Unai Emery ready to take Aston Villa to ‘next level’ as Champions League transfer plans emerge
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery will be able to take his side to the “next level” during the summer transfer window if the Villans qualify for the Champions League, according to Alan Hutton.
Villa’s 3-2 win over Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on Saturday (2 March) courtesy of an Ollie Watkins brace and a late header from Lucas Digne ensured that Emery’s side remain five points ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham, who have a game in hand.
Ange Postecoglou’s side make the trip to Villa Park on Sunday (10 March) as they look to close the gap and give themselves a chance of leapfrogging Emery’s side as they look to book their place in next season’s Champions League.
While Hutton isn’t getting ahead of himself yet, he believes Villa supporters can expect an “interesting” summer transfer window as those in charge at Villa Park have the money to make dramatic changes.
“I think it takes you to the next level,” Hutton told Villa News.
“This was always the way that Villa wanted to move forward and they’ve progressed really quickly, especially since Unai Emery came in. I think the targets that they’ve picked out have been at the next level when you think about Torres and those kinds of guys coming in.
“Then you go again. If you’re a Champions League team, your targets slightly change. The quality there, the price tag probably goes up because you know the level that you’re going to be competing against next year.
“Villa have got the funds and are capable of doing that, so it will be an interesting summer if they do get Champions League football to see who they actually go for.”
Will Aston Villa be able to book their place in next season’s Champions League?
While Villa have already been linked with a whole host of players before they have even booked their place in the Champions League, the entirety of Emery’s focus will be on ensuring that Villa take their place in the top four this season.
There is still plenty of football to be played over the coming months and plenty of time for one of Villa or Spurs to slip up. It would be incredibly naive of anyone involved with Aston Villa to just assume that Emery’s side will make the grade.
However, Villa have shown that they are willing to back the Spanish manager in the transfer market in the past and that is unlikely to change come the end of the season. Whatever happens, it could be an exciting time to be at Villa Park.
In other Aston Villa news, Emery is already expected to have made a decision on Nicolo Zaniolo’s long-term future at Villa Park
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