Aston Villa will be looking to conduct further business in the closing stages of the summer transfer window.
Aston Villa have been incredibly active this summer by signing seven new players. But with a Champions League campaign on the horizon and still some important gaps to plug, Unai Emery hasn’t ruled out Villa making further additions.
In the 2-0 defeat against Arsenal on Saturday, Matty Cash sent a message to Villa fans after going off with an injury in the first 15 minutes.
Cash was replaced by 18-year-old Kosta Nedeljkovic, who put in a solid performance, but the Poland international’s injury has only heightened the need to strengthen at right-back.
Cover in defence has been somewhat neglected by Emery this summer and it isn’t the only position Villa could target before the window slams shut.
Here are three signings Monchi could make happen…
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Lutsharel Geertruida
The most important addition Villa can make this week is in defence, especially following the injury to Cash.
One player who has been on Aston Villa’s radar is Feyenoord defender Lutsharel Geertruida, who would provide exceptional cover at centre-back and right-back.
Emery is light on options centrally with only Diego Carlos, Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa as senior options while Nedeljkovic is the only natural right-back, and he’s only a teenager.
Geertruida would therefore kill two birds with one stone and at a price of just £30 million, it’s vitally important a transfer for the 24-year-old Dutchman is sealed before Deadline Day.
Raheem Sterling
Last week, Aston Villa were linked with a surprise move for Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling.
The four-time Premier League winner is surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge and was banished from first-team training by Enzo Maresca.
Sterling is expected to leave West London before the deadline and Villa have been marked as a potential suitor to Sterling, who can offer the attraction of Champions League football.
That is a competition the 29-year-old has flourished in the past, with an impressive 44 goal contributions in 82 appearances.
However, the major sticking point for the fleet-footed winger is wages. Sterling currently earns an eye-watering £325k-a-week at Chelsea and would have to take a significant wage cut to join.
That said, adding someone of Sterling’s experience would supply Emery with world-class cover on both flanks.
Aster Vranckx
Villa bolstered their midfield with the signings of Amadou Onana, Ross Barkley and Enzo Barrenechea this summer.
But only two could remain in Birmingham beyond the window, with the possibility of Barrenechea leaving on loan.
The Argentine is the only natural defensive midfielder in the squad alongside Boubacar Kamara, who continues to work his way back from an ACL injury.
Nonetheless, it has opened the door for Emery to sign a defensive midfielder, which explains links to Wolfsburg’s Aster Vranckx.
As highlighted by FBref, the 8-cap Belgian international averaged 2.47 tackles per game, 2.31 clearances and 1.20 aerials won.
The 21-year-old is an accomplished holding midfielder and Villa currently lack one of those in their squad, especially if Barrenechea departs.
Indeed, Monchi could sanction a move for the Belgian this week and complete the Villans midfield overhaul.
