Aston Villa's Spanish coach Unai Emery gives instruction from the side line during the UEFA Champions League Quarter final first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) and Aston Villa (ENG) at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on April 9, 2025. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)Aston Villa's Spanish coach Unai Emery gives instruction from the side line during the UEFA Champions League Quarter final first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) and Aston Villa (ENG) at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on April 9, 2025. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Aston Villa's Spanish coach Unai Emery gives instruction from the side line during the UEFA Champions League Quarter final first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) and Aston Villa (ENG) at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on April 9, 2025. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Aston Villa are looking to strengthen in attacking areas this summer, and one major transfer option has come to the fore.
Aston Villa’s rise to earning a place at the top table amongst Europe’s elite has been rapid. It’s a famous story - stranded in the bottom half before Unai Emery arrived at Villa Park in late 2022, Villa rose to achieve an improbable Conference League qualification that same season, before qualifying even more improbably for the Champions League the following campaign.
Now, the Villains’ place amongst the most formidable sides in the Premier League is secure. The next step is for the club to show their true ambition by going in for the world’s biggest stars on the transfer market, making a marquee signing that would truly make the world sit down and notice.
Villa’s current record signing is midfielder Amadou Onana, signed for £50m from Everton last summer. That was a huge deal, but the club are rumoured to be considering smashing that record in a deal which would take the footballing world by storm. Particularly if they have to beat out one of their Premier League rivals to seal the move.
Alejandro Garnacho could join Aston Villa for £60m price
Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho looks set to be on the move this summer, with the Old Trafford outfit reportedly sanctioning his departure if a £60m valuation is met for the 20-year-old. Caught Offside recently reported that manager Ruben Amorim has personally informed Garnacho that he “can leave and find a new club”.
Garnacho made the headlines last week when he appeared to hit out at Amorim for not starting him in their Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, and it seems that may have been the final straw after an already-disappointing season for the Argentine. He wants out, having become less of a key member of the team under the Portuguese, while the club are happy to cash in on one of their highest-value assets.
Aston Villa are one of the main suitors for Garnacho according to Caught Offside’s report, though Emery may have to do battle with former United manager Erik ten Hag and Bayer Leverkusen for the Argentine. Chelsea have also been linked with Garnacho, along with several clubs in Italy. Emery and the Aston Villa hierarchy will strongly believe they have as good a chance as any of landing Garnacho, in what would be a statement buy by the West Midlands outfit as they look to return to Champions League football in the next campaign.
Where would Alejandro Garnacho fit in at Aston Villa?
The quality Garnacho possesses has never been doubted. His dynamism in attacking areas and ruthless finishing have lit up Old Trafford on many occasions but he has hit a dip in recent months, which is normal for such a young player. Particularly considering how little his own play style is compatible with the new formation brought in by Amorim.
With multiple attacking players linked with moves to or away from Villa Park at present, it is impossible to yet know who the Villains’ strike force will be next campaign. Loan stars Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio have departed but may yet return according to reports, while Ollie Watkins could be headed out the exit door in what would be a difficult goodbye for player and club. Lee Kang-in has also been linked with Villa after rejecting a new contract at PSG, with the 2025/26 Villa Park attacking line-up a complete unknown.
One thing which is for certain is that Garnacho would be a shrewd acquisition both for the present and for the future. The 20-year-old has several years on all those aforementioned, meaning he could develop into a top-class player under the guidance of Unai Emery - especially considering the impact the Spaniard has had on Garnacho’s much-maligned former United team-mate Rashford. Be it at Villa Park or elsewhere, the next destination of Garnacho is a story to look out for.
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