Rashford, Asensio & Onana in, Durán, Diaby & Luiz out – Could too much change hold Villa back?

​

13 signings this season 

©TM/IMAGO

What Aston Villa achieved last season in the Premier League was nothing short of a miracle, and a real blow to the modern status quo of the English top-flight. Unai Emery oversaw a remarkable revolution that saw the Midlands side break into the top four and seal qualification into the Champions League. When Emery had replaced Steven Gerrard as Villa boss, just 11 games into the 2022/23 season, the club were 17th in the table. Most younger Villa fans, who don’t remember the glory years in the 1980’s, will tell you it was their favourite season supporting their club. There was a real connection there between the supporters and the team for all to see.

If you had told those same fans following the 3-3 draw against Liverpool last May, that practically secured a top four finish, that Douglas Luiz, Moussa Diaby, Diego Carlos, Jhon Durán, and Alex Moreno, would all no longer be at the club just over eight months later, there would certainly be some shock. If you also informed them that Marcus Rashford, three-time Champions League winner Marco Asensio, Amadou Onana, Donyell Malen and Axel Disasi would all be Villains in that same timeframe, excitement and confusion would probably stir. It’s been a frantic couple of windows for Villa. They’ve been juggling financial restrictions with on-field ambitions, and its resulted in a tumultuous change of personnel. 

Aston Villa’s exciting new squad

Whilst eight Premier League clubs failed to spend a penny in the winter transfer window, there was no shortage of excitement at Villa Park. With the trio of late loan signings of Rashford, Asensio and Disasi, Villa have brought in some real quality. Asensio is a player who has scored in a Champions League final and won countless trophies with one of, if not the biggest club in Europe in Real Madrid. Rashford has won the Europa League, the FA Cup and the EFL Cup and been to numerous major international tournaments with England. Disasi has played a cameo role from the bench in the World Cup final with France. Add to that, the signing of last season’s Champions League finalist Malen for €25m from Borussia Dortmund, and young prospect García arriving from Levante, and it’s been a dramatic and gripping window for Villa.

It was also a busy summer window for Villa, as they brought in Onana (€59.4m), Ian Maatsen (€44.5m) and Cameron Archer (€16.7m), among others, spending a total of €176.2m. Villa have definitely maintained squad depth, whilst also juggling their finances in order to comply with the Premier League’s PSR (Profit and Sustainability) rules. Which is some achievement. If it all goes to plan, there’s undoubtedly a lot of quality on show. However, players take time to gel, and there has been plenty of upheaval involving the core of the side. Add to that, the fact that while Rashford and Asensio are extremely talented, extracting that quality has been difficult in recent years, and certainly represents a risk.

Could too much change hold back Aston Villa’s progress?

As illustrated in the graphic above, from an XI Aston Villa could have realistically fielded last season, five of those 11 players have now left the club. Whilst Durán rarely started last term (just two Premier League starts), he was a key player from the bench, which only intensified in the first half of this season. Diaby got 14 goal involvements in his first season in the Premier League, and there was still a feeling there was more to come from the Frenchman. Moreno was often rotated with Lucas Digne, but provided a sturdy option. Centre-half Carlos had injury problems to contend with but still played a huge part in Villa’s historic season. All of those players have now moved on.

However, perhaps the biggest departure was that of midfielder Luiz. He had been a revelation since arriving from Manchester City for just €16.8m in 2019. For a long period, the Brazilian had been linked with a move to some of Europe’s top clubs, including Liverpool, Arsenal, and even a return to Man City. Nevertheless, many predicted that Villa achieving Champions League football might have been enough for him to continue his stay at Villa Park. His €51.8m sale to Italian giants Juventus unquestionably represented serious profit, and since that move, Luiz has struggled in Turin. He was even linked with a January move back to the Premier League. Financially the deal made sense, but in losing Luiz, Villa weren’t only losing a top midfielder, but a leader who had been integral in their remarkable rise.

Many may consider Villa’s thorough transfer windows this season as a success. Quality is there, and finances are balanced – the club actually boast a net profit of +€41.5m this season (largely aided by Duràn’s €77m sale to the Saudi Pro League). They have taken advantage of their position in the Champions League and been very active in the market. However, when a team achieves something as remarkable as Villa did last season under Emery, there can be a feeling that the next step should be to keep that team together and add to it, rather than tear it apart and start from scratch. Of course many of last season’s stars still remain, but there has without doubt been serious upheaval to the squad. For Villa now, stability may be the next step up the ladder. Build a squad capable of consistently qualifying for the Champions League. A squad that knows each other’s game, and what it means to play for Villa.