The spring international break is done and dusted, and Aston Villa can now attack the final stretch of the season as they hunt down silverware and a ticket into next year's Champions League.
Form has faltered, but the Villa Park side are still in a strong position to finish in the top-five, which should be enough to seal a seat in Europe's elite competition.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery-1
While the current crop have a lot about them, Unai Emery is going to want to make a few attacking investments this summer, and one of them could be a move to sign Jadon Sancho on a permanent basis.
The latest on Sancho's Aston Villa future
Sancho, 25, has had quite the chequered career in English football, joining Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund for £71m in 2021. He was considered a generational talent, so exciting and purposeful on the ball.
But his time with the Red Devils yielded little success, and his loan with Chelsea last year left something to be desired.
Jadon Sancho for Aston Villa
This season, at Aston Villa, the right winger has enjoyed a valuable role in Emery's system, albeit only scoring twice and assisting two more goals besides.
He is a loanee, and though Emery would be interested in securing his signature for good after his contract at Old Trafford expires this summer, there might be better options out there, especially when considering the staggering wages he earns, in excess of £200k per week. Aston Villa currently pay 80% of that salary, and any permanent buy would have to come with significantly redued financial terms.
Aston Villa will need to sign a replacement should he leave, but the Premier League club may actually find they already have the perfect Sancho replacement, Emery having signed him this year.
Aston Villa have already signed Sancho replacement
Aston Villa have been looking for a precocious talent to emerge since Jhon Duran chased riches in Saudi Arabia in January 2025, and in winter signing Alysson, they might just have the perfect new attacker to shape the next phase under Emery's wing.
The teenager from Brazil joined for a £10.5m fee, leaving Gremio behind after asserting himself in his homeland, playing 41 times for the senior side.
Alysson comes across well. He is humble and personable, but with a hunger to succeed and prove himself in the Premier League.
He differs from Duran in that regard, the Colombian a maverick with a volatile nature. His career decisions over the past year speak of an emphasis on financial rewards over sporting achievements.
But he was undeniably brilliant for the Villans, bringing punch to Emery's attacking system.
Duran - Aston Villa Stats by Competition
Competition
Premier League
Conference League
Champions League
EFL Cup
FA Cup
The hope is now that Alysson could emulate that success - albeit from out on the right wing. The fleet-footed Brazilian is still developing physically, but he's been praised for his "pace and power" by his Lions teammates, impressing from the off.
Said to have a "similar profile" to Leon Bailey by correspondent John Townley, Alysson might not be the finished product but he has the potential to become a star in Emery's system, and his emergence might even ease fears over Sancho's probable departure.
alysson-aston-villa
A deal may yet be done, but Dortmund are indeed hot on the former prodigy's heels, looking to end his stint in English football that has been anything but prolific.
With Bailey now back at the club, maybe Emery will decide to keep him on the books next year, signing another experienced wideman who can aid Alysson and help him grow into the superstar that he has the potential to become.
Villa thought they had that player in Duran, but it didn't happen. However, Alysson has the character to succeed where the mercurial Colombian failed.
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Aston Villa are hoping to strengthen their midfield this summer.