The margins at the top of the Premier League are tight and in the race for a top-four finish, one key problem could hold Aston Villa back.
It’s been a difficult few weeks for Aston Villa fans, who have watched their team lose four games in a row in all competitions, most recently a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.
The Villans are beginning to feel the effects of juggling their Champions League commitments with the Premier League, as Villa were beaten 1-0 by Club Brugge last week.
For Unai Emery and his players, an international break has come at the perfect time, as it will allow them to regroup and prepare for a hectic Christmas schedule.
With Villa sat in ninth, one point adrift of third-place Chelsea, there is everything still to play for however, there is one issue that could hold them back.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 7 |  FulhamFulham | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 18 |
| 8 |  NewcastleNewcastle | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 18 |
| 9 |  Aston VillaAston Villa | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 18 |
| 10 |  TottenhamTottenham | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 16 |
Aston Villa need to sell to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window
For most clubs tackling PSR problems, selling players to buy has become a common theme, and Villa discovered that during the summer.
Emery and Monchi were almost forced into offloading some of their most valuable assets, namely Omari Kellyman, Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby, to strengthen the squad.
Villa were able to do so by purchasing the likes of Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen for big money however, being hamstrung by PSR meant that other positions were neglected.
- READ MORE: Unai Emery’s biggest transfer mistake at Aston Villa now made clear as ‘sublime’ talent struggles
It’s become obvious that the Villans needed to sign a right-back and that should be their prime target in January, but journalist Matt Kendrick has warned that investing in any new signings may not be possible without selling first.
“I don’t think there are any or any or many players that were surplus to requirements in that squad,” Kendrick said on the Claret & Blue podcast.
“Certainly nobody… If you’re a buying club and you want to come in for one of Aston Villa’s players because you think it’s going to change your season in January, I’m not sure you could come in for… I’m not sure there’s a player in that squad who would change your season if you’re the buying club, that Villa would be willing to get rid of.”
Who is most likely to leave Aston Villa in January?
With Matty Cash currently injured, Ezri Konsa has had to fill at right-back, while on other occasions it’s been one of Kosta Nedeljkovic or Lamare Bogarde who have played there.
Villa failed in their attempts to sign Lutsharel Geertruida on transfer deadline day and ultimately didn’t address the position.
That said, with the importance of signing a right-sided defender high on the list, Villa must sell someone in January, and perhaps the prime candidate is Diego Carlos.
Carlos has looked really poor at times this season but at the moment, he’s starting alongside Pau Torres in a back four while Cash is injured.
Given his importance in the first-team squad, Emery perhaps won’t want to offload him however, Carlos is now 31 years old and did attract interest in the summer.
Perhaps if a decent enough offer came in for the Brazilian, whose contract expires in 2026, Villa would be willing to accept.
