Aston Villa have already responded to €50m transfer question as masterstroke emerges
How they would cope without Douglas Luiz was one of the big questions hanging over Unai Emery's side in the lead up to the new season, but Youri Tielemans has taken no time at all to claim the mantle of Aston Villa's maestro.
Villa had to raise funds before the end of June to comply with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and Luiz was identified as the most sellable asset. Emi Martinez, Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Jacob Ramsey were all untouchable in the summer window, and although he played a key role in Villa's success last term, Villa felt they would be able to rebuild from the Luiz sale easier than if they had flogged another important member of Emery's squad.
Tielemans was already in the building, but Emery wanted another midfielder who shared similar characteristics to bolster his options, so Ross Barkley was signed for just £5m following Luton Town's relegation to the Championship. Amadou Onana was also targeted as Emery wanted to add another profile of midfielder to his first-team squad, one which could also cover the absence of Boubacar Kamara or indeed playing alongside him.
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Kamara is now back in full training at Bodymoor Heath every day and will return to the matchday squad in "a few weeks". Emery has a whole host of options to choose from in the double pivot, with Tielemans and Barkley, Onana and Kamara all vying for those two spots.
Skipper John McGinn can obviously play in a deeper position too, but is preferred in a more advanced role. Tielemans also operated closer to the striker last season, but Emery wants to continue getting the best out of him in the number eight role he has been playing in following Luiz's departure.
There has been no hangover whatsoever after the Brazilian left Villa, which is testament to the club's recruitment. They won the race to sign Tielemans on a free transfer last year after his contract expired at the King Power Stadium.
He endured a tough start at Villa and was forced to wait until November before he started his first game for the club, but has now recaptured his best form under Emery and at 27 years of age he possibly has the best years ahead of him still.
"Youri Tielemans, when we signed him last year, we were doing a plan with him," Emery explained. "Of course, last year, he was more or less replacing Douglas Luiz and sometimes playing together, but when we were trying to get balance in our structure, we were playing with Kamara and Douglas Luiz.
"He played in different positions, a number eight or number 10, he was playing well because he is very intelligent. But his best position is number eight. Now, after Luiz has left, the position he is playing with us is where he is feeling better with his capacity and qualities. We are very happy because he is a very good guy, he is a very professional guy, his commitment with his teammates is fantastic and he loves football.
"He is always ready to play and ready to learn on everything we are learning. He was struggling at Leicester and I don’t know exactly why. They were relegated two years ago and they were not playing well.
"They had Barnes, Tielemans, Maddison, those players are now playing for Tottenham, Newcastle and Tielemans is here with us. I think he is again comfortable and feeling happy, in his position feeling good in our structure and ideas.
"We will need him and Ross Barkley, whose adaptation is getting better and better. I will use both players this year a lot of times, maybe even playing together sometimes."