Three new Aston Villa signings could have the perfect welcome gift this summer
Aston Villa’s Summer Transfer Plans Heat Up Amid Financial Challenges
The summer transfer window is now in full swing, and Aston Villa are preparing for a pivotal period of squad reshaping under manager Unai Emery. The club is targeting several key areas to reinforce, including bolstering the defense and adding fresh attacking options.
Villa’s plans to strengthen the squad come at a time when financial constraints under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) are having a significant impact. These regulations limit how much clubs can invest without breaching financial guidelines, making smart recruitment and asset management crucial.
Complicating matters further, Villa missed out on qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League, a blow that comes with a substantial loss of potential income. That shortfall means the club may need to generate funds through player sales or other creative financial maneuvers in order to stay compliant with PSR while still remaining competitive on the pitch.
A key point of contention is a loophole in Premier League regulations that permits clubs to sell assets to associated or “sister” companies to help balance their books. While this workaround has been used by several clubs, UEFA maintains a stricter stance, refusing to recognize such intra-company sales as legitimate income under its financial rules. For Villa, this could mean selling a stake in their women’s team — a controversial option — though doing so would only assist under Premier League rules, not in Europe.
In addition to PSR, Villa must also consider UEFA’s squad cost regulations. Fortunately, the club’s revenue-to-wage ratio remains in decent shape, thanks in large part to the windfall earned from reaching the quarter-finals of last season’s Champions League. That cash injection has helped provide some breathing room, but not enough to avoid hard decisions.
Looking at squad needs, Emery is aiming to bring in reinforcements across several positions. A new centre-back and right-back are high priorities, along with a winger to increase attacking depth. Additionally, the manager is eager to recruit a promising young striker to support — and potentially compete with — Ollie Watkins, who is currently the only recognised number nine in the squad.
There’s also a possibility that Villa will pursue a permanent deal for Marco Asensio, who has impressed during his time with the team. Elsewhere, the goalkeeping department is under review, especially following the departure of Robin Olsen at the end of his contract.
Further uncertainty surrounds Emiliano “Emi” Martinez, the club’s first-choice goalkeeper and a key figure in recent campaigns. He has attracted interest from top clubs such as Atletico Madrid and Manchester United. Should Martinez move on this summer, Villa would need to secure a new starting goalkeeper — and that individual could inherit the symbolic number one shirt, which has been vacant since Martinez switched to wearing 23 last season.
Squad numbers could see other changes too. With Robin Olsen gone and Martinez potentially departing, the number one and 25 shirts are currently available. Two more iconic numbers may also open up during the transfer window. Marcus Rashford briefly wore the number nine shirt while on loan at Villa, but he has now returned to Manchester United and is actively exploring a move elsewhere. Meanwhile, the number 10 jersey, previously worn by Emi Buendia, may soon be freed up.
Buendia spent the second half of the previous season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, but the German club opted not to activate the £17 million option to make the deal permanent. Villa are now exploring options for the Argentine playmaker, who could depart on either a temporary or permanent basis before the new season begins.
In all, this summer is shaping up to be a defining period for Aston Villa. With a complex balancing act between financial constraints and competitive ambition, Unai Emery and the club’s recruitment team face a challenging but critical few months ahead.