understands the strain this will place on his squad. Strength in depth, both in numbers and quality, will be essential.
Elsewhere, Matty Cash needs greater competition at right-back, especially considering that Andrés García struggled for game time last season and started just one league match, against Manchester City. The 23-year-old was substituted at half-time at the Etihad and replaced by Cash. If not sold permanently, a loan move would be advisable for Garcia, as he cannot afford another season of limited football. A new right-back is therefore necessary to both challenge Cash and provide cover in cases of injury or suspension.
In defence, it will be interesting to see whether another Premier League club tests the waters for Tyrone Mings, who has just 12 months remaining on his contract. A club legend without doubt, having also won the Europa League last month, Mings may consider moving on after lifting silverware. While he still has something to offer in Emery’s squad, he would likely receive more regular minutes elsewhere next season if he chose to explore that option.
Given how Squad Cost Rules (SCR) limit Villa’s flexibility in the market, having sellable assets is important. In Ian Maatsen, Emery could raise funds without significantly weakening his starting XI. Signed for £38.5 million from Chelsea in the summer of 2024, while Omari Kellyman moved in the opposite direction for £19 million, Maatsen has shown glimpses of quality. However, whether he will reach his full potential at Villa remains uncertain.
Aside from these situations, the most advanced potential outgoing at this stage is Emi Martinez, with Juventus attempting to secure a deal for the Argentina number one. It goes without saying that Martinez's departure would leave a significant void in the Villa team, and replacing him would be no easy task.
The likelihood is that Villa will need to recruit at least five players this summer, with that number likely to rise depending on outgoings.
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