Aston Villa can solve two transfer puzzles with Lille double deal

Aston Villa Eye Squad Reinforcements as Unai Emery Plots Summer Reshuffle Amid Financial Challenges

 

Aston Villa are expected to make several key additions to Unai Emery’s squad this summer, as the club looks to build on last season’s success while simultaneously navigating the restrictions imposed by UEFA’s financial regulations.

 

Although Emery has identified specific areas in need of reinforcement, Villa are treading a fine line financially. The club plans to raise transfer funds through player sales, but they are not entertaining the idea of a widespread clear-out of their top performers. This strategy comes in light of recent sanctions from UEFA after Villa were found to have breached financial sustainability rules—most notably recording a squad cost ratio exceeding 80% during the 2024 financial year.

 

As a consequence, Villa were fined €11 million and are now subject to limitations regarding new player registrations in European competitions. In particular, the club can only add players to their Europa League squad if they maintain a positive ‘List A’ transfer balance. This essentially means the financial value of incoming players must not surpass the cost savings made from those departing the List A squad.

 

Despite these restrictions, there is a quiet confidence within the club that these rules won’t pose a significant obstacle. Instead, the leadership at Villa Park is focused on recalibrating the wage structure and trimming the squad in areas where depth can be managed more effectively.

 

So far, that effort has seen some early movement. Veteran midfielder Philippe Coutinho has completed a permanent transfer to Vasco da Gama in Brazil, which has significantly eased the wage bill. Goalkeeper Robin Olsen and defender Kortney Hause also exited the club after their contracts expired, contributing further to this restructuring.

 

But more exits are on the horizon. Aston Villa are expected to entertain offers for several fringe players including Emi Buendía, Kosta Nedeljković, Leander Dendoncker, and Alex Moreno. Talented winger Louie Barry, once tipped for a breakthrough, is also among those likely to move on. His departure follows that of fellow academy product Kaine Kesler-Hayden, marking a generational shift in the club’s development strategy.

 

In addition, the club must make decisions regarding the futures of Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea, who both joined from Juventus as part of earlier deals. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether either player fits into Emery’s long-term vision.

 

Further significant departures could come from the first-team core. World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emi Martínez and experienced left-back Lucas Digne are two of the highest earners at the club and could be sold to balance the books. Digne, entering the final year of his contract, represents a logical candidate for a transfer. Martínez, meanwhile, is approaching his 33rd birthday and is said to be open to a fresh challenge elsewhere.

 

Attacker Leon Bailey is another player expected to leave Villa this summer. Although the club signed Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund during the January window, he operates more centrally and is not a direct replacement for Bailey, whose pace and width have been crucial to Emery’s tactical setup.

 

Recognising the importance of squad depth, particularly with European competition on the calendar, Emery is determined to have at least two quality players per position. Therefore, if Bailey is sold, a new right-sided winger will be essential.

 

One of the more intriguing names linked with Villa is Lille’s Edon Zhegrova. The Kosovan winger has been on the club’s radar, and given Lille’s financial position, a deal appears very attainable. Lille president Olivier Létang recently confirmed that Zhegrova is set to leave this summer.

 

“Edon has expressed his wish to leave,” said Létang. “It doesn’t seem appropriate to keep him with only one year left on his contract, especially considering the current economic climate in French football. We’re preparing for his departure.”

 

Zhegrova, 26, had a productive 2023/24 campaign, notching 22 goal contributions across 47 matches in all competitions. His performances included a standout display at Villa Park in the Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg. Though an adductor injury sidelined him for the second leg in France, he played a key role in helping Lille secure Champions League qualification.

 

The winger had a particularly bright start to the Ligue 1 season, scoring four goals in his first 10 appearances. Although injuries limited his impact in the latter half of the campaign, Zhegrova still contributed in Europe, scoring once and assisting once during Lille’s Champions League group stage matches.

 

With Zhegrova seemingly on his way out of Lille, he could prove to be an ideal addition to Emery’s squad—technically gifted, tactically versatile, and still relatively young.

 

Meanwhile, Villa are also thought to have interest in Zhegrova’s teammate, goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier. Valued at approximately £40 million, the 23-year-old is widely regarded as one of the most promising goalkeepers in Ligue 1 and is being tipped as a future France number one. Should Emi Martínez depart, Chevalier would not only be a high-quality successor but also help lower the average age of the starting lineup and reduce the wage bill further.

 

Ultimately, this summer’s transfer window will be a balancing act for Aston Villa. While the club remains ambitious on the pitch and determined to compete in Europe, they must operate with greater financial caution off it. Emery’s challenge will be to refresh his squad without compromising its competitiveness—and if early activity is anything to go by, Villa are prepared to do exactly that.