Despite a catastrophic start to the season, Aston Villa was able to turn the tide before the winter break to afford a return to the European Cup at the end of the 2023 financial year. Under the leadership of Unai Emery, landed in October after the dismissal of Steven Gerrard, the Birmingham-based club finished in seventh place in the Premier League, synonymous with qualification for the Europa League Conference. Consequently, Aston Villa has great ambitions for the coming season. In order to have a solid workforce, the English club has relied on Monchi, a former collaborator of the Spanish technician, recruited from Sevilla FC to carry out the summer transfer window. And it must be said that it started under the best auspices.
Indeed, Aston Villa had a hollow nose by enlisting Youri Tielemans. At the end of the contract with Leicester, freshly relegated to English D2, the Belgian midfielder did not see himself evolving in the English antechamber and was therefore seduced by the Villans project. In the process, Aston Villa achieved yet another big blow by recruiting Pau Torres. Unai Emery particularly appreciated the qualities of recovery and the athletic potential of the Spanish international when he officiated for Villareal. Since his arrival last fall, the Iberian had made the 1m91 colossus his priority for his central defense. After long negotiations with the yellow submarine, the former PSG coach succeeded in winning his case in exchange for a check for 39 million euros, making Pau the second most expensive recruit in club history behind Emiliano Buendia. A record fell this weekend with the signing of Moussa Diaby.
Aston Villa broke the piggy bank for Diaby!
Wishing to have a fiery attack capable of competing with the most prolific in England, Aston Villa went into overdrive to afford Moussa Diaby. To achieve this, the residents of Villa Park embarked on a showdown with Al Nassr. The Saudi club, eager to continue its seduction operation in the Premier League, did not obtain the favors of the French striker, despite his financial arguments. The Leverkusen serial scorer (171 games, 48 goals and 45 assists in total with the Pillendreher) resisted the Saudi siren songs, no doubt motivated by the idea of working again with Unai Emery.
In addition to the idea of finding his former coach, this departure from Germany is undoubtedly part of a well-defined strategy for the native of Paris. Joining the English championship, considered one of the most prestigious on the old continent, can also allow him to remain in the bosom of the France team and its coach Didier Deschamps on the sidelines of Euro 2024. But Aston Villa had to take out the checkbook to sell the German club. After a first offer of between 35 million and 40 million euros refused, the English team drew a second offensive worth 60 million euros to bend the recent sixth in the Bundesliga.
The Villans want to set themselves to Belgian time
After this umpteenth masterstroke, the Birmingham club is not satisfied and wishes to continue its market, this time in France. Originally envisaged as a plan B in the event of failure in Operation Moussa Diaby, Jérémy Doku remains on the shelves of the Villains as informed by the DailyMail. After a sluggish first part of the season marked by repeated physical glitches, the twirling Belgian winger carried out an honorable second part of the exercise allowing Stade Rennais in particular to grab fourth place. In the event of an interesting offer, the Breton club should not be choosy, he who went to get the Red Devil from Anderlecht in 2020 in exchange for 26 million euros. The idea of associating the Diaby-Doku duo with Ollie Watkins, author of an accomplished season, is enough to make more than one dream.
Finally, in addition to Jérémy Doku, Aston Villa is ready to relaunch Charles De Ketelaere as informed by the Gazetta Dello Sport recently. Recruited at a golden price last summer by Milan, the Belgian experienced all the difficulties in the world to impose himself in the Lombard workforce, counting 40 appearances without having scored the slightest pawn! Losing momentum, a challenge in England would allow the young 22-year-old attacking midfielder to regain feelings lost since leaving Club Brugge. To let the child of Bruges leave, Milan expects at least 30 million euros.
