Unai Emery will have the chance to assess his squad this pre-season ahead of the upcoming 2024/25 campaign, with plenty of new faces to get to know.
Aston Villa have made a searing start to the summer transfer window, welcoming five players to the squad ahead of next term.
Unai Emery and Monchi will integrate Samuel Iling-Junior, Enzo Barrenechea, Ian Maatsen, Lewis Dobbin and Ross Barkley into the team as Villa aim to progress.
For one of the signings, arriving at Villa Park will be a familiar experience, with Barkley spending a year at Villa on loan back in 2020/21.
- READ MORE: Why Ross Barkley’s arrival is perfect for ‘complete’ Aston Villa gem compared to Sergio Busquets
Ross Barkley squad number spotted during Aston Villa training
Monchi pulled off a stellar piece of business in acquiring Barkley for just £5m from Luton Town this summer.
The Englishman made a statement with the Hatters on his return to the English top flight, with Emery clearly impressed by his performance level.
This week, Barkley was spotted in training at Bodymoor Heath alongside Matty Cash, who posted a photo of the duo on his Instagram story.
The most interesting part of the photo is that Barkley was seen wearing the number six, the previous squad number of Douglas Luiz.
While the club’s squad numbers aren’t concrete yet, the Englishman wearing the vacant number hints at what his possible role could be next season.
Squad number hints at Villa role for Barkley
Some Villa fans may find it difficult to process the fact that Luiz’s number could soon be taken by another player.
The Brazilian was well-loved for his five years in B6 as he bid farewell to join Juventus this summer.
Now, it looks as though Barkley could be the midfielder’s successor to sport the number six, suggesting that Emery sees him as having a key role in the squad.
Given how good the former Luton ace was last term, it would be unsurprising to see him around the starting XI at Villa although, his claim to be a starter is yet to be known.
If the 30-year-old is to be allocated the number six, it could hint that he will be part of Emery’s plans in the favoured XI, as the Spaniard begins to rethink his midfield.
With Luiz gone and Boubacar Kamara injured, the manager will have a task on his hands to reshape the position, with Barkley’s stance in his plans possibly made clearer.
A squad number as low as six would typically be handed to a regular starter, which will make things interesting if the summer signing is to be confirmed as Luiz’s successor.
