Aston Villa will be hoping to bolster the quality of Unai Emery’s squad this summer in the transfer window, particularly now that the Villans are a Champions League side.
Tuesday night confirmed that Aston Villa will participate in the 2024/25 Champions League, as Tottenham’s defeat to Manchester City secured a fourth-place finish for Villa.
It was a monumental achievement for Unai Emery’s side, who have navigated their way through the season expertly, maintaining form despite battling injury concerns and the gruelling Thursday-Sunday schedule.
Now, the Villans can plan for another European tour but this time at a far higher calibre, where the rewards are some of the highest in domestic football, as the club is aware from their 1982 glory.
READ MORE: Exactly how much Aston Villa are set to make after qualifying for the Champions League
While Emery’s side deserves to be in the tournament next season, there are improvements to be made, with the summer transfer window handing the manager and Monchi the opportunity to add more star quality to the squad.
Based on what is needed, recent links and players that could be available in the summer market, here are three players Aston Villa could sign to make the squad ready for the Champions League.
Three transfers that could make Aston Villa Champions League ready this summer
Starting in defence, there has been some speculation over the future of Lucas Digne, who was poised to leave Villa Park last year.
Instead, the left-back remained in the Premier League and became an integral part of Emery’s back line, however, with his contract due to expire in 2026 and his wage bill one of the club’s highest, Villa could part ways with the Frenchman.
Regardless of whether Digne leaves or not, signing a new fullback would benefit the Villans, with a former target and player of Emery’s set to be available this summer.
Kieran Tierney – Arsenal – LB
In 2019, Emery made the decision to purchase Kieran Tierney from Celtic to bring him to Arsenal however, since the Spaniard’s exit, the Scotsman has fallen way down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta.
As a result, the 26-year-old has expressed that he expects to leave the Emirates this summer due to increased competition and the fact he spent the season on loan at Real Sociedad, via The Athletic.
Villa could be in a good position to sign the Arsenal outsider, who already has a strong relationship with Emery and could hand the squad the depth and quality needed ahead of next season, being a player with experience of playing in the Champions League.
Nico Williams – Athletic Bilbao – LW
Adding to the left side but in a more advanced position could be Nico Williams, who has been linked with a move to Villa Park.
Transfer expert Graeme Bailey exclusively told Aston Villa News last month that he ‘wouldn’t rule out’ the Villans making a move for the winger, who has a release clause of €50m (£42.5m) at his boyhood club.
The Spaniard is a luxury player, ranking as one of the best in Europe when it comes to wide play, rated in the top 2% of wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for his average of 7.67 attempted take-ons per 90, via FBref.
Emery has a dynamic winger on the right side in Leon Bailey and in signing Williams, could copy and paste the Jamaican’s trickery to the left side, a move that would only strengthen the current squad.
As a result of his talent in La Liga, the 21-year-old is rumoured to be a target for a host of clubs, making his future an interesting narrative to follow in the summer.
Michael Olise – Crystal Palace – RW
Closer to home is another forward who could undoubtedly add the quality needed in Emery’s squad, with Crystal Palace phenomenon Michael Olise a player capable of making a difference.
In only 18 appearances in the Premier League this season, the Frenchman has contributed to 15 goals, with his performances for Palace capturing the eye of many.
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, via GIVEMESPORT, Villa are one of the sides that admire the 22-year-old and could be the ‘dark horses’ among clubs that may pounce on the chance to acquire the versatile attacker.
Similar to what Williams could offer Emery, Olise is a different calibre of wide player currently on show at Villa, and a player who could certainly bolster the front line to develop the squad towards the level needed to challenge in the Champions League.
