Aston Villa continues to thrive under Unai Emery, securing a spot in the Champions League last 16.
Aston Villa continues to thrive under Unai Emery, securing a spot in the Champions League last 16. While balancing European competition has occasionally impacted their Premier League form, they remain strong contenders for a top-four finish.
Emery’s determination to elevate the squad was evident, especially following the £65m departure of Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. Despite Arsenal’s attempts to sign England striker Ollie Watkins, Villa reinforced their support for Emery by making key signings before the transfer window closed.
Villa fans will be eager to see if Emery can reignite Marcus Rashford’s form after his loan move from Manchester United. Additionally, Marco Asensio, a three-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, brings invaluable experience and tactical intelligence.
Defensive solidity has also been addressed, with Axel Disasi arriving on loan from Chelsea. Meanwhile, Donyell Malen’s transfer from Borussia Dortmund adds pace and attacking depth to the squad.
Tottenham, on the other hand, made a statement in the final hours of the transfer window. They secured a loan deal for Bayern Munich’s 19-year-old forward Mathys Tel, with a potential £50m permanent move and a six-year contract. His addition injects youthful energy into Spurs’ attack.
To further strengthen their backline, Spurs signed Lens’ 26-year-old defender Kevin Danso, capitalizing on Wolverhampton Wanderers’ interest. This move aims to compensate for long-term injuries to Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.
However, after missing out on Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and watching Axel Disasi choose Villa instead, questions remain: Has manager Ange Postecoglou received enough support to solidify his squad?
