Aston Villa transfer problems Monchi must navigate as January window approaches

Monchi and Damian Vidagany will soon sit down with Unai Emery to finalise their plans for the January transfer window, which opens in less than two weeks’ time.

Villa are currently sitting just three points outside of the top four in the Premier League and are occupying a top eight position in the Champions League as they look to automatically qualify for the round of 16. Last January, Villa signed four players, but only Morgan Rogers and back-up goalkeeper Joe Gauci remained in the squad, while Kosta Nedeljkovic and Lino Sousa headed out on loan.

Rogers progressed rapidly last season and at the start of this campaign. Now one of the first names in Emery’s starting XI, Monchi will be tasked with securing similar cut-price deals next month due to Villa’s position regarding the league’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

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Villa had to raise funds before the end of June to remain compliant as Douglas Luiz - one of Emery’s key players - was sacrificed and sold to Juventus. Villa replaced the Brazilian with two players: Youri Tielemans - who was already in the building - and Ross Barkley from Luton Town.

Moussa Diaby, who departed for £50.5m to Al-Ittihad, was essentially replaced by Jaden Philogene after being re-signed from Hull City. The 22-year-old is still adapting to the top-flight, which is to be expected considering this is his first full Premier League campaign.

Monchi has a few challenges in recruiting at Villa. One, because of the financial restraints due to PSR but also the fact any player coming into Emery’s squad has to ‘increase the level’ of a team which finished fourth last season and has impressed in the Champions League.

Before the opening of the last January window, Emery said: “Only if we can get something to really help for the next month we are going to do it. We are going to be alert in case we have the possibility to add in our squad to do it.

"Always they [V Sports] are very involved with me, us and Aston Villa. They want to enjoy each moment and how they can support us, how we can improve and increase our level.

"Always they are trying to share with us the possibility to add or link players for the next month in the window. In January we are speaking about the possibility but last year was similar, it is not an easy window."

It’s something which Monchi has himself spoken about recently as he told Amazon Prime Video earlier this month: "We are working to improve the level of the squad, but it's not easy because we have a top squad and a top team.

“My job is to try and increase this level. We are working, because in 20 days the transfer window opens and we have to be prepared in case there are some possibilities.

"I think we're doing a good season, but it's important we continue at this level. In the Champions League we are very happy because we are near the top of the qualification and in the Premier League, it's true that in the last month we've had some problems.

"To work with Unai is easy, because he is a top coach and I've known him for ten years, since we were in Sevilla. I understand what he needs. For him, the most important thing is to work. I love to work, I love my job and I think that when you work with a coach, the most important thing is to bring what he wants. I try every day to continue in his way.”

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