Yahoo News Aston Villa transfer state of play - Luiz update, Gallagher, Cash and Duran latest
Unai Emery is not expecting to recruit many players this summer and admits Aston Villa must be "intelligent" in the transfer market due to the strain caused by Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Back in March, Villa published their accounts for 2023, revealing a pre-tax loss of just under £120m, which was the highest in Europe according to UEFA. Wages rose to £194m and amortisation of player contracts to £92.5m, but crucially, Villa confirmed that they continue to operate within the Premier League's financial rules.
Following Manchester City's win at Tottenham last month, Villa's place in next season's Champions League was confirmed, but while qualification for UEFA's elite club competition will bring in a tens of millions of pounds of revenue, Emery claims Villa will still have to box clever this summer.
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"Of course the Champions League helps us, to increase our level, our demands and objectives for next year," Emery explained. "To play Champions League for the players is something they like. The players we have here and in case we want to add players, to show them our objective, maybe it could help.
"But we have to be intelligent. We must arrange at the beginning the fair play and through that to try and be intelligent to try and build a new team. More or less we are not thinking to add or sign a lot of players.
"We are trying to be intelligent, how we can improve the squad with some players. Of course, we are going to be very demanding in getting the best possible to improve the squad. But we have to work now, deeply analysing it."
He added: "Financially, being in the Champions League is better than not. Our budget could be better, but we have to manage at the beginning the fair play for this season, then we can build. I think we can be intelligent and build a strong team to compete in the Champions League, the Premier League and the cups."
Who could leave?
Evidently, Villa are not in a position to spend the same amounts they have in previous windows unless they balance the books and sell players themselves. PSR has a grip on most Premier League clubs, making it very difficult to splash the cash in a bid to improve the team. It's why Emery believes recruiting cleverly is a key objective in the coming weeks.
Villa will listen to offers for Diego Carlos, who is one of the club's highest earners, while Calum Chambers will be allowed to leave after being told in the previous two windows that he could find a new club. AC Milan are reportedly in talks with Villa over Matty Cash, who Gazzetta dello Sport claim is valued at €30m.
Milan are reluctant to meet Villa's demands for Cash - who is contracted until 2027 - as they believe they can drive the price down considering Villa's financial position.
Emery faces losing at least one player by the end of the month as the club are under pressure to raise money, which has led to another Italian giant, Juventus, looking at Villa to improve their own team. Douglas Luiz has concrete interest from Juventus, who want to sign the Brazil ace this summer.
Luiz has two years left on his current deal and his value may well have peaked after a stunning season under Emery. He scored nine goals in 35 Premier League appearances last term and made five assists.
The 26-year-old is one of the club's most valuable assets and possibly the most likely player to leave Villa Park if Monchi wants to bank a big sale early on in the summer window.
Jacob Ramsey is another player who is of interest to clubs ahead of the opening of the summer window, but he does not want to leave his boyhood club. Tottenham and Newcastle United are both admirers, but Villa know he has all the attributes to one day become a regular in the England national team. He played a key role in Villa's ascent up the league table the season before last before sustaining a foot injury while on international duty in the summer.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have been linked with an interest in Ollie Watkins, but our sister title, the Liverpool Echo, claim such reports are inaccurate. Elsewhere up front, Jhon Duran is on Chelsea's radar and The Athletic claim he has enquiries from Italy, Saudi Arabia and Spain. If the Colombia international departs, then Villa would have to sign another forward to play back-up to Watkins.
Cameron Archer will return to Villa following Sheffield United's relegation as per the agreement struck between the two clubs. The 22-year-old is expected to leave the club again having already been deemed surplus to requirements 12 months ago.
Where will Villa strengthen?
It's key that Villa strengthen their squad and bolster Emery's ranks. One of the key reasons why Villa were running on empty in the final weeks of the season was due to a lack of options off the bench.
Emery had very little opportunity to rotate the side without making a big difference to how the team operates. When Rogers came off injured against Brighton, he had to swap Leon Bailey to the left and bring Cash on to play right wing. That was due to Youri Tielemans and Boubacar Kamara both being injured, meaning John McGinn had to stay deeper while Emery was reluctant to call in Tim Iroegbunam just yet.
Bailey had been playing through pain towards the back end of the campaign and had his knee heavily strapped for several games. Emi Buendia will return in pre-season, but Nicolo Zaniolo is not expected to be kept on.
Villa will target additions in midfield as a priority with Kamara set to miss pre-season and the start of the new campaign due to an ACL injury. Emery also wants to add depth in wide areas.
Additions in defence could depend on outgoings. While Lucas Digne enjoyed his best season in claret and blue, he is one of the club's highest earners, as is Carlos. At right-back, it will be interesting to see whether Kosta Nedeljkovic earns a place in the first-team or if he is sent out on loan again after signing a long-term deal with Villa back in January, while Cash's future appears to be uncertain.
Who is of interest?
Villa have already done the groundwork on a number of targets and are well prepared for the summer window. The club's president of football operations Monchi will work around the clock to ensure Emery gets the targets he wants.
Luton Town have reportedly accepted a fee in the region of £5m for Ross Barkley, who is due to undergo medical tests ahead of signing for Villa. England international Conor Gallagher is also of strong interest, but Villa face competition from Tottenham and Atletico Madrid.
Villa have expressed an interest in the midfielder, but Chelsea want £50m. Reports indicate that Gallagher is ready to bide his time over a move and will not be pressured into agreeing to a transfer that is not right for his career.
It's crucial Villa sign a holding midfielder to compete with Kamara, who will miss the first months of the season anyway. Further forward, Villa are one of several Premier League clubs keen to sign Germany wonderkid Assan Ouedraogo, who has a release clause of around £12m until mid-June.
Bayern Munich pulled out of a deal to sign Ouedraogo last weekend, leaving the likes of Villa, Liverpool, Man Utd and Newcastle as potential suitors for the 18-year-old's signature. He also has interest from RB Leipzig and Frankfurt.
Alex Baena is another target, with his future uncertain at Villarreal following their failure to secure European football. The creative midfielder could be available for around £30m.
Crysencio Summerville has been on Villa's radar for some time now and will likely leave Leeds United this summer after they lost the Championship play-off final against Southampton. A number of top-flight clubs are monitoring the Dutch winger, including Crystal Palace.
Elsewhere, Villa need to add options in defence now that Lenglet has returned to Barcelona from his loan and Mings continues to recover from his ACL injury. Currently, Pau Torres is the only fit left-sided defender available to Emery.
L'Equipe claim Villa have joined the race to sign OGC Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo this summer. The 24-year-old is also said to be of interest to a number of clubs including Manchester United, Tottenham, Napoli and Atletico Madrid. He could be available for €25m.
