Unai Emery makes Aston Villa transfer demand as deadline day approaches
Latest Aston Villa news from BirminghamLive as Unai Emery gives an update on the club’s transfer activity in the final days of the window
Unai Emery insists Aston Villa must be ready to move for their transfer targets in the final days of the summer window in case the opportunity to add more players to his squad arrives.
Villa have spent £80million so far this summer on four new recruits, with Youri Tielemans (free), Pau Torres, Moussa Diaby and Nicolo Zaniolo (loan fee) all joining Emery’s side this summer. Meanwhile, Villa have raised roughly £35.5million through the sales of Marvelous Nakamba, Aaron Ramsey and Cameron Archer.
Jaden Philogene is also set to depart the club for £5million, as his move to Hull City is all but complete, while Philippe Coutinho could also depart in the final days of the window. The Brazilian is of interest to Qatari side Al Duhail, but they are yet to make an official bid for the player.
Those departures will leave Emery a little light in certain areas, including up front, with Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran the only strikers in his squad. Meanwhile, Villa are keen to add depth in wide areas having considered a move for Jack Harrison before he joined Everton on loan from Leeds United earlier this month.
After Villa’s win over Burnley, Emery was asked about the possibility of completing more business in the last week of the window. He said: “There are still four days to finish the transfer window and we have to be ready.
“We have to be ready in case someone is leaving, in case we have a good opportunity to add another player with us.
“Always in my teams I was working and I am ready at the end if someone can come with us or someone can leave.”