Aston Villa should look at one in-demand transfer target as Unai Emery’s summer plans become clear.
Despite Aston Villa having a strong start to the summer transfer window, Unai Emery’s work is far from done in the market.
The Spaniard has already welcomed seven new players to Villa Park although, another key figure could leave the squad before deadline day.
Douglas Luiz was the first top name to leave the club, with Moussa Diaby poised to follow, prompting the Villans to search for a replacement.
Unai Emery transfer priority becomes clear as Aston Villa eye Joao Felix
With Diaby set to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad, Emery and Monchi will get to work on replacing the forward, who signed last summer from Bayer Leverkusen.
Having contributed to 19 goals last term, Villa will need to locate a quality figure to fill the void left by the Frenchman, with Joao Felix identified as a possible target.
Sky Sports editor Lyall Thomas reported that Benfica, Barcelona and Villa are interested in Felix, who is ready to leave Atletico Madrid this summer after spending the past year and a half on loan spells.
Interestingly, Thomas also relayed that Emery remains in the market for a new number 10, presumably a player that can play in the space behind Ollie Watkins.
With a playmaker of significant quality being the profile that the Spaniard wants ahead of deadline day, there is one player who fits the mould better than Felix, but Villa must act fast.
Emery must explore a deal for Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe
A player who has excelled as a number 10 in the Premier League, and a player who has worked under Emery is likely to be available this summer.
Arsenal playmaker Emile Smith Rowe has been linked with a move away from the Emirates, as he has struggled to secure game time under Mikel Arteta.
The Englishman is a player known well by the Villa boss, who handed him his Arsenal debut in 2018 after offering the midfielder a professional contract that year.
Unfortunately, things haven’t worked out under Arteta for Smith Rowe, who after becoming a first-team regular in the 2021/22 campaign has fallen down the pecking order.
A lot of that has to do with Arsenal acquiring Martin Odegaard, who is considered to be untouchable for the North Londoners, seeing a player with Smith Rowe’s quality suffer.
Once lauded for his ‘unbelievable character’ by England U21 boss Lee Carsley, via Metro, Emery must swoop for his former scholar this summer, with the manager having the capacity to kickstart his career.
Still only 23 years old, the Londoner has a lot to give, with Villa being the perfect club to blossom at with Emery’s guidance, as well as him being the type of player that Villa currently require.
Fulham have already attempted to purchase the midfielder for a fee in the region of £30m, having their offer refused by Arsenal, who have included Smith Rowe on the tour of the United States.
It would be interesting for Villa to eye Emery’s former player at this time, as his future at the Emirates looks to be in jeopardy.
