Aston Villa are working hard to welcome new arrivals to the club before the transfer window slams shut on August 30th.
Unai Emery and Monchi have acted fast during this window, as they helped cure their PSR concerns early on by selling multiple first-team stars while signing seven new players.
Despite completing most of their business early, the Villans still have plenty of work to do ahead of the deadline to be ready to battle across all fronts.
Whilst it’s clear Emery needs to add reinforcements defensively, especially with Diego Carlos likely to leave, the Spaniard is also eyeing further depth in attacking midfield having submitted a bid for one particular target.
Aston Villa submit offer for Tottenham midfielder Giovanni Lo Celso
Earlier on in the transfer window, it was suggested that Tottenham were willing to agree a swap deal with Villa involving midfielder Giovanni Lo Celso and academy graduate Jacob Ramsey.
With Emery seeing Ramsey as a key part of his plans, especially following the departure of Moussa Diaby to Saudi Arabia, there’s not a chance they’ll let the 23-year-old depart this summer.
Now, according to journalist Gaston Edul via X, Villa have submitted an offer for the Argentine international, who Lionel Messi previously wanted Barcelona to sign a few years ago.
Emery worked with the attacking midfielder during his loan spell at Spanish giants Villarreal, with the Villa tactician now keen for a Villa Park reunion.
Lo Celso, now aged 28, only played 494 minutes in the Premier League under Ange Postecoglu last term, so it seems strange that Aston Villa are targeting the player for their Champions League campaign.
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Aston Villa have other fires to burn out
In Villarreal’s run to the Champions League semi-finals in 2021/22, where they lost to Liverpool, Lo Celso played six times in the competition.
As highlighted by FBref, the ‘quality’ Argentine would also provide high levels of creativity to Emery’s ranks, having ranked in the top 1% of midfielders across Europe for various metrics, including progressive passes and progressive carries.
It’s such levels of creativity and attacking thrust that could help the likes of Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey thrive even more however, Villa do have other fires that need burning out.
In pre-season, they conceded 11 goals in six matches and last term, the injury to Boubacar Kamara saw them crumble defensively, ending the campaign with 61 goals shipped in 38 matches.
As such, it explains why Emery is prioritising defensive reinforcements with Feyenoord defender Lutsharel Geertruida in advanced talks to join the club, while Carlos looks as though he’s on his way out.
Signing a new central defender or two is the priority heading into the closing weeks of the window but if they can get Lo Celso in a cut-price deal, having previously cost Spurs £27 million, then perhaps they should snap their hands off.
