Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery (Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)
Aston Villa's president of football operations Monchi has been busy putting plans in place ahead of the January transfer window, which opens next week.
Unai Emery's side play another two matches before January 1 against Newcastle United on Boxing Day and then Brighton next Monday, before they then host Leicester City next Saturday. Villa went eight matches without a win in all competitions before then claiming three victories on the spin at the start of the month.
Then, after falling to defeat at high-flying Nottingham Forest, Villa returned to winning way against struggling champions Man City at Villa Park. With the January window just around the corner, Villa have the opportunity to freshen up the squad for the second half of the campaign.
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Back in the summer, Villa had to balance their books before the end of June to comply with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules, while they also had to make adjustments to adhere to UEFA's squad cost ratio rules.
Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby were the big two sales Villa made, while they also spent big on new recruits Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen. Ross Barkley was signed for a small fee, while Jaden Philogene returned to Villa after Emery moved to re-sign the winger following his impressive spell out at Hull City last term.
Villa were active right until the summer window ended, but their hopes of adding a new defender ended when Diego Carlos failed to find a new club. The Brazilian played his part in the club's remarkable 2023/24 campaign, but was free to leave if the right offer was tabled.
Carlos will turn 32 in March and is due to enter the final year of his contract next summer, meaning that he would be able to discuss a move away from Villa in just over 12 months. Villa would be able to free up some wages if Carlos departed next month and bring in a younger option who could develop under Emery.
A large part of Villa's recruitment model is to buy players who have a heigh ceiling and who Emery knows he can improve. As Villa are living in the world of PSR, they need to protect themselves by developing assets. Lutsharel Geetruida was a key target for Villa, but as Carlos didn't move on, there was no room in the squad or the budget to facilitate his arrival.
Carlos still has an important role to play in the team as Ezri Konsa is often used at right-back, and the Brazilian is the only other senior right-sided centre-back in the squad. Villa will likely target a new defender, but won't sign someone for the sake of it considering what Emery and Monchi have said in the lead up to the January window.
“Only if we can get something to really help for the next month we are going to do it," Emery said. "We are going to be alert in case we have the possibility to add in our squad to do it. Always they [V Sports] are very involved with me, us and Aston Villa. They want to enjoy each moment and how they can support us, how we can improve and increase our level.
"Always they are trying to share with us the possibility to add or link players for the next month in the window. In January we are speaking about the possibility but last year was similar, it is not an easy window."
Meanwhile, Monchi told Amazon Prime Video earlier this month: "We are working to improve the level of the squad, but it's not easy because we have a top squad and a top team. My job is to try and increase this level. We are working, because in 20 days the transfer window opens and we have to be prepared in case there are some possibilities.
"I think we're doing a good season, but it's important we continue at this level. In the Champions League we are very happy because we are near the top of the qualification and in the Premier League, it's true that in the last month we've had some problems. To work with Unai is easy, because he is a top coach and I've known him for ten years, since we were in Sevilla. I understand what he needs. For him, the most important thing is to work. I love to work, I love my job and I think that when you work with a coach, the most important thing is to bring what he wants. I try every day to continue in his way.”
It's not only Carlos who got generate interest in the January window. Emi Buendia will likely be targeted by clubs who can offer him more game time for the second half of the season. He missed last season through an ACL injury and needs regular minutes time to build his confidence back up. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to have many chances to do that at Villa at the moment.
There's plenty of competition for places in his position and it would appear that only something of an injury crisis would open the door for the 28-year-old to get a run of games. He hasn't been introduced off the bench before the 80th minute in a league game so far this season and has made seven substitute appearances.
Like Carlos, a move for Buendia - be it loan or permanent - would open up a chance for Villa to add fresh quality to their ranks. Offloading at least a portion of wages could also be beneficial considering PSR concerns are still pertinent heading into January.
It's key that Buendia is playing football after suffering his devastating injury blow last season, but as he has rarely feature in what is the busiest period of the campaign before the January window opens, then a loan move could be worthwhile for all parties.
Last January, Villa signed Morgan Rogers from Middlesbrough for just £8m, rising to £15m with add-ons. Monchi will once again trust Emery's instincts when it comes to identifying talent and if a creative player can come in and replace Buendia, Villa will act.
Meanwhile, Villa will take a look at Louie Barry when he returns from his loan spell at Stockport in January. He will likely head back out on loan into the Championship with a number of clubs queuing to have him until the end of the season.
Middlesbrough, who were credited with an interest earlier this month, are not currently planning to recruit the forward despite having a strong relationship with Villa having taken both Cameron Archer and Aaron Ramsey on loan last year.
Villa also signed Joe Gauci, Lino Sousa and Kosta Nedeljkovic in the last January window. Gauci is expected to become the understudy to Emi Martinez, while Nedeljkovic - who has bags of potential at just 19 years of age - is still developing under Emery but could leave on loan.
Monchi could look to strike similar, low-cost moves for promising players next month. Reports coming out of Turkey claim that Villa are keen to sign 18-year-old left-footed defender Yasin Ozcan from Kasımpasa for less than £7m.
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