credit: Imago

Max Wilkins

Wed 26 March 2025 10:29, UK

Aston Villa chief of football operations Monchi did some excellent work by signing Marco Asensio in the winter window.

The Villans had struggled at times in the first half of the season under Unai Emery and were in need of attacking reinforcements in January.

It is safe to say that the Spaniard got that with the addition of Marcus Rashford and Asensio who have been electric since signing on loan.

With that being said, things could have been so much different if Monchi had landed another one of his targets before the PSG man came in.

Monchi wanted Arda Guler at Aston Villa

Despite the creativity already available in the Villa squad, it was clear that a new attacking midfielder was on the shopping list in the winter.

Asensio came in and has gone on to net seven goals in just eight games across three different competitions, including two in his last game against Club Brugge.

Villa fans wouldn’t like to think where they would be without the 29-year-old but Real Madrid starlet Guler could have been signed instead.

The Turkyie international has struggled with a lack of minutes this campaign and speaking on Radio Marca (25 March), Monchi revealed that he was of interest at Villa Park.

He said: “In January, I thought he was the type of player I typically admire. He’s a player who met a series of requirements that could be attractive to Aston Villa because we were looking for a position that is not the same as the one Marco Asensio occupies, but we were more or less looking for that profile.

“Now there are players between the lines who can play as a 10, he can even play on the outside, coming in. But, in the end, we signed Marco.”

Aston Villa gets it right with Asensio signing

There is no doubt that the teenage sensation would have proved to be an exciting addition if he had joined during the winter.

Monchi could have used his connections to sign Guler but ultimately, it made much more sense to sign a more experienced option.

Asensio has won 22 club trophies in his career and has played for two of the biggest clubs in Europe, proving just how good he can be.

Despite hitting a rough patch in Paris, the opportunity to work under Emery is always bound to get the best out of a player, and it certainly has with the Spanish attacking midfielder.

Morgan Rogers has benefitted from the stewardship of the former Villarreal boss and also looks to be growing alongside Asensio in the side.

Guler wouldn’t have had that same impact and as a result, it is fair to say that Monchi got this one right.