After Aston Villa lost Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle United earlier in the window, they would not have intended to lose any more players before Deadline Day next Monday.
However, there is still a possibility that one or two more could depart Villa Park, with star man Morgan Rogers regularly touted with an exit.
A few days ago, it was revealed that Unai Emery’s side could lose Rogers to Chelsea. The Blues are said to be plotting a move worth up to £80m for the Villans forward, potentially as an alternative to one of their primary targets this summer, Xavi Simons.
Rogers
Well, whether Rogers stays or goes remains to be seen, but Emery would need to replace him before Monday’s deadline.
Aston Villa’s last-minute plans in the window
It could be a frantic few days at Villa Park, with the West Midlands giants looking to do some more transfer dealings before the earlier-than-normal 7pm deadline.
A last-gasp move for Lucas Paqueta of West Ham United could be something Villa look to get over the line, if recent rumours are to be believed.
Well, one player that Villa have ‘opened talks’ to sign late on, according to journalist Patrick Berger, is Borussia Dortmund and Germany striker Maximilian Beier.
They are said to be ‘very interested’ in bringing the striker to Villa Park, but would need to sell due to FFP restrictions.
Maximilian Beier
However, this is a deal that Villa seem keen to get over the line. So much so, in fact, that Emery’s side have readied a £30m bid for the versatile forward. It is unclear if that will match Dortmund’s asking price or if they will have to return to the negotiation table.
Why Beier would be a good signing
At just 22 years of age, Beier, an “exceptional” forward according to football scout Antonio Mango, has developed a fantastic reputation. He is already a full international with Germany and a key player for Dortmund.
Beier
Last term, his versatility was key for the Bundesliga giants. The forward can play right across the frontline, and whilst he excels most as a centre-forward, Beier also operated on both flanks and as a number 10 last season.
Despite a tough campaign for Dortmund, 2024/25 was strong personally for Beier. He played 46 games across all competitions, finding the back of the net ten times and assisting six goals.
His record of 16 goal involvements is even more impressive when you consider he played just 2,423 minutes, the equivalent of just under 27 full games.
Villa certainly need a like-for-like replacement for Rogers if he leaves, or, failing that, a squad player capable of challenging him for his spot in the side. There are certainly similarities between the pair, including their versatility and age profile, with both in their early 20s, meaning there is plenty of time to develop as a player.
Rogers
Last season, the 23-year-old England international shone for the Villans. He bagged 14 goals and assisted 16 in 54 games, including a wonderful hat-trick in the Champions League group stage over Celtic.
One of the real selling points for Villa when it comes to signing Beier is his versatility, which is one way he is like Rogers. Just like the German forward, Villa’s number 27 can operate on both flanks, as a second striker and can lead the line.
The underlying stats also suggest that Beier could be Rogers-esque. For example, Dortmund’s forward averaged 1.36 key passes and 3.11 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes last season, close to the Villa star, who averaged 1.47 key passes and 3.04 shot-creating actions each game.
Beier & Rogers key stats compared
Stat (per 90)
Goals and assists
Key passes
Shot-creating actions
Goal-creating actions
Ball recoveries
Stats from FBref
A fee of £30m is certainly not going to break the bank for Villa at the end of the transfer window, provided they sell where possible. Although it is unclear at this stage whether Beier would replace or play alongside Roges, he seems like an ideal fit.
Max Beier
This could be a huge addition for Emery as they look to challenge on all fronts domestically and in Europe this season.