Current Aston Villa transfer status – Luiz, Gallagher, Cash and Duran update latest

Unai Emery does not expect to sign many players this summer and admits Aston Villa need to be “smart” in the transfer market due to the strain caused by the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

In March, Villa published their accounts for 2023, revealing a pre-tax loss of just under £120m, which was the biggest in Europe according to UEFA. Wages have risen to £194m and amortization of player contracts to £92.5m, but crucially Villa have confirmed they continue to operate within the Premier League’s financial rules.

After Manchester City’s victory 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 tens of millions of pounds, Emery claims that Villa will have to box smart this summer. .

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“Of course the Champions League helps us, to raise our level, our demands and our goals for next year,” explained Emery. “Playing the Champions League for the players is something they like. The players we have here and if we want to add players, to show them our goal, maybe they could help.

“But we have to be smart. We have to arrange fair play at the beginning and through that try and be smart to try to build a new team. More or less we are not thinking about adding or signing many players .

“We are trying to be smart, how we can improve the team with some players. Of course, we will be very demanding in getting the best possibilities to improve the team. But we have to work now, analyzing it deeply.”

He added: “Financially, being in the Champions League is better than not. Our budget could be better, but we have to manage fair play for this season first, then we can build. I think that we can be smart and build a strong team to compete in the Champions League, Premier League and cups.”

Who could leave?

Obviously, Villa are not in a position to spend the same amounts they have in previous windows unless they balance their books and sell their own players. PSR own most of the Premier League clubs, making it very difficult to splash the cash in an attempt to improve the squad. That’s why Emery sees smart recruiting as a key focus in the coming weeks.

Villa will listen to offers for Diego Carloswho is one of the club’s top earners, while Calum Chambers he 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 Matty Cash, which Gazzetta dello Sport claims is valued at 30 million euros.

Milan are reluctant to meet Villa’s demands for Cash – who is contracted until 2027 – as they believe they can undercut the price given Villa’s financial position.

Emery faces losing at least one player until the end of the month as the club come under pressure to raise cash, prompting another Italian giants Juventus to look at Villa to improve their own squad. Douglas Luiz he has concrete interest from Juventus, who want to sign the Brazilian ace this summer.

Luiz has two years left on his current deal and his value may have peaked after a stunning season under Emery. He scored nine goals in 35 Premier League appearances last term and provided five assists.

The 26-year-old is one of the club’s most valuable assets and perhaps the player most likely to leave Villa Park if Monchi are to make a big sale early in the summer window.

Jacob Ramsey is another player who is showing interest in clubs before the summer window opens, but does not want to leave his boyhood club. Tottenham and Newcastle United are both admirers, but Villa knows he has all the attributes to one day become a regular in the England national team. He was instrumental in Villa’s climb up the league table the previous season before suffering a foot injury while on international duty in the summer.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have been linked with an interest in Ollie Watkinsbut our sister’s title, the Liverpool Echo, argue that such reports are inaccurate. Elsewhere, ahead John Duran he is on Chelsea’s radar and The Athletic claim he has inquiries from Italy, Saudi Arabia and Spain. If the Colombia international leaves, then Villa would need to sign another striker to play as Watkins’ back-up.

Cameron Archer will return to Villa following Sheffield United’s relegation as per the agreement reached 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 Vila consolidate?

It is essential that Villa strengthen their squad and bolster Emery’s ranks. One of the key reasons why Villa were on a clean sheet in the final weeks of the season was due to a lack of options on the bench.

Emery has had very little chance to rotate the side without making a huge difference to how the team operates. When Rogers went off injured against Brighton, he had to replace Leon Bailey on the left and bring Cash on to play on the right. That was because Youri Tielemans and Boubacar Kamara were injured, meaning John McGinn had to stay deeper, while Emery was reluctant to call on Tim Iroegbunam.

Bailey played through pain towards the 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 retained.

Villa will target midfield additions as a priority, with Kamara set to miss pre-season and the start of the new campaign with an ACL injury. Emery also wants to add depth in wide areas.

Defense additions could depend on spending. While Lucas Digne has enjoyed his best season in purple and blue, he is one of the club’s biggest winners, as is Carlos. At right-back, it will be interesting to see if Kosta Nedeljkovic earns a first-team place or is sent out on loan again after signing a long-term deal with Villa in January, while Cash’s future appears to be uncertain.

Who is of interest?

Villa have already done the groundwork for 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 of around £5m for Ross Barkley, who is to undergo a medical before signing for Villa. England international Conor Gallagher is also of great 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 for a move and will not be pressured into accepting a transfer that is not suitable for his career.

It is crucial for Villa to sign a midfielder to compete with Kamara, who will miss the first few months of the season anyway. Furthermore, Villa are one of several Premier League clubs keen to sign the German wonderkid Assan Ouedraogowho 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 he has been on Villa’s radar for some time and is likely to leave Leeds United this summer after they lost the Championship play-off final against Southampton. A number of top clubs are monitoring the Dutch winger, including Crystal Palace.

Elsewhere, Villa need to add options in defense 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-back available for Emery.

L’Equipe claim Villa have joined the race to sign the OGC Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo This summer. The 24-year-old is also of interest to a number of clubs, including Manchester United, Tottenham, Napoli and Atletico Madrid. He could be available for 25 million euros.

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