Aston Villa transfer state of play – Unai Emery could eye these three improvements

Birmingham’s Aston Villa newsWatch live as Monchi, the club’s president of football operations, completes the January window schedule.

Only one point separates Aston Villa from first place over the Christmas break after an incredible first half of the 2023–24 campaign. Earlier this month, Unai Emery’s team also guaranteed their berth in the Europa Conference League final 16.

No team has collected more league victories than Villa this season, although only Manchester City has won more league games or points than Villa in 2023. Villa has solidified their spot in the top five ahead of the New Year with 39 points from 18 games.

Aston Villa have enjoyed a remarkable first half of the 2023/24 campaign as only one point separates them from top spot over Christmas, while Unai Emery’s side also secured their passage to the Europa Conference League last 16 earlier this month.

Only Manchester City have won more points or league games than Villa in 2023, but no side has claimed more league victories than Villa this term. Having collected 39 points in 18 matches, Villa have cemented their place in the top five ahead of the New Year.

Villa currently has a nine-point lead over the other teams in the top five heading into their Boxing Day trip to Old Trafford.

If they defeat Manchester United, they will have a 14-point lead over Erik ten Hag’s team.

Villa Park will welcome Burnley on December 30, two days prior to the formal opening of the January window, following their matchup with United. Villa has the chance to bolster Emery’s team for the second half of the season during the winter transfer window.

Emery will want to bolster his ranks as Villa looks to win the Europa Conference League this season in addition to a Champions League push.

“They [the club owners] are very ambitious and they are very excited,” Emery said when asked about the January window last week. “They are enjoying what we are doing. We have to be intelligent and smart.

“We have very good players in the squad and we have to manage some change and try to improve some positions. We are going to be very demanding because it is not easy to change something and improve.

“We have the possibility to do something. The owners are open to signing some players if we are convinced.”

One position where Villa might need to reinforce is at centre-back depending on Clement Lenglet’s future. The Barcelona loanee made his league debut for Villa in the draw against Sheffield United last time out and is attracting interest from clubs on the continent including AC Milan.

Contracted to Barcelona for another two-and-a-half years, Lenglet joined Villa on loan after Tyrone Mings suffered a long-term knee injury on the opening weekend of the season. He has made a total of six appearances for the club, five of which have come in the Europa Conference League.

When asked about Lenglet’s future, Emery responded, “I am very happy with him.” “It is incredible how dedicated he is to every training session. He is a skilled professional who is constantly prepared to play. He was ill during the previous matches. He was in Zrinjski with us.

“At Brentford, he improved somewhat but remained somewhat sickly. If other players felt the same way he did, they might not be on the team. We need players for the challenges we will face this season, so I want to keep him.”

Villa is willing to cut players elsewhere if the correct offers are made, but they do not want to lose Lenglet.

“We are also trying to work out how we can manage some players leaving the squad,” Emery said. “We are going to analyse each situation with the players we have in the squad and with the players we can maybe get.”

Leander Dendoncker’s future is uncertain at Villa, while Tim Iroegbunam could also depart on loan or permanently with the

possibility of a buy-back clause inserted in a deal as he is yet to feature this term. Villa will be light in midfield if both players

leave next month and a holding midfielder could be targeted given Boubacar Kamara would be the only defensively minded player Emery can count on.

Villa has plenty of attacking quality on hand, even though the team is keeping an eye on a few forwards and contemplated

adding another attacker in the summer. Villa is interested in two players: Crysencio Summerville of Leeds and Geny Catamo

of Sporting, although Emery’s team is thin elsewhere.

Since Matty Cash has frequently been replaced by Ezri Konsa to form a back three, Villa did not sign a right-back during the

summer transfer window. However, Emery wouldn’t have a natural right-back to choose from to replace Cash if he were to

receive a suspension or an injury and would have to play three center backs.

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