2023 Summer transfer window - hopes, needs, expectations and rumours.

[Toronto Villa]

“Our idea is to get better next year with the players we have now and adding players who can improve the squad. It’s not in my mind for players to leave if they’re very important to us.”

Mr Emery has spoken

[Toronto Villa]

Aston Villa have beefed up their back room with the addition of not one – but two new faces.

By Ashley Preece

The resurgent Villans have today confirmed the arrival of Alberto Benito and Pablo Rodriguez who join from Real Betis and Villarreal CF respectively.

They say: “Alberto brings a wealth of experience and a global network to the organisation and will work alongside Rob Mackenzie in a global technical role.”

Benito arrives having won the Copa del Rey, having qualified for Europe in the last three seasons and having worked with Unai Emery at both PSG and Arsenal.

Rodriguez is a relatively less high profile but adds to the brains trust set to oversee Villa’s progress on the analytical side of the game. Here’s what you need to know about him.

Who is he?

A 47-year-old who was most recently at Villarreal CF as a coaching staff member and senior scout. Villa also brought Emery from Villarreal CF last October. He spent three years at Villarreal having joined them from Valencia. However he knows Emery from their playing days at Ferrol back in 2000.

Relationship with Emery

In an interview with El Progresso he said: “Throughout my career I have had many coaches, but it is clear that if Unai has that path, it is for a reason. He is a top-level coach with absolute control of everything that has to do with the position and he is a very influential person in my career.”

Career highlight

Rodriguez was a technical analyst with Villarreal when they won the 2021 Europa League after a 22-penalty shoot-out against Manchester United. He was congratulated for that success by the mayoress of his home town Viveiro, which is on the Galician coast.

Playing career

He spent his playing days as a midfielder but outside of the Spanish top flight, between the Segunda and Tercera at Deportivo B, two stints with Lugo, at Rácing de Ferrol – with Emery, Girona, Leganés and Atlético Baleares, before retiring Pontes in 2010.

Technical career

He spent nine seasons at Valencia, where he also worked with Emery. He moved to Villarreal in 2020 having received a call from his former team-mate. “When he calls you, a coach of his prestige, to go to a club with such good references you have little to think about.” It seems Rodriguez is still in that mindset. Villa haven’t clarified his role yet but their announcement did make reference to their ‘global recruitment’.

[mallo]

It's so much better looking to Europe than circling the plughole each season isn't it?

[Jimsta]

It's so much better looking to Europe than circling the plughole each season isn't it?

If there was a Like button you sir would of got one from me.

[Drummond]

Spanish press reporting agreement almost done with Dani Ceballos..... and earlier there was talk of Pau Torres too, so we can assume that's not happening then!!

[villadelph]

Spanish press reporting agreement almost done with Dani Ceballos..... and earlier there was talk of Pau Torres too, so we can assume that's not happening then!!

A considerable upgrade on Buendia.

[Goldenballs]

Spanish press reporting agreement almost done with Dani Ceballos..... and earlier there was talk of Pau Torres too, so we can assume that's not happening then!!

A considerable upgrade on Buendia.

Who, Ceballos? 0 goals in 50 games for Arsenal, 0 goals and 3 assists in 30 games this season. I don't rate him.

[edgysatsuma89]

Spanish press reporting agreement almost done with Dani Ceballos..... and earlier there was talk of Pau Torres too, so we can assume that's not happening then!!

A considerable upgrade on Buendia.

Who, Ceballos? 0 goals in 50 games for Arsenal, 0 goals and 3 assists in 30 games this season. I don't rate him.

He's only scored 12 league goals in his career so I'm assuming he is deep lying and therefore I'm not too bothered by that stat. I still don't know if he's good enough, mind, but I'm not judging Kante on his goals either.

[Goldenballs]

Spanish press reporting agreement almost done with Dani Ceballos..... and earlier there was talk of Pau Torres too, so we can assume that's not happening then!!

A considerable upgrade on Buendia.

Who, Ceballos? 0 goals in 50 games for Arsenal, 0 goals and 3 assists in 30 games this season. I don't rate him.

He's only scored 12 league goals in his career so I'm assuming he is deep lying and therefore I'm not too bothered by that stat. I still don't know if he's good enough, mind, but I'm not judging Kante on his goals either.

That's kind of what I mean, I wouldn't say he's an upgrade on Buendia if he plays a completely different role.

[edgysatsuma89]

Spanish press reporting agreement almost done with Dani Ceballos..... and earlier there was talk of Pau Torres too, so we can assume that's not happening then!!

A considerable upgrade on Buendia.

Who, Ceballos? 0 goals in 50 games for Arsenal, 0 goals and 3 assists in 30 games this season. I don't rate him.

He's only scored 12 league goals in his career so I'm assuming he is deep lying and therefore I'm not too bothered by that stat. I still don't know if he's good enough, mind, but I'm not judging Kante on his goals either.

That's kind of what I mean, I wouldn't say he's an upgrade on Buendia if he plays a completely different role.

Oh sorry, yeah, hadn't properly read what you quoted.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

What I'd love to see Villa do in the Summer:

Pau Torres- £30 Million
Nico Williams or Samuel Chukwueze - £40 Million
Ugarte or Guendouzi- £30-£45 Million
Lee Kang IN - £15 Million
Mateo Retegui- £18 Million

= No More than £150 Million

Domestically, I'd be looking to see if we can get Eze from Palace.  He'd cost a bit, but I think he's a Top 6 player.  He's the closest thing to Grealish in the Premier League, I think.

[Matt C]

Linked with Giorgi Mamardashvili (definitely copy and pasted that spelling), Valencia keeper.

[Gareth]

Linked with Giorgi Mamardashvili (definitely copy and pasted that spelling), Valencia keeper.

The guy who was trying to scrap with Vinicius Jnr at the weekend?

[Kevin Dawson]

Linked with Giorgi Mamardashvili (definitely copy and pasted that spelling), Valencia keeper.

The guy who was trying to scrap with Vinicius Jnr at the weekend?

I read that he had a release clause of €100m.....

[exigo]

We laugh in the face of release clauses.