Monchi in Aston Villa transfer talks with Unai Emery as ball gets rolling on new arrivals
We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park…
Alan Hutton guarantees Monchi will already be in talks with Unai Emery as they set about their plans for the summer transfer window.
Aston Villa confirmed on 16 June that Monchi will be joining them from Sevilla to take up the role of president of football operations.
However, he will not officially start his job as Villa’s transfer supremo until 1 July.
Hutton doubts that will be holding anything up for Villa, who have so far only agreed a deal to sign Youri Tielemans on a free transfer from Leicester City.
“I’m sure he’s being a part of their transfer business from afar,” Hutton told Villa News.
“Of course, officially, you start on 1 July at the training ground and what have you. But I guarantee he’s doing his homework and prepping everything that needs to be done. He probably has been for a number of weeks now.
“I don’t see that being an issue. He’ll still be keeping contact with the manager, they’ll be getting down what they need, who they’re looking at, who he knows, who he can possibly get in.
“These will all be conversations that will be happening. I’m pretty sure he won’t be waiting a few days until getting going.”
Emery achieved major success in his debut season at Villa, turning a potential relegation battle under Steven Gerrard into a seventh-placed Premier League finish and qualification for Europe.
Signing Tielemans is no doubt a great start for the Villans but there are still many areas of the squad that need to be strengthened as the club had to deal with their fair share of injury issues last term.
In other Aston Villa news, big-name signings are now on the cards after a behind-the-scenes arrival at Villa Park.