Aston Villa had a very productive but interesting summer transfer window.
In truth, ever since Aston Villa returned to the big time, there has always been an intrigue about what the team do in the transfer market from selling Jack Grealish for £100 million to signing Danny Ings out of the blue.
But the recent summer window was a little different because the powers that be were forced to sell a few key players to meet financial rules.
Douglas Luiz’s transfer to Juventus was the main headline, with Unai Emery not being able to flex his muscles as much as he would like, in terms of incomings.
The feeling is that Villa were short in certain areas, at the back, perhaps needing a centre-back, who could also fill in at right-back, but also extra legs in the middle of the park.
That’s why it’s going to be interesting, come the January transfer window and depending on how much the club can spend, who they push for in the market.
But a recent report from GiveMeSport has probably indicated to all that Emery is still looking to bolster his midfield.
Aston Villa interested in signing Angel Gomes
It has been reported that Villa are keen on England and Lille midfielder, Angel Gomes, who recently impressed for England.
Gomes set up Grealish for his goal as England beat Finland in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday, with interim boss Lee Carlsey handing him his debut cap in September after working with him at the younger age groups.
Grealish labelled the midfield technician a ‘top player’ and how he knows that from training with the player every day at St George’s Park.
Villa beat Lille in the Conference League last season, but Gomes didn’t feature because he was injured, given that Villa won on penalties over two legs, you sense if he was available, then the end result would have been different.
Angel Gomes would thrive under Unai Emery
What’s interesting here is that the 25-year-old is out of contract next summer, so he can sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club in January.
The issue for Villa is that they aren’t the only ones keen on Gomes’ services because Manchester United – where he came through – Tottenham and Newcastle United are also on the radar.
Emery has worked wonders at Villa and one of the ways he has done that is by improving the current crop of players.
Ollie Watkins has become one of the best players in Europe and a player like Gomes can look at that knowing he can take his game to those heights too if he were to make the switch to the Midlands.
