Unai Emery jets out to Spain as Aston Villa eye defender transfer
Aston Villa’s Premier League campaign has not yet come to an end but work is seemingly already been done to prepare for next season.
Unai Emery’s men have one final game left to play against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday as they aim to jump into the top five in the final game of the Premier League season.
But there will undoubtedly be talks taking place internally about transfer plans next season, and the rumour mill is already swirling ahead of the summer window.
Emery spotted in Valencia
Emery himself was recently spotted by TV cameras on Sunday (18 May), taking in his former club Valencia’s La Liga clash against Athletic Bilbao.
But it probably wasn’t a nostalgic trip down memory lane for the Spaniard, who managed the Spanish club from 2008–2012.
Earlier this week it was reported that Cristhian Mosquera is being monitored by Villa ahead of a potential summer swoop.
It appears as though Emery was taking the chance to get a first-hand look at the Spanish full-back to cast his own eye on the 20-year-old first hand.
Mosquera played the full 90 minutes as his Valencia side suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to their Basque opposition.
Of course, Emery would also have had the chance to take a look at Villa loanee Enzo Barrenechea, who has spent the campaign at the Mestalla.
Villa keen to get the transfer ball rolling
It’s been widely circulated that Aston Villa will need to navigate the upcoming transfer window with caution, particularly concerning profit and sustainability rules (PSR).
This has led to speculation that player sales, even big names like Emi Martinez, might be necessary before significant incomings.
Behind the scenes at Villa Park, however, an immense amount of work is already underway, meticulously planning both incoming and outgoing deals.
Mosquera’s reportedly a relatively inexpensive option in the modern transfer landscape, valued at around £21million, yet possesses the raw potential to develop into one of the best players in his position.
With Emery dedicating his personal time to watch him play, it’s clear this is a move the Villa boss is exceptionally keen on.