BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Aston Villa FC and Club Brugge KV at Villa Park on March 12, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Aston Villa FC and Club Brugge KV at Villa Park on March 12, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Aston Villa FC and Club Brugge KV at Villa Park on March 12, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This huge piece of transfer business could make the difference for Aston Villa next season.
It is set to be a huge summer of transfer business for Unai Emery and Aston Villa as they seek to show the world that they are here to stay as a major European contender.
Three successive years of European qualification, a cup semi-final and an ever-improving squad are enough to persuade even the biggest of doubters that Villa Park is set to be the stage for some of England’s biggest games for years to come. But Emery will know that his side are not the finished article just yet, and this summer could be a turning point in the club’s transition from European hopefuls to top-six stalwarts.
The Villains garnered much deserved praise after a strong January transfer window, where they brought in £64 million for Jhon Durán from Saudi club Al-Nassr but still managed to strengthen the club’s firepower amongst five signings in the new year. Similarly shrewd additions will be required this summer window, with Emery reportedly considering making two massive early moves.
Unai Emery hopes to secure return of loan stars
According to reports by Football Insider, Unai Emery is planning to recreate Villa’s impressive January window by returning for two of the club’s loan stars in the shape of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio. Bringing in the pair in January was a huge statement of intent, and both could yet return to Villa Park after headline-making contributions as the club excelled on all fronts after Christmas.
Asensio could sign on a permanent transfer from PSG, as he is likely to struggle for gametime in Paris for Luis Enrique’s Champions League finalists. While Rashford may join on another season-long loan despite the option to sign him permanently for £40m, as the Manchester United star’s huge wage demands could impact a potential deal.
The terms of a return for both would need to be explored, but the Villa hierarchy hope to get deals done after fans also expressed a desire for the two global stars to stay at the club beyond the end of the season.
Should Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio return to Villa Park?
After the instant impact the pair had on the team when arriving at Villa in January, it is hard to argue against the club doing all they can to secure the services of both men again this summer as Emery’s side hope for an instant return to the Champions League.
Asensio’s goalscoring form for Villa tailed off towards the end of the season after an outstanding period in February and March, but eight goals in half a season having no previous experience playing in England is nothing to be sniffed at. He was a difference-maker in the Champions League in particular, and his European nous could be crucial once again as Emery’s side look to go one better and bring home the Europa League trophy next campaign.
The enigma that is Marcus Rashford is well known, and the feeling remains that the England man is still waiting to explode into life after a difficult couple of years in Manchester. The signs were certainly there that he was returning to his best in a productive loan spell in Birmingham, but a full season under Emery could be priceless for both Rashford and Aston Villa. It is likely the 27-year-old will need to accept that if he wants to flourish away from Old Trafford, a huge wage cut may be the only option.
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