Summer 2025 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[AV82EC]

Nah the criticism Ollie gets is way over the top. He can be i proved upon, but there's other surgery I'd rather see carried out.

Yep. Right back being top of my list.

Agree on the right-back, but when Leeds or Burnley come in for the current one they won't be paying much more than we bought him for.

Yep but if we break even on him then I’d consider that a win. He’s been a reasonably good player and has improved immeasurably under Emery but  I don’t think there’s anything more he can give and it’s quite apparent in how limiting he is to our play.

[SamTheMouse]

He can't get in the Polish national team, which isn't exactly a ringing endorsement. Good lad, good player, but not elite.

[AllanW]

2025 end of the season squad position;
Black = current squad, Red = returning, Green = Going, Blue = Youth assessments*

GK; Martinez, Olsen, Gauci, Marschall, Zych, Wright?
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CB (R); Konsa, Bogarde, Disasi, Swinkels, Feeney, Munroe

CB (L); Mings, Torres, Hause, Ozkan, Amundsen-Dey, Katsukunya?

RB: Cash, Garcia, Nedeljkovic, Kesler-Hayden, Rowe?

LB; Digne, Maatsen, Moreno, Sousa,
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DM; Kamara, Onana, Barkley, Barrenechea, Dendonker

CM; McGinn, Ramsey, Tielemans
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AM; Coutinho, Buendia?, Rogers, Asensio

Wingers; Bailey, Iling-Junior, Dobbin, Young,

Strikers; Watkins, Rashford, Barry, Malen, Wilson
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New season squad limit = 25

* The rest of the U23 and U18 squads have already had their decisions deferred or are not ready for first team training. Failure to make the grade at first team training and pre-season will mean another year in development including possible loans or leaving the club.

First Team Requirements;

Goalkeepers; No obvious need but Emery must decide if he trusts Gauci enough as first team cover. If not we buy one, if so Gauci gets experience as backup to Martinez. Loan the younger ones for another year.

Defence, Central; Hause is off, it's the end of his contract. Mings returning from injury means no purchase necessary on the left side and assessment of the youngsters may present someone to stay at Villa for the first part of the season to gain first team experience. The others stay in U21 or are loaned out but we need them to start coming through now. On the right we need a purchase if Emery thinks Bogarde is not yet up to a full season as front-line centre back. Disasi will not be staying but other options are available so he will just go back to Chelski and we buy someone else.

Defense, Right; Cash and Garcia are fine as the main two at RB with K-H as backup. Ned will be sold to Germany for a profit but will KKH go as well?

Defense, Left; Digne and Maatsen are great for LB but we need to decide on Sousa; in or out? Moreno probably sold with a year left on his contract.

Defensive Midfield; Great options. No purchase needed this year. Dendonker goes, end of contract. Barrenechea could be sold but will be loaned out again if not. Need more information on youth prospects at DM.

Central Midfield; Great options plus reputed Nypan arriving. Are there youngsters already at the club who can push their claim?

Attacking Midfield; It looks like Buendia is out of favour so if sold we could buy Asensio, if he wants to come. My guess is Asensio will use the excuse of Rashford going (and a poorer-than-wished current season finish) to reject us. So do we hang on to Buendia in that case and does Barry offer an option here? One injury to Rogers and we could be bereft here if not careful.

Left Wing; Iling-Junior has looked decent at Middlesborough but if rumours about a move to Conte are correct we should take the money. Which would leave only Dobbin. He's probably not ready yet as the last part of his loan was disrupted and ineffectual at Norwich so I can imagine Emery is not ready to rely on him yet. Loan him out but what aboout a specific purchase this Summer?

Right Wing; Bailey looks to be on the fringes at the moment so any prospect for him to be sold would be taken. Leaving us with Kadan Young; untested and won't be relied upon by Emery for anything except development potential. Again no specific purchase on the horizon here because we have a few who can cover this tactical position if needed.

Attack; The danger here is if we let Watkins go to finish his career at Arse or anywhere else. Would leave us with only Malen as Rashford will not stay: either we won't buy him or he will engineer a move out of Yanited to elsewhere. I like Malen but we need at least one if not two purchases if Watkins goes. Let's give Wilson and Barry some chances in pre-season to step up but that only offers one backup.

Overall; Need 3 distinct purchases (GK, CB(R), Att) but that only covers absolute need; we will have to have a couple of the younger members step up as Bogarde did this year and we will probably have to get two experienced covers in on loan (Att and wingers). As with this season however the issue could be offering squad places to these loan players and squeezing-out contract players to do so.

GK; Martinez, (ANO?), Gauci, Marschall*, Zych*.
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CB; Konsa, ANO, Mings, Torres, Bogarde, Ozkan, Amundsen-Dey*.

RB: Cash, Garcia, Kesler-Hayden*.

LB; Digne, Maatsen, Lino Sousa?*.
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DM; Barkley, Kamara, Onana,

CM; McGinn, Ramsey, Tielemans, O'Reilly*, Nypan?
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AM; Buendia?, Rogers, (Barry?)

Wingers; Bailey, Young*.

Strikers; Malen, Watkins, ANO, Wilson

Some development cover at all positions EXCEPT defensive midfield.

[Steve67]

I'd like to see kkh given a chance in preseason. 

