The Spaniard is eager to build on the success of this season.
Donyell Malen’s permanent move to Roma was the first domino to fall in what is poised to be another big summer at Villa.
The World Cup, which kicks off just a fortnight from now, will likely make the market slow going in the early stages for every club.
But in the short-term, here is what sits in Unai Emery’s in-tray as he looks to build on one of the best seasons in Villa’s history.
Douglas Luiz decision
Villa have the option to buy Luiz back from Juventus for £23million, two years after they sold him to the Italian club for nearly double and Emery will decide whether to trigger the clause soon.
The Spaniard commits everything to the season and it is only now he will turn attention to what comes next.
Luiz returned to Villa on loan in January after the club suffered the triple injury blow of losing Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans and John McGinn.
Douglas Luiz.placeholder image
Douglas Luiz. | PA
But after starting the first six Premier League matches following his return he was dropped and was not recalled to the top flight line-up until the final day win at Manchester City, effectively a dead rubber.
When Amadou Onana went down with injury in late April, Emery instead turned to Lamare Bogarde and then defender Victor Lindelof to fill the void.
Luiz is keen to stay at Villa and having made 200 appearances in his first stint with the club, joining immediately after promotion and leaving with Champions League qualification secured, his part in their renaissance is secure.
Yet whether, at 28, he is capable of getting back to former glories is what Emery must now decide.
New contracts
While Villa’s recruitment last summer has rightly been the subject of scrutiny, the club did rather better when it came to keeping key players on board.
Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne and perhaps most crucially of all, Boubacar Kamara, all signed new deals during the transfer window with Morgan Rogers, John McGinn and Matty Cash also agreeing new terms before Christmas.
The belief shown by Emery and his staff in the existing squad has reaped huge dividends and is what director of football Damian Vidagany meant when he last month told supporters not to pay “too much importance” to the window.
“Sometimes it is much more important to keep a culture,” he explained.
Ezri Konsa and Youri Tielemans, who both have two years remaining on their contract, are at the top of the list for talks over new deals along with Pau Torres.
Villa will also speak to Emi Buendia, undoubtedly one of the stars of the campaign, who has just 12 months remaining.
Bring in some youth
Villa’s success this season has been proof there is nothing wrong with experience.
The average age of their squad was the second eldest in the Premier League behind Fulham, while Emery named the oldest Villa XI since 2001 for last month’s 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest.
Despite the “old guard” continuing to deliver, there is a recognition the squad needs to evolve and a key focus this summer will be on signing younger players with big potential, an area of expertise for the club’s still relatively new president of football operations, Roberto Olabe.
Ibrahim Mbaye.placeholder image
Ibrahim Mbaye. | AFP via Getty Images
Villa won’t shy away from signing older players who might be considered to be approaching their peak, with Harvey Barnes and Harry Wilson, the latter due to be a free agent, both on their shortlist.
But there will generally be a pivot toward youth with Paris Saint-Germain teenager Ibrahim Mbaye a long-term target.
Young Brazilian winger, Alysson, a £10m January signing, will also be given the chance to show what he can do in pre-season following an injury-hit first few months at the club.
Continue Reading