Aston Villa are working on making space in the squad for new recruits
Wanted man... Villa striker Ollie Watkins
Wanted man... Villa striker Ollie Watkins(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
Aston Villa have been one of the quieter operators in the transfer market so far, having recruited just one player to date.
That is about to change, with Marco Bizot set to be confirmed as the club’s second signing of the window after Zepiqueno Redmond, who joined on a free transfer on July 1 following the expiration of his contract at Feyenoord.
The young Dutch forward could make his debut in claret and blue on Wednesday night when Villa play their first pre-season game against Walsall.
It’s unclear whether Bizot will be available for that fixture, but he is expected to feature in some capacity against Hansa Rostock on Saturday, ahead of Unai Emery’s squad flying out to the USA next week.
Like most managers, Emery would prefer to have the majority of his new signings through the door before the pre-season tour - but that seems unlikely this summer.
Villa have been waiting for movement in the market involving their own players, aiming to raise funds and create space in the squad for further additions.
Emi Buendía, Alex Moreno, Kosta Nedeljkovic, Leon Bailey, Leander Dendoncker and Louie Barry are all potential departures, while reports in Portugal claim that Benfica are leading the race to sign Enzo Barrenechea.
Following his impressive loan spell at Valencia last season, the Argentina international has attracted significant interest from clubs across Europe.
It’s been reported that Benfica are advancing talks to sign Barrenechea permanently, though Porto are also showing strong interest.
Meanwhile, Bailey is a target for Fenerbahce, who already have Jhon Durán and Diego Carlos in their squad for next season and are also expected to sign Marco Asensio.
With several familiar faces already at the club, a move to Turkey could appeal to Bailey - especially with José Mourinho now in charge at Fenerbahce.
While there have been no concrete talks at this stage, Bailey is certainly on their radar this summer.
RB Leipzig did not exercise their option to sign Nedeljkovic for around £9 million but may return with a lower offer for the Serbia international.
There is likely to be strong loan interest in Nedeljkovic, but Villa are seeking a permanent solution for his future.
The same applies to Louie Barry, whose move to Hull City collapsed earlier this month due to EFL restrictions limiting the club to signing only loan players and free agents.
Turning to the goalkeeping department, Emi Martínez’s future remains a topic of speculation - particularly after the arrival of Bizot.
The Dutch goalkeeper, who has Champions League experience and regular first-team minutes in recent seasons, has been signed as a backup.
If Martínez remains at Villa, Bizot will start in goal for the opening-day clash against Newcastle United, as the Argentina number one is suspended.
However, suggestions that Martínez is now set to leave due to Bizot’s arrival are wide of the mark - Bizot is a replacement for Robin Olsen, not Martínez.
That said, Martínez could still depart, despite it being nearly two months since he was seen in tears after the final home game of the season against Tottenham.
Villa have yet to receive any concrete offers for Martínez, who is not believed to be interested in a move to Saudi Arabia at this stage in his career.
If Atlético Madrid sell Jan Oblak, they are expected to pursue Martínez, though beyond that, it’s hard to identify a club willing to pay a significant fee for a soon-to-be 33-year-old on high wages.
Lucas Digne has one year left on his contract. Ideally, Emery would like to keep him given his strong form over the past two seasons, but wage reduction is a priority this summer.
After discussions with UEFA, Villa have agreed to cut their wage bill this summer and next - when Digne’s contract expires.
If the club can achieve a 10% reduction this summer, it may make little sense to sell Digne now, as he would need to be replaced, and his experience remains valuable.
Morgan Rogers continues to be linked with a move away from Villa amid strong interest from Chelsea, with Arsenal also reportedly admirers of the England international.
Having earned over £100 million in prize money from winning the Club World Cup, Chelsea could look to flex their financial power once again and move for Rogers.
Villa do not want to sell the 22-year-old and will likely resist any offers - but every player has a price.
As with any situation, Villa must weigh what fee would allow them to reinvest and improve without the player.
Considering Rogers’ growing influence and rising value, Chelsea would need to submit a substantial offer to prompt serious talks.
Lastly, Ollie Watkins has emerged as a surprise target for Al Hilal, who made an enquiry about the forward earlier this month.
Villa opted to sell Jhon Durán instead of Watkins last January and, like Rogers, will demand a high fee to part with one of their most valuable assets.
Watkins is also on Manchester United’s radar, though a move would likely require Rasmus Højlund to be sold first for Rúben Amorim to bring in another forward.