Aston Villa’s progress under Unai Emery over the last couple of years has been truly remarkable, with the Spaniard handing a generation of supporters memories to last a lifetime.
He’s taken the club from a mid-table Premier League outfit, to consistent European challengers - as seen with the last three finishes in England’s top-flight.
The Villans have qualified for a European competition in each of the last three campaigns, whilst looking increasingly likely to do the same again in 2025/26.
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Emery’s men currently sit six points clear of fifth-place side Chelsea, with their ability to secure another year of Champions League football now firmly in their own hands.
However, their time in the top-flight hasn’t been totally plain-sailing, with the hierarchy wasting huge funds on numerous players who ultimately failed to impress in the West Midlands.
After achieving promotion back to the Premier League, Aston Villa completed the £20m deal to land striker Wesley from Club Brugge in an attempt to bolster the frontline.
The Brazilian arrived with huge expectations, but was only able to score six times in his 22 appearances during 2019/20, with a serious knee injury halting his progress at Villa Park.
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He would make just four further appearances for the Villans, subsequently leaving in the summer of 2023 to join Stoke City, with the forward failing to appear in any match for the final two years of his stay.
Wesley isn’t the only player who’s moved to the West Midlands and failed to deliver, with central midfielder Morgan Sanson also falling into the category of failing to deliver.
The Frenchman cost a reported £14m back in the winter of 2021, but such a move was a disappointing one for the player, fanbase and the staff at Villa Park.
He spent three and a half years on the books, but his last 18 months were spent out on loan - only featuring in a total of 24 matches across all competitions in a two-year period.
Aston Villa's worst signing since Sanson
Since promotion back to the Premier League, Villa have spent upwards of £700m on new additions, with many of the arrivals helping the club in the present day.
Aston Villa record signings Related
Aston Villa's most expensive signings of all time
NSWE have splashed the cash in recent years.
However, their spending has often come back to bite them, which has led to numerous near-misses with the division’s strict Profit and Sustainability rules.
The club were fined last season for breaking UEFA’s spending rules, but the hierarchy accepted such a punishment in order to compete at the top-level of European football.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery-1
It remains to be seen how heavily the hierarchy would spend during the summer transfer window, especially given the funds splashed in the market over recent seasons.
However, they will have to remember some of the poor dealings conducted in recent years, with a move to land Leon Bailey undoubtedly one of their worst in recent years.
Leon Bailey for Aston Villa-1
Back in the summer of 2021, the hierarchy completed the £30m signing of the Jamaican international, with such a move generating huge excitement within the fanbase.
His first two years in the Premier League were largely unsuccessful, as seen by his combined tally of just 11 goals and assists in his 51 league outings between 2021 and 2023.
However, 2023/24 saw a tremendous upturn in form, which saw the 28-year-old notch 19 goal contributions in his 35 outings - helping the side achieve a top four finish in the Premier League.
He’s been unable to match such levels across recent seasons, even being shipped out on loan to join Italian side Roma last summer, with such a deal having an option to buy.
Aston Villa's Leon Bailey
Bailey has since returned to Villa Park after his unsuccessful spell in Serie A, with Emery even integrating him into the first-team ranks in recent weeks.
The winger started the game against Leeds on home soil last weekend, but massively failed to deliver, with Tim Sherwood labelling the forward as “non-existent”.
Leon Bailey - stats against Leeds
Statistics
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Pass accuracy
Chances created
Dribble success
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His underlying stats from such a showing further indicate his struggles, with the £30m spent on his signature now looking to be one of their worst additions in recent years.
There’s no denying he has a couple of months to save his career in the West Midlands, but all the signs highlight a cheap summer exit could be on the cards for the Jamaican.
Aston Villa's Leon Bailey in action with Celtic's Greg Taylor-1
Like Sanson, he’s ultimately failed to live up to the promise many expected after his transfer, with the club desperately needing to cut their losses at the next available opportunity.
Both players evidently struggled to adapt to the demands of England’s top-flight, with such a deal a stark reminder of the risks of spending big on unproven talents in the transfer window.
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Aston Villa's tremendous season is in danger of being consumed by an injury crisis.