Aston Villa face West Ham United in the opening game of the Premier League season, here’s how Unai Emery’s line up could look.
There are under three weeks remaining until the Premier League is back, as Aston Villa hope to continue their upward trajectory under Unai Emery.
Last term, the Villans finished in fourth place to gain entry to the 2024/25 Champions League however, Emery’s squad is set to look very different to the one on show last year.
The summer transfer window has seen seven players arrive at the club, as well as first team regulars such as Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby bidding farewell.
As a result, Emery is set to have a decision to make over pre-season with a thought to the opening day of the season in East London.
How Aston Villa could line up against West Ham United in the 2024/25 Premier League opener
Emi Martinez guaranteed to start in goal
Within Villa’s squad, Emery will have a group of players considered as unquestionable starters, with Emi Martinez firmly being one.
The Argentine is yet to return to the squad after winning the Copa America this summer however, his place as number one at the club is not up for debate.
Certain changes to the back four
Emery does have a concern when it comes to his defensive situation, with very few centre-backs available to the manager at the start of the season.
With Tyrone Mings still recovering from his ACL injury, the likely pairing will be Pau Torres and Diego Carlos, unless a new arrival makes the switch to B6 before the campaign opener.
Ezri Konsa should retain his spot at right-back ahead of Matty Cash, with Lucas Digne and Alex Moreno set to miss out to new arrival Ian Maatsen.
Belgian pivot in central midfield
Emery should have been inspired by Belgium’s midfield performances at Euro 2024, as new signing Amadou Onana worked expertly well next to Youri Tielemans.
Now that the 22-year-old has made the move to Villa Park, Emery could continue their partnership at domestic level, certainly as Boubacar Kamara is set to be absent for the start of the season.
The duo have the perfect mix of defensive stability and playmaking, which could prove to be a fundamental fusion in the engine room for Villa over the course of the campaign.
Attack could welcome Joao Felix
Following Diaby’s departure, Emery and Monchi are expected to search the market for a worthy replacement for the Frenchman.
One name linked with a move to Villa is Joao Felix, whom the manager is said to be a firm admirer of.
If the Portugal international was to sign for the Villans this summer, he could line up occupying the space behind Ollie Watkins, joined by Leon Bailey and captain John McGinn in the wide areas.
With options including the in-form Morgan Rogers and the returning Jacob Ramsey, Emery could be spoilt for choice going forward this season, with a favoured XI up for debate.
How many of Villa’s summer signings are likely to be starters?
So far, Villa have welcomed seven new signings of different positions and standard however, how many of them are likely to make the starting line up in 2024/25?
From midfield, it would be unlikely for either Ross Barkley or Enzo Barrenechea to start ahead of Tielemans or Onana, despite both players excelling in pre-season.
- READ MORE: Aston Villa midfielder is quietly pushing into Unai Emery’s first XI with pre-season displays
Maatsen and Onana could be considered the only firm starters out of the seven signings, with Lewis Dobbin, Samuel Iling-Junior and Jaden Philogene surely set to start on among the substitutes.
Given how much change has happened, and is still expected to happen at Villa, it will be fascinating to see how Emery navigates selecting a favoured XI ahead of the upcoming campaign.
