England's Morgan Rogers arrives at the stadium before the match
Despite securing European football once again for the current season, Aston Villa have suffered massively from the division’s financial rules and have been forced to sell heavily in the market.
Unai Emery has seen his senior ranks completely dismantled, with the heart of his first-team squad torn apart to help satisfy the division’s rules.
The likes of Ollie Watkins and Youri Tielemans were two of the most high-profile departures, with the pair undoubtedly a key part of their ability to secure success under the Spaniard.
Ollie-Watkins-Aston-Villa
However, the sale of one player has proven to be the biggest blow to date, with the manager unable to replace his talents within attacking areas during 2026/27.
How Emery has got it all wrong replacing Rogers
Villa’s biggest sale came after winger Morgan Rogers decided to leave Villa Park in favour of a £117m move to join fellow Premier League outfit, Chelsea.
The Englishman was one of the manager’s key components during the previous season, subsequently registering 25 combined goals and assists - helping the club claim Europa League glory.
Morgan-Rogers-Villa
However, losing the 24-year-old is a bigger blow than many anticipated, with the Villans’ attack only scoring four times in their first five games of the campaign.
Youngster George Hemmings has been tasked with replacing his compatriot off the left-hand side of the attack, but has so far failed to register a single goal this campaign.
Alejandro Garnacho was brought in to help soften the blow of the Englishman’s departure, but the Argentine has been unable to dislodge the youngster from his starting role.
||
|PL mins for Villa forwards (2026/27)|
|Player|PL minutes|
|---|
|Emi Buendía|401|
|Nicolas Jackson|289|
|Alysson Edward|87|
|Tammy Abraham|71|
|Ibrahim Mbaye|33|
|Alejandro Garnacho|31|
He’s featured for just 31 minutes of the Premier League campaign to date, with the manager clearly not having faith in the former Manchester United man to provide the goods.
Why Emery has his Rogers replacement on the bench
There’s no denying that Emery has made Villa into the force they are today, but at times, his team selections have been called into question by supporters.
Injuries have undoubtedly made his senior ranks weaker during the opening stages of the current campaign, but he’s certainly not covered himself in glory.
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The continued selection of Hemmings is just one issue which has been raised, especially with new addition Ibrahim Mbaye available to him after his summer move.
The Villans secured the Senegalese star’s signature from PSG for a reported £47m, but it’s safe to say his early days in the West Midlands have been far from smooth.
He’s only made two substitute appearances in the Premier League to date, subsequently featuring for a total of 33 minutes - showcasing the lack of action he’s amassed.
REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
Emery has often decided to leave the 18-year-old on the bench, but it’s clear he’s the perfect player to replace Rogers after his big-money transfer during the summer.
His stats from his final season in France showcase his quality within attacking areas and highlight why the manager needs to hand him a chance to fill the boots of the £117m man.
Mbaye managed to create a staggering 1.8 chances per 90 in Ligue 1 last campaign, subsequently placing him in the top 25% of all attackers in Europe’s top-five leagues.
Such a figure showcases his remarkable ability to provide the goods for those within attacking areas, just as Rogers did during his time in the West Midlands.
He also managed to complete 1.9 successful dribbles per 90 last campaign, with the teenager able to glide past the opposition with ease when in full flow.
The Englishman was also able to do exactly that during his own period at Villa Park, but Mbaye could provide the quality needed if Emery hands him the opportunity to shine.
Reuters/Paul Childs
Undoubtedly, expectations will need to be lowered due to the lack of minutes at present, but things could soon change if the manager unleashes the Senegalese star.
He has all the tools needed to be a success in the Premier League, with the club seemingly having the perfect player to provide the goods for Emery’s men in England’s top-flight.
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