Monchi handed clear January transfer verdict after Aston Villa's summer frustration
The vast majority of Aston Villa fans want Monchi to pursue a new right-back in the January transfer window.
It is well documented that Villa were frustrated in their attempt to recruit another right-back in the summer, but their move for Lutsharel Geertruida didn't materialise as it was dependent on Diego Carlos finding a new club. The Brazilian would have freed up space in the squad and given Villa more flexibility in their budget to land a new defender.
Matty Cash and Ezri Konsa shared the role last season, while Kosta Nedeljkovic and Lamare Bogarde have each made appearances at right-back at the start of this campaign too. But both players are still young and Emery can't rely on them just yet.
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Cash missed four league games through a hamstring injury before he returned to action against Manchester United before the October international break. Across those games against Leicester City, Everton, Wolves and Ipswich Town, Lamare Bogarde and Ezri Konsa started two games each from the full-back role.
In our big Villa survey, 61 per cent of fans who participated voted that Monchi should target a right-back as a priority in January. A centre-back was then the second most popular choice at 14 per cent.
Only 11 per cent of the vote was cast for a new winger, while a midfield or striker signing came in at five per cent.
Villa spent roughly £135m in the summer transfer window, but were forced to raise funds to comply with the Premier League and UEFA's financial rules.
Douglas Luiz was sold for £42m to Juventus, before Moussa Diaby headed to Al-Ittihad for £50.5m. Academy graduates Omari Kellyman and Tim Iroegbunam departed for around £30m combined, while Cameron Archer also left for Southampton.