[Beard82]

I think well see some changes in the summer - and I do think that a few players are approaching the end of the road with us.  The big part of the core of the team is still Dean Smiths squad and I think with out UCL we will struggle to keep them all due to FFP challanges.  I dont think it is the end of an era, but I think we could see a couple of big sales to balance the books, and maybe some popular faces move on too. 

Whilst every player has a value - I think Unai would ideally like to hold onto Emi, Pau, Konsa, Kamara, Onnana, Matasaan, Youri, Rogers, Ramsay, McGinn
I think the following players may move on due to it suiting all parties might feel the time :  Digne, Mings, Ollie, Bailey, Cash, Emi2

I think the summer hinges on how much money we can get for that second set to players and how easy they are to move on, to allow us to keep the first set of players. 

I think none of the loans are made permenent - but Marco may come back next season

[SoccerHQ]

Nah the criticism Ollie gets is way over the top. He can be i proved upon, but there's other surgery I'd rather see carried out.

Yep. Right back being top of my list.

Agree on the right-back, but when Leeds or Burnley come in for the current one they won't be paying much more than we bought him for.

Cash is better than just signing for a promoted team come on now, I wonder if Forest might want him back as they'll need more numbers and experience for CL.

Leeds will probably come in more for someone like Buendia. Good to see he's starting and scoring for Leverkusen so we should still get 10m for him given they're an elite club these days.

Will be another summer of selling fringe players and we could actually get around 40m for Buendia, Barkley, Ned and Enzo. Would've added Louie Barry to that but with his injury probably more a case of finding him another loan and then selling him next January.

We do that and sell one regular first teamer and that will be about 80m so would make up the shortfall from not making CL.

[Sexual Ealing]

Nah the criticism Ollie gets is way over the top. He can be i proved upon, but there's other surgery I'd rather see carried out.

Yep. Right back being top of my list.

Agree on the right-back, but when Leeds or Burnley come in for the current one they won't be paying much more than we bought him for.

Cash is better than just signing for a promoted team come on now, I wonder if Forest might want him back as they'll need more numbers and experience for CL.

Forest could sign someone from Brugge, Young Boys or Celtic if they just need numbers and CL experience. Much cheaper and just as good.

[SoccerHQ]

I'd like to see kkh given a chance in preseason. 

Burnley want him so that feels this summer's Tim transfer. 6-7m rising to 10m + with appearances, Burnley staying up, possible future England caps etc.

We could make 20m + from two RBs who've played less than five games between them for us as Nedeljkovic started for Leipzig again yesterday so clearly they like him more than Unai did so that will become a permanent once the summer window opens.

[fredm]

I think Bogarde should be given a go as defensive midfield. That is where he started and got brilliant marks when playing there. he has good control and can see a pass onward. It was only when we had injuries etc that he was brought into the first team as cover in different positions.

[SoccerHQ]

Nah the criticism Ollie gets is way over the top. He can be i proved upon, but there's other surgery I'd rather see carried out.

Yep. Right back being top of my list.

Agree on the right-back, but when Leeds or Burnley come in for the current one they won't be paying much more than we bought him for.

Cash is better than just signing for a promoted team come on now, I wonder if Forest might want him back as they'll need more numbers and experience for CL.

Forest could sign someone from Brugge, Young Boys or Celtic if they just need numbers and CL experience. Much cheaper and just as good.

They've signed Moreno, Elanga, Chris Wood and Hudson Odoi in last two years so that suggests as a club they like prem experienced players making up half of their squad.

If not just offer him to likes of West Ham or Fulham.

We know his level but our level generally over the last two years has been very good in the league so just because he can't hit top 6 standard regularly dosen't mean he isn't good enough for a side in 9th-10th.

Would be a good fit for Everton aswell who under Moyes might creep up to those places next season. They've just had half a season of playing Ashley Young at RB.

[OCD]

I think Bogarde should be given a go as defensive midfield. That is where he started and got brilliant marks when playing there. he has good control and can see a pass onward. It was only when we had injuries etc that he was brought into the first team as cover in different positions.

You could say the same about Barrenchea though as he's played a key role in Valencia's second half run of form which has seen them be third best since Corberan took over.

[SoccerHQ]

I think Bogarde should be given a go as defensive midfield. That is where he started and got brilliant marks when playing there. he has good control and can see a pass onward. It was only when we had injuries etc that he was brought into the first team as cover in different positions.

You could say the same about Barrenchea though as he's played a key role in Valencia's second half run of form which has seen them be third best since Corberan took over.

Enzo's done really well there. We'll be getting offers for him aswell especially as he's on the fringes of the Argentina squad now, think Atletico Madrid have been linked already.

[OCD]

Emery seemed to reluctantly let him leave on loan when he did. Unless we have to use him for PSR, he could come into his thinking again in pre-season.

[Ads]

I like Garcia, but feel we need a first choice right back to replace Cash. Same with Mings and Torres; likely PSR value in the later and the former isn't good enough on the ball- they'd be the perfect centre half mashed together. Everywhere else I like.

Emi can't have as poor as season again as this (he says) and whether we sign Rashford or Asensio, I'd back us to fill the positions anyway.

Defensively, as we know, we're just ropey particularly anybody but Konsa in duals.

[edgysatsuma89]

I'll be a little pissed off by the end of the next window if Cash is still our first choice RB.