Villa Park could bid farewell to a number of Aston Villa players this evening, as Unai Emery’s side prepares to play their final home fixture of 2023/24.
Liverpool provide the final test at Villa Park of the 2023/24 campaign, as Aston Villa will be eyeing three points to all but confirm a fourth-place finish.
With the disappointment of Thursday’s Europa Conference League semi-final defeat still fresh, Unai Emery will be eager to see his team redeem themselves against the Reds this evening, in what will be a thriller in Birmingham.
While the home support will celebrate the remarkable achievements of Villa this season, it may also be a chance for the fans to bid farewell to a number of players, with a handful of Emery’s current squad having their future speculated over ahead of the summer.
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Here are five Aston Villa players who could play their final game at Villa Park this evening.
Five Aston Villa players who could play their final game at Villa Park against Liverpool
While a few players are expected to leave on the basis of loan spells and falling down the pecking order under Emery, there could also be some surprising exits to generate profit and control the current wage bill.
Lucas Digne
One player who could depart to save on wage costs is Lucas Digne, who has become a key figure in Emery’s side this season.
The trusted left-back has made 31 Premier League appearances this term, despite talk of him leaving last summer to join OGC Nice on loan.
Instead, the Frenchman has shown his worth in the position although, his hefty wage bill and contract situation point to a possible exit.
Earning £120k-a-week at Villa, seeing the former Everton defender depart could free up a significant sum in wages, with his contract running until 2026, allowing the Midlands club to perhaps receive a fair fee for his services.
Nicolo Zaniolo
After arriving in the summer on a season-long loan from Galatasaray, there is still no clarity on the future of Nicolo Zaniolo however, the Italian is likely to depart after failing to make an impact at Villa.
In 24 Premier League appearances, the forward, who has been used sporadically by Emery, has netted just two goals, not showing the level required to warrant his move being made permanent although, nothing has been confirmed yet.
Last week, Zaniolo’s agent gave an interesting update about the 24-year-old’s stance at Villa, with his future movements something to follow ahead of the end of the season.
Clement Lenglet
In a similar boat is Clement Lenglet, who arrived at Villa Park on loan from Barcelona in the summer.
The Frenchman has made more of an impact than Zaniolo, showing his experience at centre-back particularly in the Europa Conference League, however, like the Italian, his future is still uncertain.
It’s clear that Barcelona want to cash in on the 28-year-old in the summer, but unclear whether Villa will be the club to pay to acquire the former Spurs loanee on a permanent basis.
Calum Chambers
One player who looks certain to leave Villa this summer is Calum Chambers, who has made three appearances in the Premier League this season.
Emery ‘decided’ that he wanted the former Arsenal defender to leave last summer and in January however, the Englishman stayed, with the upcoming transfer window surely the time to cash in on the outsider.
Entering the final year of his contract at Villa, the 29-year-old will almost certainly be offloaded in the window to avoid the scenario of him leaving for free next year, making this evening’s clash with Liverpool likely to be his final farewell to Villa Park.
Douglas Luiz
In terms of who Villa could sell for profit, Douglas Luiz is one of Emery’s most in-demand assets ahead of the summer, with Arsenal still lurking around the Brazilian’s availability.
Back in March, HITC journalist Graeme Bailey exclusively told Aston Villa News of the fact that the 26-year-old is still “very much” on the Gunners’ list, providing a potential area for the Villans to make a profit.
It’s unlikely that Emery will wish to part ways with a player as key to his project as Luiz although, a hefty bidding war in the transfer window could perhaps tempt the Midlands club to cut ties with the famed Brazil international.
