Monchi is preparing Aston Villa to compete in Europe’s Champions League next season, having already signed five players this summer.
Improving the first team roster this summer will help Unai Emery to push the club to the next level in Europe while maintaining a spot in the top four of the Premier League table for the 2024/25 season.
It will be a challenging assignment, but if the Spaniard can recruit effectively for the balance of the transfer window, the team may be able to maintain its upward trajectory.
Could the Midlands side go to the Championship for their next possible signing? A current second-tier sensation is set to join Villa this summer.
Aston Villa eye Championship superstar
Last week, Football Insider reported that Villa may consider signing Leeds United’s Crysencio Summerville because to his impressive performances in the second division.
The Yorkshire club has slapped a startling £40 million price tag on their best asset in order to sell him this summer, which may deter some teams’ interest.
Liverpool, Crystal Palace, and Brighton are interested in the winger, while Paris Saint-Germain may consider signing him as a replacement for Kylian Mbappé.
After losing the playoff final last season, Summerville may choose to return to the Premier League rather than play another season in the Championship. This might give Emery a good chance of obtaining his signature, especially as they are also in the Champions League.
| Aston Villa’s summer signings so far | |
|---|---|
| Player | Club joined from |
| Lewis Dobbin | Everton |
| Ross Barkley | Luton Town |
| Ian Maatsen | Chelsea |
| Samuel Iling-Junior | Juventus |
| Enzo Barrenechea | Juventus |
| Via Transfermarkt | |
Could he be a better alternative to call on than Moussa Diaby? Following his club-record-breaking move in the summer, the former Bayer Leverkusen star struggled to find consistent playing time last season.
Moussa Diaby’s season in numbers
The Frenchman was one of the most intriguing transfer stories of the 2023 summer transfer window.Villa paid £51.9 million for Diaby from Leverkusen, demonstrating Emery’s clear vision for the club’s success this season.
With 97 goals in 172 games for the German side, the deal was considered one of the most remarkable by a Premier League side last year.
Diaby’s performances were inconsistent, with only ten goals and nine assists across all competitions.
During his first season in England, Diaby ranked fourth in shots per game (1.4), second in big chances missed (7), fourth in key passes per game (1.2), and fifth in successful dribbles per game (0.8). His statistics were solid but not spectacular.
He will be expected to hit the ground running at the start of the 2024/25 season, especially after spending a year adjusting to life in the Premier League.
If Emery does make a solid move for Summerville, is the Dutchman a better option on the flank than Diaby?
How Crysencio Summerville shone for Leeds
His positional versatility could be a huge advantage for the Midlands team. While he played the majority of last season on the left side, Summerville is equally capable of playing on the opposing flank if necessary.
In 49 outings for Elland Road, the 22-year-old scored 21 goals and provided ten assists, earning him the Championship Player of the Season award in April.
Last October, journalist Jake Winderman hailed his “world-class” abilities, indicating that he is a talented player who belongs in the Premier League.
Summerville had a significant impact on the club’s final third, ranking first in goals and assists (28), second in big chances created (17), first in key passes per game (2.6), and third in successful dribbles per game (2.3).
How Summerville could be an upgrade on Diaby
Summerville is in the top 4% of his positional peers in leagues similar to the Championship in terms of attacking penalty area touches per 90 (6.59), shot-creating actions per 90 (6.1), and progressive carries per 90 (5.04).
Diaby is in the top 18% of Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions (3.31), the top 27% for attacking penalty area touches (5.63), and the top 5% for progressive carries (3.89) per 90 compared to peers in his position.
While Diaby was compared to players in higher divisions, Summerville has excelled him in a variety of performance categories in recent months.
The Leeds jewel also has Premier League experience, which may be a significant benefit for Emery. Between 2021 and 2023, he played 34 top-flight games for Leeds, scoring four goals and assisting twice.
If he joins a club like Villa, where he should have plenty of chances in the starting lineup, he will be able to maintain his form, which has seen him emerge as one of the continent’s most fascinating wingers.
Spending £40 million on the player may be a chance, but it is one that Emery should be willing to take if he wants to improve his attacking options for next season.
It might pay off handsomely, since there is little question that the winger can only improve, perhaps increasing his worth with time.
The next several weeks will undoubtedly be an exciting period for Villa supporters.
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