Gabby Agbonlahor addresses NSWE plans as Aston Villa feel PSR transfer strain
Aston Villa's summer transfer window seems destined to begin with a string of exits, but Gabby Agbonlahor has backed the club bounce back
Gabby Agbonlahor is not worried about Aston Villa's transfer activity ahead of the summer window's opening, as he thinks Unai Emery will put things right in the end.
A glum picture has been painted at Villa Park in recent days. Profit and Sustainability Rules have so dominated the club's transfer narrative on the eve of the window opening again, with a number of players touted to depart before the current financial year ends on June 30.
Biggest of the lot is Douglas Luiz, said to have agreed personal terms for a money-plus-double-player swap deal with Juventus - Weston McKennie and Samuel Iling-Junior coming the opposite way. Following that Chelsea have reignited past interest in back-up striker Jhon Duran and Matty Cash has been subject to a rejected bid from AC Milan, who are set to return.
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This is not the pathway many envisioned - especially for a key figure such as Luiz - when the team celebrated Champions League qualification on their annual awards night last month. Villa are meant to be building a force to be reckoned with, not having it picked apart by Europe's established elite.
But as things stand, Agbonlahor remains confident his former club can come out of this summer window on top, and it will be all thanks to the manager.
"Unai Emery's probably thinking 'you know what? Now we're going into the elite competition I have to upgrade in certain areas', and every Villa has faith in him," the ex-striker told talkSPORT. "Douglas Luiz, Matty Cash, Duran, I am sure he has got some exciting signings to bring in.
"I think it's going to be difficult - of course it is. It's guaranteed eight games now, the new format of the Champions League, with four home games. This is what Villa fans have wanted - to play in this elite competition. Whatever happens, if we struggle in the Champions League, we've got there and given it a go.
"But, a manager of his pedigree, Unai Emery, is going to know the the players to bring in. He's going to add squad depth because we had a lot of injuries last season."
As well as Emery's know-how in the higher levels of the game, Agbonlahor keeps confidence in the Villa project because of those in power in the West Midlands.
"It's obviously going to be difficult playing in the Champions League to then get the league form, so it could be a different season next season. But, from all I know speaking to people in the club, these owners aren't in it just to play in the Champions League for one season then go back to seventh or eighth, they want to go further. They want to win league titles, Aston Villa," he added.
"That is obviously going to be difficult but don't be surprised if he brings in the right players, Unai Emery, and Aston Villa go again next season."
Villa's deadline to sell players that will count towards the 2023/24 financial year is by the end of June. At that point the club could have accrued the £30m asking price for Cash, the reported £40m fee of Duran, then finally €20m for Luiz, plus the two Juve players included in the Brazilian's deal.