The time is running out for Unai Emery to further bolster his Aston Villa squad ahead of transfer deadline day.
Aston Villa can be pleased with the business they’ve completed so far. Although Moussa Diaby and Douglas Luiz were sold for big money, Unai Emery has used the cash wisely to improve his squad.
The Villans used the funds generated to sign the likes of Ian Maatsen, Amadou Onana and Jaden Philogene, who all looked impressive on their debuts against West Ham.
With a Champions League campaign on the horizon and squad depth a variable that is craved, Emery is open to adding further players to his side, namely in defence and attack.
Villa are light on options defensively, with only Diego Carlos, Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa available as senior centre-back options.
Meanwhile, Emery is also lacking bodies in central attacking positions, as he seeks further support for Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins.
- READ MORE: ‘Unreal’… Declan Rice reacts as Ollie Watkins shares message to Aston Villa fans on social media
Aston Villa’s forward pursuit could hamper Morgan Rogers and Jacob Ramsey
It was well-documented that Aston Villa wanted to sign Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid. Emery is a huge fan of the player and he would have added a touch of class to Villa’s forward line.
Sadly, the Portuguese international has chosen to return to Chelsea, with a transfer on that front said to be imminent.
Now that Felix can be crossed off the list, it remains to be seen whether Villa target another forward as Duran has proven he’s the perfect backup for Watkins.
Speaking on the Claret & Blue podcast, journalist Dan Rollinson doesn’t believe Emery needs to add anyone else to his front line, as it could be detrimental to the development of Morgan Rogers and Jacob Ramsey.
“But if we do sign somebody for, I don’t know, 40 to 60 million pounds, and they come in and go, well, they have to start now,” Rollinson said. “If that halts Jacob Ramsey or Morgan Rogers development, who look brilliant players, I know they want to still get game time, but much less if they’re the starting choice, and then all of a sudden they’re not.
“So it’s a very fine balance squad building. It’s a really interesting part of football now that I probably didn’t pay much attention to five or six years ago, but actually building a proper squad. This is the first time we’ve experienced it, a squad that has to compete on all fronts, a squad that will want to get back into the Champions League again or the Europa League.”
Emery already has the perfect balance at Aston Villa
Squad depth is vital for Villa to achieve success this season and luckily, they have a wealth of options across most positions, with only centre-back being the big grey area at the moment.
In the 2-1 win over West Ham, Emery was able to call on multiple quality players from the bench, as Duran, Ramsey and Maatsen were introduced into the fray and all contributed to the winning goal.
Maatsen produced a world-class touch down the left flank, freeing Ramsey into space, who picked out Duran with a left-footed cross and the youngster finished delightfully.
- READ MORE: Gabby Agbonlahor names the ‘exciting’ Aston Villa gem who is already ‘proving doubters wrong’
With Rogers also starting as a number 10 in the match, it demonstrates that Emery has several players – aged 23 and under – who can impact high-pressure games.
Adding someone else of real quality to that list of options could be ideal however, like Rollinson says, it could stagnate the development of homegrown talents Rogers and Ramsey, who were electric on Saturday evening.
