Comments have been made throughout the season about Aston Villa's overperformance, but with less than two months of the domestic campaign remaining, Unai Emery's side are in a strong position to qualify for the Champions League and win European silverware.
Villa might not be as fluent and sharp as they were at the start of the campaign, but they are no less dramatic, and still on for a grand-slam finish, Emery eyeing the continental trophy he loves so much.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery during the match
The March international break has perhaps come at a good time for the Villans. While they have enjoyed a recent turnaround in form, there's been a real risk of burnout, and now, Aston Villa can charge full throttle at the final stages of the campaign, setting themselves in good standing to attack the summer transfer window.
Aston Villa's summer transfer plans
Aston Villa need to make changes this summer, no matter the outcome of the football. While talk of overperformance has been distorted, they could improve in attack, and one player in NSWE's sights is Jadon Sancho, on loan at Villa Park and out of contract at Manchester United this summer. Borussia Dortmund are keen on the flashy winger.
Marcus Rashford has also emerged as a candidate, but Emery is keen on strengthening across deeper areas of the field to build fluidity and still develop the club's attacking structure.
A number of positions have been earmarked, and Aston Villa need to show ambition and sign top talents to convince superstars like Morgan Rogers to stay put. The England international is attracting interest from the likes of Arsenal.
According to reports from earlier this week, Aston Villa are hoping to show that aforementioned ambition by signing Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde, who is also coveted by the Premier League's Manchester giants.
alejandro-balde-barcelona
Aledandro Balde for Barcelona.
All three clubs are said to have initiated contact with La Blaugrana, and while Balde, 22, has been Hansi Flick's first-choice option this season, the English sides' financial power may hold sway, with Villa and their rivals aware that a 'substantial offer' could change the Spaniards' stance.
Caught Offside have relayed reports suggesting the Spain international could command a £60m fee.
Why Balde could become Emery's main man
Full-backs are often considered to be supplementary players, adjuncts to a central system. Sort of like external batteries, charging the attack and fuelling defensive efforts.
But Balde has the quality to be one of Aston Villa's superstars, maybe even coming to outstrip Rogers, who is arguably the side's new talisman now that Ollie Watkins' powers are waning.
Aston Villa: Most G/A under Emery
Player
Ollie Watkins
Morgan Rogers
John McGinn
Leon Bailey
Douglas Luiz
Rogers can play across the line and thrives when carrying the ball into the danger area, striking on goal, creating for his teammates and confusing opponents with direct, tricksy attacking play.
Effortlessly talented, Balde is a dangerous dribbler with fleet feet and crisp passing. He is a more-than-able defender too. In La Liga this term, he has completed 92% of his passes and won 60% of his duels.
Rogers is now one of the Premier League's biggest stars, but it's important to remember that Villa spied a shrewd deal when signing him from Middlesbrough in the Championship, and Emery has shaped him into a star.
Balde would arrive with a larger weight of expectation, in fairness, having graduated from La Masia and settled into a Barcelona side who are top of the Spanish top flight and into the last eight of the Champions League.
alejandro balde
In Lucas Digne and Ian Maatsen, the Villa do have options, but Digne is getting old and Maatsen ebbs and flows. Last year, analyst Raj Chohan remarked that he "looks like a mess defending in a back four".
You would think that Aston Villa would present a much stronger proposal to Balde if they have a seat at Europe's elite table next season, and while this bid hangs on a knife edge, they still have two potential routes into the Champions League.
Morgan Rogers for Aston Villa
Players like Rogers will get them there, but if the Villans sign Balde, they may well reach a whole different level.
Jadon Sancho for Aston Villa Related
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Aston Villa plan to qualify for the Champions League and draw a number of elite talents to Vills Park.