Aston Villa has been very active in the transfer market, but with the transfer window entering its final days, the club still has significant work to do. They might lose striker Watkins, who is currently being pursued by Al-Hilal. If Watkins leaves, Villa will certainly look for a replacement. In addition, the team needs to strengthen its defense, and the impact of financial regulations still looms over the club. After a disappointing 0-4 defeat to Brighton on the opening day, how much confidence does head coach Emery really have? To answer these questions and more, journalist Jacob Tanswell held a Q&A with users today.
Here is a curated and edited selection of the content:
What's the situation with Mateta, Jackson, and Leão? What are the plans for the defense?
Jacob: If Watkins leaves, Villa has multiple options, and this increasingly seems likely. Villa is also willing to listen to offers for Abraham, and if he also leaves, the team's forward options could become very limited.
Villa and Emery have always wanted to sign Jackson, and the Chelsea striker could be a very suitable candidate.
The team is currently pursuing multiple targets. Leão could leave Milan, and David Ornstein revealed that Villa had previously bid for Mateta from Crystal Palace, but it was rejected.
Will Villa try to sign a right winger before the transfer deadline?
Jacob: The situation is very complex at the moment. I don't want to simply avoid the question, but I've heard conflicting reports. Some sources believe that Villa will bring in a traditional winger; others think they will opt for a more versatile attacker. If I had to make a judgment, I think they will ultimately sign a winger or wide attacker, but bringing in a more central attacking midfielder cannot be ruled out.
Do you know how much financial leeway Villa still has this summer, without considering further player sales?
Jacob: Villa believes it complies with UEFA financial regulations, which is crucial. When they submit their Champions League squad list, UEFA requires the team's A list to show a positive balance. In other words, the transfer fees the team pays for newly registered players must be lower than the transfer income generated from selling departing players.
Villa's loan signing of Wan-Bissaka, free transfer of Goretzka, and pursuit of Club Brugge defender Odonne Onwu (on loan with a mandatory purchase option) all indicate they are creating space to invest in attack.
Given the financial constraints and the departure of some key players, is there concern about Emery's future?
Jacob: Emery was very enthusiastic coming into this summer. When the club informed him that the team needed to sell players, he embraced this new era. He was satisfied with the recruitment work but was surprised by the sheer scale of changes to the squad. He enjoys new challenges and relishes leading the team into this new phase. There are currently no signs that his motivation or commitment are problematic.
Any updates on Bailey or E. Martínez leaving? How are Majeed and Manzanbi recovering from injury?
Jacob: Bailey has been training separately, and the club wants him to find a new team, but his future remains unclear. The obstacle is not Villa, but his representatives' unwillingness to accept a pay cut.
As for Martínez, he is still waiting. The team has explored some overseas opportunities, but there has been no substantial progress yet. Manzanbi and Majeed are expected to return in a few weeks.
Watkins wanted to return early for the UEFA Super Cup but then didn't play against Brighton. What happened?
Jacob: That's a very good question, and I'm still puzzled by it. Villa knew about Al-Hilal's interest in Watkins a month and a half ago, and every time contact was made, Villa explicitly stated they would not consider selling him. After the match against Paris Saint-Germain, Emery might have thought Watkins would return to the team, the Saudi interest would fade, and Watkins would once again be the player he had worked with for nearly four years. But apparently, things did not go that way.
What's your gut feeling—will Watkins stay or leave? If he leaves, who would you most like to see replace him?
Jacob: My feeling is that he will leave. Jackson or Balogun would be ideal replacements.
Is an Abraham transfer still possible?
Jacob: Yes, it's still possible. We've been reporting all summer that Villa is willing to listen to offers for Abraham, and other Premier League clubs have included him on their list of striker targets. However, where he ranks on these teams' transfer priorities remains to be seen.
Do you feel Villa lacks a clear transfer strategy, or do you think there's a bigger plan behind the scenes?
Jacob: I've been discussing this issue for a long time, and this summer window might be the most evident example of it. Villa did have a plan before the window opened, but they quickly adjusted it afterwards. Financial constraints influence their thinking, player sales also change plans, and the scale of personnel changes has even surprised Emery. However, the head coach can reassess positional needs and target players. Furthermore, Villa is more willing than most teams to seize market opportunities—for example, players like Garnacho and Leão.
What are Alisson's current plans?
Jacob: Villa's physiotherapy team specifically worked with him this summer to help him recover from injury. The team has not discussed the possibility of loaning him out. Therefore, the 20-year-old is expected to be part of the first-team squad.
What are your current expectations for Villa? I've been optimistic before, but now I'm starting to worry the team has too much work to do.
Jacob: After the international break, Villa's squad will look completely different, and they will have an exciting new core to the team.
But now is indeed a very unpredictable and uncertain period.
Does the club intend to keep George Hemmings, or loan him out?
Jacob: At the start of the season, Villa had made it clear they wanted to keep the 19-year-old Hemmings and might even decide on a loan move in the final stages of the transfer window. But given his appearance against Brighton and impressive performance, it now seems more likely he will remain with the team.
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