Unai Emery plans clear at Aston Villa as McGinn hits out at ‘unfair’ rules
Aston Villa have so far struggled during the summer transfer window as Premier League rivals look to be continuously adding to their squads.
The Villans have failed to make any sort of transfer breakthrough, and with the threat of Profit and Sustainability Rules continuing to hang over them, supporters are worried.
Unai Emery’s side had looked to have kicked things off by closing in on the signing of Jaydee Canvot, though those talks have now gone quiet.
Now, Captain John McGinn has hit out at the Premier League‘s controversial rules.
McGinn brands financial rules ‘unfair’
While Villa are forced to sit around and twiddle their thumbs, top-flight giants such as Liverpool continue to spend millions.
After missing out on the Champions League by a refereeing error and even managing to make the PSR deadline, it feels unfair that Emery’s side must continue to suffer this summer.
Captain McGinn feels the same way.
“There will be a tinge of jealousy watching the Champions League this year, but our aim is to go as far as we possibly can in the Europa League,” McGinn told BirminghamLive (3 August).
“We have seen the impact it has now. I don’t know any details about that, but you don’t have to be clever to realise that if you want to compete with the big boys, there are rules which are pretty much unfair if you ask me.”
With Villa unable to make many moves in the coming weeks, Emery now plans to make the best out of a bad situation and get the most out of the players he has at his disposal.
Speaking on the Villans’ pre-season tour of the United States, Emery said: “Progressively, we are getting better in everything.
“We are improving the players, and some who are joining us increase the level. Everything is in the structure and we are getting confidence.
“To keep it is our challenge. To be consistent and progressively is the challenge we have. We need young players and the players we have to be demanding of ourselves.”
Emery is effectively saying he needs to continue getting the most out of those at his disposal, while hopefully being allowed to also bring in one or two more faces.
The claret and blue outfit still plan to add to their squad should the right player become available, but any additions are likely to be ones for the future.
However, any dreams of spending £60million on the likes of Alejandro Garnacho this summer now seem dead and buried.
Emery must fight to keep prized assets
Following the latest revelations, there is added importance for Emery to keep Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins at the club.
- Watkins surpassed Gabriel Agbonlahor as Villa’s all-time Premier League scorer at the end of last season, reaching 75 goals
- Rogers has managed 33 goal contributions in 70 games for the Villans
The pair have been linked with moves away this summer, with pressure set to grow in regards to the Watkins transfer.
As well as keeping hold of those two, more new faces also need to be recruited.
And will Emery at the helm, there is absolutely no reason why Villa cannot be in for another strong season even if the summer has not gone as many had hoped so far.
Sign up for the Villa News WhatsApp channel and turn on notifications to have all the latest, breaking Aston Villa news sent straight to your phone.