Aston Villa have lost 'the heart of the club' - Unai Emery is 'not happy'
Aston Villa have been gutted by the departures of Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers and may struggle next season.
That is the opinion of former senior Villa scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
Both players have left the club this summer, earning the Villans over £150million in transfer fees in moves to Chelsea and Manchester United.
It remains to be seen how Villa cope without them, however, after they played such a key role in last season's Europa League-winning campaign.
Lucas Digne will also leave the club in the coming days, and there remains talks over the futures of Emi Martinez, Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa.
Villa have brought in Johan Manzambi, Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Gomes, but there is a strong feeling that Unai Emery's squad needs even more.
'I wouldn't think Unai Emery would be very happy'
When Villa won the Europa League and qualified for the Champions League, fans would have thought a big summer was coming.
The extra money received from their success would surely qualm the profit and sustainability issues, allowing decision-makers to build on the quality already present.
Instead, Villa have been ruthlessly gutted, losing arguably their two best players to rivals.
"I think the heart of the football club has gone, because those two players, Rogers and Tielemans, they were essential in making Villa tick," King told Football Insider.
"When they played together, Villa were a very difficult side to beat, and to lose that quality, OK, we're looking at a lot of money coming into the club.
"They bought the boy from Freiburg. I don't think he's anywhere near as good as Tielemans. And as for bringing in Garnacho as some part of a deal for Rogers, I can't see it.
"Is this the board or the people who are running the club? Or the people who own the club who are making these decisions? If they are, I wouldn't think Emery would be very happy about it.
"It's going to be difficult. It's going to be difficult to change a side that has done so well. Seems very strange business for me."
Aston Villa in precarious situation
Many comparisons have been drawn between Villa and Newcastle United this summer, with both clubs struggling against the financial rules.
The Villans have recruited far more handily in recent years, however, and have managed to continue to build under Emery.
They find themselves in a precarious position this summer, however, and could easily fall into a similar situation to the one unfolding at St James' Park.
In Emery, they have a coach capable of producing success with whatever he has at his disposal. They cannot risk losing him.