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Aston Villa: Monchi makes transfer admission after 'very complicated' summer
Aston Villa chief Monchi has admitted the club had a “very complicated” transfer window, but the Spaniard is pleased with the overall business.
The Villans brought in Youri Tielemans, Pau Torres, Moussa Diaby, Nicolo Zaniolo and Clement Lenglet – the latter two on loan – during the summer.
The likes of Cameron Archer, Aaron Ramsey and Jaden Philogene were moved on, meanwhile, for a hefty reported combined profit of £30million.
Villa only appointed Monchi as their president of football operations in June, meaning the former Sevilla transfer guru had to quickly get to work.
Reflecting on a busy first few months at Villa Park, Monchi told the club’s official website [19 September]: “It has been a very complicated and hard-working summer.
“But I think we should be satisfied with what we have done, as we have kept all the important players plus the arrival of the five.
“The sales have basically been to balance our FFP, but in most cases we have repurchase options, so I think we have covered our backs.”
Exciting times
Unai Emery cannot complain that he was not sufficiently backed in the summer, with the arrivals of Diaby and Torres particularly eye-catching.
Villa are competing on multiple fronts this campaign with the addition of Europa Conference League football to add to their already busy domestic schedule.
Emery has the opportunity to rotate his side between matches, though, and there is no doubt that the Villans have a squad capable of challenging for the European spots again in the Premier League.
The appointment of Monchi, who worked closely with Emery at Sevilla, will only enhance Villa’s ability to bring in some star names in future windows.
Losing the likes of Archer, Ramsey and Philogene was slightly disappointing, but Villa’s squad is stronger this season than it was last time around, which is all you can hope for at the end of any transfer window.
On the basis of the first month or so of the campaign, there is plenty to be excited about over the next eight months.
In other Aston Villa news, Emery should consider handing a fringe player a starting role in the European clash with Legia Warszawa.