Aston Villa hit the jackpot selling Smith flop who earned more than..

Unai Emery’s successful tenure at Aston Villa has resulted in a surprising semi-final exit from the Europa Conference League.

Villa are on track to finish in the top four for the first time since 1995/96 under Brian Little. However, a late resurgence from Tottenham Hotspur, who have lost four consecutive Premier League games, could derail their progress.

Much of the screaming Lions fans would love to win a cup competition, but Emery’s team faces a significant threat from Greek side Olympiacos after losing 4-2 at Villa Park in the first leg last Thursday.

Although the team is showing signs of wear and tear from a high-intensity campaign, there is still much to fight for and celebrate. Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey, in particular, are supercharging the pursuit of something greater, providing hope at the end of a dark tunnel.

Bailey and Watkins’ performances this season

Watkins and Bailey have created one of the Premier League’s most lethal pairings this season, with the former’s tremendous attacking threat combining with Bailey’s explosive skill set to put the initial criticism of his bad performances to rest.

Villa signed Bailey from Bayer Leverkusen for £25 million in 2021. However, he struggled under Emery’s leadership last year, with only four goals and four assists in the 2022/23 Premier League season, according to journalist Ashley Preece.

The 26-year-old is a key player for Villans, scoring 14 goals and assisting 14 in all competitions this season. Journalist Bence Bocsak has commended him for his “special” skills.

He’s been terrific, but he hasn’t been as good as Watkins, whose incredible attacking prowess has been critical to his team’s rise and rise under Emery, with the club now headed for a Champions League appearance after many, many years away from Europe’s elite.

According to FBref, the Three Lions wonder ranks among the top 19% of center-forwards in Europe’s top five leagues for goals and among the top 4% for assists per 90, making him “virtually unplayable” according to The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell.

Villa fans have been fortunate to witness two of the Premier League’s best forwards this season, week after week. Emery has done a lot of things right since taking over for Steven Gerrard in the dugout in 2022, but there may be no greater accomplishment than moving a certain forward along quickly.

Danny Ings did not have the anticipated impact at Aston Villa, but his sale allowed Bailey and Watkins to ascend to their present levels of brilliance.

Why Aston Villa signed Danny Ings

Ings was a popular name in England during a spectacular period at Southampton, hitting 46 goals and giving ten assists across 100 matches. Reporter Joe Prince-Wright described him as a “goal machine” during his time there.

Ings, a Premier League-proven scorer with a commanding presence in the final third, was just what Aston Villa needed. Dean Smith forged forward with a contract to sign the three-cap England international for a cost of £25 million in August 2021.

West Ham United made a £15 million offer for Ings, recognising the potential of players like Watkins and Bailey. The Spanish manager also added Jhon Duran, a teenager from Colorado Rapids, for £18 million at the same time.

Aston Villa: Top Earners 2022/23
#	Player	Salary
1.	Boubacar Kamara	£150k-per-week
2.	Philippe Coutinho	£125k-per-week
3.	Danny Ings	£120k-per-week
3.	Emiliano Martinez	£120k-per-week
3.	Lucas Digne	£120k-per-week
3.	John McGinn	£120k-per-week
7.	Leon Bailey	£100k-per-week
7.	Diego Carlos	£100k-per-week
7.	Tyrone Mings	£100k-per-week
Salaries sourced via Capology

Emery deemed Ings expendable due to injuries and a lack of clinical prominence at Villa Park.

It’s difficult to argue that the 52-year-old was foolish to take such a risk; just look at how far the team has come since then.

Despite earning more than Bailey and Watkins (£75k per week), Ings has only scored four goals in 50 matches for West Ham, demonstrating a lack of his previous style and swagger.

Recent rumours indicate that the Hammers have transfer-listed the striker for £6.5 million, highlighting their achievement in recouping £15 million for his services by 2023.

It may not have been the most profitable of sales – remember, Villa lost money on Ings – but considering his current situation, it’s a good thing Emery and his team moved quickly to ship him in before the rot spread.

It was a key moment, but it paid off, as the outfit’s free-flowing attack reaped the benefits.

Aston Villa hit the jackpot selling Smith flop who earned more than Bailey & Watkins

Bailey and Watkins’ performances this season

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