How Aston Villa's new starting XI could look at the end of the transfer window.placeholder image
How Aston Villa's new starting XI could look at the end of the transfer window. | Getty Images
Aston Villa have recruited well in this January transfer window - and may not be done yet
Aston Villa remain right in this title race and are just a handful of points off the top of the table as we reach the end of January.
Unai Emery’s side have been outstanding across the vast majority of the season and have proven their credentials for a Champions League place with recent victories over rivals Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle.
The Villans are notoriously smart spenders in the January transfer window and the same has been the case this time around. There is still time for the West Midlands outfit to add further arrivals to strengthen Emery’s squad as they look to challenge both in the Premier League and the Europa League this term. We had a look at how the Villans’ new starting XI could look for the remainder of the season, if the latest transfer rumours are to be believed.
Aston Villa’s new starting XI - according to the latest rumours
Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez
Defence: Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Ian Maatsen
Villa’s defence have been impressive over recent months and have a record at the back comparable with those of their title rivals. Emiliano Martinez bounced back from a failed summer move and has shown just why he has been named the world’s best goalkeeper on multiple occasions, while Ezri Konsa and Matty Cash have been as good as ever this term.
Pau Torres has returned to the side since coming back from injury and has Tyrone Mings as competition at centre-back. While the Villans have two strong left-back options in Ian Maatsen and Lucas Digne, both of whom have played significant minutes for Emery’s men across competitions. Any defensive arrival in the final days of this month - amidst links with Bundesliga defender Danilho Doekhi - is likely to be used as a strong rotation option at present.
Midfield: Douglas Luiz, Amadou Onana
Aston Villa missed out on the signing of Conor Gallagher this month as the ex-Chelsea midfielder went to Tottenham Hotspur, but the Villans secured a coup instead with the return of former player Douglas Luiz on loan from Juventus, as announced on Wednesday.
The Brazil international struggled to settle in at Juve after a £42.5m move from Villa Park in summer 2024 and spent an unsuccessful spell on loan at Nottingham Forest earlier this season, but Emery and Villa know his quality and the 27-year-old could be the perfect man to replace the influence of injured trio Boubacar Kamara, captain John McGinn and Youri Tielemans in the Villans midfield.
Aston Villa add two new forwards to aid title tilt
Attack: Omar Marmoush, Morgan Rogers, Emiliano Buendia; Ollie Watkins
Aston Villa have already added one new face in attack this month and may yet add another before the window closes if Emery gets his way. Tammy Abraham has returned to Villa Park on a permanent basis to offer support to Ollie Watkins, coming back to his former home where he starred on a loan spell while the club was in the Championship in 2018/19. Now, he is returning to play his role in a Premier League title race.
Morgan Rogers has been one of the division’s outstanding players this season and Emiliano Buendia has seen a remarkable resurgence, while Villa may look to add Man City forward Omar Marmoush as another top-level attacking option. The Egyptian was signed for £59m from Eintracht Frankfurt just 12 months ago but has been linked with an exit amidst a lack of first-team minutes for Pep Guardiola’s side this term. The versatile forward can play as a winger and up front and would be an invaluable addition if he were to arrive through the doors at Villa Park.
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