Aston Villa manager Unai Emery looks on.placeholder image
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery looks on. | Getty Images
Aston Villa have an important August ahead of them on and off the pitch
Aston Villa have seen their fair share of headlines in recent weeks as the transfer window comes to a head with the beginning of the new Premier League season rapidly approaching.
The Villans have not been as active as they would like in bringing in new faces in the first two months of the window, with more focus on avoiding sales of key players to comply with PSR rules. A minor fine by UEFA aside, it appears as though Villa have survived any punishment for this year and so may have more freedom to spend in the remainder of the window.
Sales may take place nevertheless. Leon Bailey has been linked with an exit, along with academy product Jacob Ramsey and World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez. The future of Ollie Watkins is also up in the air. One further exit has been confirmed by the club, although in slightly confusing circumstances.
Young defender Yasin Ozcan completes Anderlecht loan move
Reported by The Athletic, 19-year-old Turkish defender Yasin Ozcan has completed a season-long loan deal to Belgian giants Anderlecht, just weeks after his official arrival at Villa Park in a £7million move from Kasimpasa in his homeland.
What makes this move especially interesting is that there is an option to buy in summer 2026 included within the loan deal, suggesting that Villa are considering the prospect of making a quick profit on Ozcan if he impresses in Belgium. He could, therefore, depart Villa Park without making a single competitive appearance for the club. Amidst the continued PSR restraints which could befall the club again next year, Villa chiefs may feel that losing out on a young talent such as Ozcan is an unfortunate but necessary risk to take.
‘Most important’ - Unai Emery speaks on Villa transfer window
Unai Emery spoke to Birmingham Live during pre-season about the Villans’ transfer window and their aims for the new season.
The Spaniard said: “The commitment we have here, it is still being so, so strong. The objective we have here is still very ambitious. We will face it this season. Playing in Europe, we have added another competition which is very demanding. We have played the Conference League and the Champions League, now we will play in the Europa League. For me, it is very important. For the club and the players, it is the same. The Premier League is always the first objective because it is always the most difficult in the world.
“Some teams start as more of a contender for Europe, ahead of us, for example, Tottenham and Manchester United, last year, Newcastle. Those teams have a great power to try to beat us, and they are signing very important players. But, our structure is the most important – how we are extending some contracts, but also being clinical to add some players. The structure we are building is strong and, of course, our challenge is to be again getting better than those teams, who are more contenders to be in the top seven or in Europe.
“We are always facing it, and we have to do our best to get it. Only the difference, compared to last year, is how some teams like Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham are signing very good players. The Premier League is a tough league for every team. They are respecting us like we are respecting them.”
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