Summer 26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[jwarry]

I'm old enough to remember Sir Brian's first forays into the transfer market, where we bought almost an entire team in his first few months, starting with Ian Taylor and ending with Savo. Some brilliant players, an unrecognisable starting 11 within 6 months.

I'm getting similar vibes here.

So am I, except Brian never had a clue who Savo was, and I seriously doubt Unai would take such risks!

[RamboandBruno]

I will say this, neither Rogers or Tielemans transformed us, we were already pretty good before they arrived.

Really good point.

It’s kind of subjective though, I’d argue they took us to another level. Not just them, but they were integral to us winning a trophy for the first time in 30 years.

Its more complex though isnt it. Winning the europa was amazing, first trophy in 30 years. I think we’ve had the best team over the last few years under Emery than for a generation. However, I don’t necessarily see 2025/26 version as better than 23/24 when we first qualified for the champions league. Martinez injury scuppered us winning the conference imo, but the Luiz-Kamara partnership was brilliant and Diaby/Bailey were great for large parts of that season too. Not saying Youri and Rogers wont be missed, they will, but we’ve transformed previously with Unai.

[Villafirst]

The noise around Estupinan is getting louder. Fee and personal terms agreed apparently. Sounds like a solid reliable player Emery has worked with before.

[PeterWithesShin]

Amadou Onana's ACL injury has been the "biggest blow" for Aston Villa amid a rocky few weeks.

That is according to Villa chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the Belgian's injury will have a bigger impact at Villa Park than Youri Tielemans' departure.

The midfielder ruptured his ACL in his country's last 16 win over USA at the World Cup, and is now facing a prolonged injury lay-off.

Wyness believes that his former club were planning to sell the 24-year-old prior to his injury, but will now be unable to do so.

Onana's injury has provided a setback for Unai Emery in terms of the squad's midfield depth, and Tielemans' move to Manchester United has now exacerbated that further.

Both players made 25 appearances in the Premier League last season, and have been key men for Villa in recent seasons.

Aston Villa have lost ‘£50m' through Amadou Onana injury

Villa's former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Villa Park between 2016 and 2018 and now runs a consultancy business advising elite clubs – believes that his former club could have made up to £50million from selling Onana this summer.

They only got £35m for Tielemans, but a sale of Onana as well would have gone a long way towards easing their financial issues.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness emphasised that the injury has been the biggest hit for Villa in recent weeks.

"Look, the Onana injury to me is really the biggest blow of the whole Villa situation because I think they were planning on getting some money for him," he said.

"He was going to be going, and I think that would have been another £40m, possibly £50m coming in, and that together with the Tielemans money would have been significant and enough to bring in the quality they're looking for.

"An extra £35m is obviously very helpful for Villa, who are right on that borderline. But it's not going to be the game-changing amount."

Keith Wyness: Aston Villa and Newcastle trapped by 'misplaced' rules: 'It just isn't fair...' Villa trapped by ‘misplaced' UEFA rule

Wyness told Football Insider earlier this week that both Villa and Newcastle are trapped by UEFA's "misplaced" financial rules, that have seen both clubs hit with significant fines of late.

The Scottish businessman believes that the governing body's football earnings rule and their squad-cost ratio are unfairly prohibitive to certain clubs.

He feels that they prevent clubs like Villa and Newcastle, who have wealthy owners that are willing to spend, from progressing to challenge the established elite.

Villa have just been hit with a fresh £19m fine from UEFA, and although £12.9m of it is suspended, it is likely to come into play this time next year.

[dave.woodhall]

Keith Wyness is a bit of a buffoon.

[PeterWithesShin]

Bit?

[Rotterdam]

'That is according to Villa chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider' - former chief executive.

Nothing new here, just some chap's opinion who used to work at Villa.

[PaulWinch again]

No seems a little out of date.

[brontebilly]

Any talk of Mings moving on?

[kippaxvilla2]

Apparently we are in for Conor Hourihane from Barnsley - any ideas what he is like?

[jwarry]

Bit?

Indeed

[eamonn]

No seems a little out of date.

Elvis impersonator on Blackpool Pier.

[brontebilly]

So where are we now squad wise, 5 weeks out from Brighton game:

GK Martinez, Bizot

Guess we will hear more about Martinez situation in next few weeks. Maybe there's been too much change in the squad already to consider swapping out our keeper. Does he have a broken finger still too? 50/50 on whether we have a new no.1 by end of August. Unfortunately I see this one dragging out to the end of the window. Trafford has been linked as his replacement for what feels like years.

Defence
Cash, Konsa, Torres, Mings, Maatsen, Lindelof

Esptupian and Royal heavily linked but not exactly exciting. I'd like to see us ideally move Mings on for a Torres type ball playing centre back. I think Konsa will stay despite all the Arsenal talk. Can Maatsen finally deliver consistently?

Midfield

Gomes, Kamara (injured to end of Oct?), McGinn, Buendia, Manzambi, Barkley, Bogarde, Alysson

Emery likes Barkley but suspect he's off for a longer deal elsewhere. Id be surprised if Alysson or Bogarde are at the club by end of August. Palhinha to replace Onana has been well flagged. Still no obvious mini McGinn coming in or ball player to replace Tielemans. If we could get Wharton I really rate him in midfield and he could be the perfect Emery player.

Forwards

Watkins, Tammy

Links to Jackson are underwhelming. No way to selling Ollie after the way he was treated at World Cup, he will have a point to prove next season. Tammy looked a bit lost in truth last season when he came in but hopefully a big pre season in him and he can kick on. 

[ExclDawg]

Before the summer started, I was thinking we needed RB cover, CB cover and some wingers.  Since then, we lost Digne, Tielemans, Rogers and Onana to injury.  So I'm curious what the rumors are and what everyone's preferred choices are:

LB: Digne GONE → Estupinan?
CB: Cover needed → I forgot about the Cisse deal, looks like he might fit here.
RB: Cover needed → Royal?
CDM: Onana INJURY → João Gomes
CM: Tielemans GONE → Gabriel Sara rumour?
CAM: Rogers GONE → Johan Manzambi
LW: Previous need → Summerville, Rowe, Rashford?
RW: Previous need → Ibrahim Mbaye, Rafael Leão?

[Dogtanian]

I am pretty sure Cisse hasn't joined for the academy, he will be in the first team group.