Former Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker has fired a clear warning to Unai Emery ahead of the transfer window slamming shut.
Aston Villa travel to West Ham this evening for their Premier League opener but in the background, Unai Emery has some creases to iron out in his squad.
Emery confirmed that Villa were trying to add more players to their squad and that need has become more prevalent following Cameron Archer’s departure to Southampton.
The Spaniard has also revealed that defender Diego Carlos will remain at the club, despite Fabrizio Romano previously claiming that Fulham were in ‘advanced talks’ with the Brazilian.
There’s now less than two weeks till the transfer window officially closes and it has become clear where this Villa squad needs strengthening most.
Nigel Reo-Coker explains which areas of ‘worry’ Aston Villa must address
The Villans may have brought in eight new signings but they’ve also lost two key players, with big-money exits sanctioned for Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby.
Former Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker believes three key positions need addressing ahead of the deadline, including a second-choice goalkeeper for Emi Martinez, a centre-back to challenge the others and a rival for Ollie Watkins.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Reo-Coker highlighted his key worries for Emery, saying: “I do worry in particular areas. For me, the goalkeeper, if Martinez is out, our second string isn’t really good enough.
“We need a real good top-quality back-up goalkeeper. And I would probably say centre-back you would be a bit worried. Obviously, Mings coming back in, you don’t know how he is going to be from the long injury he had. So I would look at probably a centre-back as well to strengthen.
“And I would still also go for a striker. I think Ollie Watkins had a fantastic season last year and I still feel they need someone else to come in and take the pressure off him.”
A pivotal few weeks await Aston Villa in the window
Squad depth is essential for Aston Villa and Chris Sutton believes Emery’s men could find it difficult to challenge for the top four and compete in the Champions League.
Therefore, the club must open the chequebook and improve the squad further while targeting key positions before the window shuts.
Emery’s biggest priority is arguably a centre-back position, as the Spanish tactician only has Carlos, Ezri Konsa, and Pau Torres as senior options.
The Villans have been strongly linked to Feyenoord’s Lutsharel Geertruida, who would kill two bids with one stone because he can play centrally or as a right-back.
Reo-Coker is also arguably right in saying that a different second choice is needed for Martinez, in case he gets injured, but replacing Robin Olsen isn’t the most pressing need in the final moments of the window.
However, a top-class striker to rival Watkins for a place in the starting XI arguably is. The Englishman showed signs of fatigue towards the end of 2023/24, and while Duran deputized successfully, the departure of Archer has left Emery light on forward options and that needs resolving.
