Unai Emery has provided a detailed insight into Aston Villa's activity in the January transfer window, following his side's disappointing defeat to Everton at Goodison Park. The Villa manager acknowledged the need to bolster his squad after recent departures and a growing injury list, but insisted his current players are capable of delivering results.
Injuries and Departures Shape Transfer Strategy
Villa's midfield has been hit by a fresh injury crisis, with captain John McGinn suffering a knee problem during the loss to Everton. He joins Boubacar Kamara, who remains under medical assessment for a similar issue. This compounds the attacking shortage created by Donyell Malen's loan move to AS Roma, which includes an obligation to buy.
Furthermore, the club has decided against triggering a permanent deal for Harvey Elliott, who has not featured for months. The bench against Everton highlighted the lack of depth, with illness ruling out Jadon Sancho and leaving Emery with a notably inexperienced set of substitutes.
Financial Constraints and Recruitment Targets
Emery confirmed the club is actively working on signings for the crucial final stretch of the season. However, UEFA's financial regulations are a significant factor, limiting Villa's spending power in the current market. So far this winter, the club has invested approximately £20 million in two young prospects, 19-year-old Alysson and 17-year-old Brian Madjo, who are seen as talents for the future rather than immediate first-team solutions.
The primary focus appears to be on recruiting a forward. Aston Villa have been attempting to negotiate a deal to bring former player Tammy Abraham back to the club from Besiktas, but discussions have so far proven challenging.
Emery's Confidence in Current Squad
Despite the clear need for reinforcements, Unai Emery expressed strong faith in the players at his disposal. Speaking to talkSPORT after the Everton match, he reflected on the club's consistent performance despite ongoing challenges.
"We are performing with those difficulties three years ago, two years ago, last year and this year. I am so happy with the players we have," Emery stated. "The same players we had last week and we performed well. Of course, we are going to work in the next days to add and join some players with us because we will need for the rest of the season, but for now it is enough."
In his post-match press conference, he expanded on this view, emphasising the long-term nature of the Premier League campaign. "We have enough players to get the performance we need. Of course, we must replace players who are leaving," he said. "We play 55 matches in a season in the last two years and this year... Our target in the league is to get our best in 38 matches. Until day 34 I won’t talk about where we can finish."
The immediate challenge for Villa is a demanding schedule of away fixtures, with a Europa League clash against Fenerbahce followed by a Premier League trip to Newcastle United. The returns of Amadou Onana and Ross Barkley from injury will provide a timely boost, but Emery's comments make it clear that the club's work in the transfer market over the coming days is considered essential for sustaining their ambitions across multiple competitions.
