Unai Emery has worked miracles since he arrived at Aston Villa, but a looming squad rebuild could be his toughest challenge yet.
The Villans knew a number of major sales would be required this summer to avoid falling foul of UEFA’s financial restrictions.
Those gloomy skies now appear to have mostly parted following the imminent £117million departure of Morgan Rogers to Chelsea, which will make him the most expensive British player of all-time.
Given Rogers was signed for an initial £8m from Middlesbrough in January 2024, the England international represents arguably Villa’s greatest bit of business in history.
Rogers isn’t the only big name to farewell Villa Park this summer, with midfield ace Youri Tielemans joining Manchester United for £35m while Lucas Digne is bound for European champions Paris Saint-Germain for £8m.
The £9m sale of Lewis Dobbin to Southampton has also helped Villa’s financial picture.
In total, the four departures will generate nearly £170m in funds.
More exits could yet follow, with Hull City in talks to sign winger Leon Bailey.
Given the swathe of departures coupled with Jadon Sancho, Douglas Luiz and Harvey Elliott all returning to their parent clubs after their respective loan spells ended, it leaves Villa and Emery needing some fresh faces through the door.
There’s also the added complication of Amadou Onana sustaining an ACL injury during Belgium’s round of 16 win over the United States at the World Cup, which means he is not expected to return until 2027.
So, how will Emery’s Villa line up for the new season?
Here, talkSPORT.com predicts who the Spaniard will lean on the most as they look to juggle a Premier League and Champions League campaign once more.
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Goalkeeper
There isn’t any question over who is Villa’s first choice between the sticks.
Emiliano Martinez has been Villa’s undisputed No. 1 and will be just that once again, even if Juventus tried to prise him away from Villa Park.
The Italian giants made their interest well known but a move was shot down by Villa’s director of football operations Damian Vidagany, who told 365 Scores: “The goalkeeper’s future is settled, he is staying with us, and we have no intention of letting him go this summer.”
Defenders
Villa’s defence has largely remained the same throughout Emery’s tenure.
Matty Cash is Villa’s first choice right-back, although he may soon have competition for the spot from Emerson Royal.
The former Spurs defender is of interest to Villa, although the club is struggling to agree a fee with Flamengo.
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Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa’s partnership in central defence doesn’t look like being broken in the immediate future, although the Spaniard has revealed he plans to leave at the end of his contract in two years’ time and return to boyhood club Villarreal.
The main intrigue here is at left-back, which was predominantly occupied by Digne.
Ian Maatsen is the logical replacement given he is already on Villa’s books and started 25 games across all competitions last term compared to Digne’s 31 starts.
Villa look set to replenish their left-back stocks with former Brighton defender Pervis Estupinan, but he appears unlikely, at least for now, to slot right in to the starting line-up.
Midfield
Tielemans’ departure has left a gaping hole in the heart of Villa’s midfield, which has since been exacerbated by Onana’s ACL injury.
Luckily for Villa, Boubacar Kamara has returned from a torn PCL, which he sustained in January.
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When fit, Kamara is one of the first names on the team sheet and that doesn’t look like changing any time soon.
A defensive midfielder by trade, the fact Kamara has taken the No. 8 shirt vacated by Tielemans could be a clue the Frenchman is set to enjoy more of a ball-playing role.
The real intrigue is who will line up next to Kamara in the middle.
Joao Gomes, a recent £35m acquisition from Wolves, is the likely choice.
The Brazilian is an all-action midfielder, although his specialty lies with his defensive work.
Last season for Wolves, Gomes won 226 duels, the second-most among Premier League midfielders, with only Elliot Anderson boasting more.
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Gomes also made the third-most tackles (107), behind James Garner (120) and Joao Palhinha (110), who Villa are hoping to sign on loan.
With Kamara’s potential new role in mind, Gomes could act as Emery’s midfield pitbull.
Although the central midfield places might not be up for grabs, there’s question marks over who will be stationed on the left.
Emiliano Buendia was Emery’s main man for the position last season and produced arguably the best form of his career, culminating with a sensational goal in the Europa League final.
However, at age 29 and not exactly blessed with blistering pace, Buendia is not the long-term answer for Villa in the position.
Villa were interested in West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville as well as Paris Saint-Germain youngster Ibrahim Mbaye.
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Although it looks like Alejandro Garnacho is the winger who will come through the door, as Villa have agreed a loan deal with an obligation to buy the Chelsea forward.
Summerville, meanwhile, looks set to join Al Hilal after the Saudi club gazumped Roma, with Villa no longer in the picture.
However, Mbaye is only 18 and has been tipped to become a serious star, meaning Villa may need to make a move for him now or else risk missing out for good.
Keeping in mind that this exercise is only a prediction, Garnacho appears to tick the most boxes, especially when it comes to the finances involved and adding some much-needed pace into the line-up, a quality Emery craves.
With Garnacho’s mooted arrival, that leaves Villa skipper John McGinn free to retain his spot on the right side of midfield.
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As for the attacking midfield position, club record signing Johan Manzambi slots in as Morgan Rogers’ replacement.
Following a standout season with Freiburg, Manzambi continued the momentum with a breakout World Cup for Switzerland.
At 20, Manzambi is capable of playing all types of central midfield roles and was even used as a second striker for Freiburg on multiple occasions.
Striker
Ollie Watkins is Villa’s main man up front and that does not look like changing just yet.
The 30-year-old has netted double figures for Villa in every Premier League season since he joined.
In fact, Watkins has scored 15 or more goals in the last four league campaigns.
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Yet Watkins could find himself with additional competition as Villa were also offered Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, who is valued at £65m.
Emery previously worked with Jackson at Villarreal and remains an admirer of the forward, who spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich.
With Watkins’ contract running through to June 2028, Villa may be tempted to begin a succession plan sooner than later.
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