Unai Emery left red-faced as Aston Villa’s transfer strategy takes yet another new blow
Aston Villa’s winter transfer window sales are looking more detrimental by the week.
After a period where it seemed nothing could go wrong for Unai Emery’s side in the Premier League, they are now struggling to hang onto their position in the Champions League places.
Villa were smashed 4-1 by Chelsea on Wednesday evening, and now sit fourth in the table, just three points clear of Liverpool in sixth.
To make matters worse, two of the players they sold in the mid-season window are showing superb form for their new clubs.
Donyell Malen wins Serie A Player of the Month
Aston Villa let Donyell Malen join Roma on loan back in January, with an obligation to buy included in the deal if the Italian side qualify for the Champions League.
Malen has been on fire since his move to the Serie A, and scored four goals in as many league appearances across the course of February.
The Dutch international has now been awarded the Serie A Player of the Month award for February.
Malen’s departure raised eyebrows back in January, and there will be even more questions about why Villa let him leave after his superb start to life at Roma.
The 27-year-old is not the only player thriving after a move away from Villa Park, either.
Evann Guessand wins Crystal Palace POTM
Evann Guessand never got going at Aston Villa and didn’t seem to fit into Emery’s system.
The Ivorian came in from Nice with a fair amount of expectation, but after failing to score a single Premier League goal in the first half of the season, he was sent to Crystal Palace on loan.
Guessand’s temporary move to Palace will be made permanent if he picks up eight goal contributions in the second half of the campaign, and he is already well on his way to achieving that.
The forward has already scored twice and grabbed an assist since joining the Eagles, and has now been announced as the club’s player of the month for February.
The fact that Guessand and Malen are excelling away from Villa Park will only leave Emery more frustrated at his side’s poor form.
Emery allowed the pair to leave as they didn’t fit into his plans, but the Spaniard may now be regretting that decision.
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