‘I’m absolutely certain’ – Jeff Stelling adamant Aston Villa just went against Unai Emery’s wishes
Unai Emery appears to have been left frustrated by the Aston Villa hierarchy following the closing of the summer transfer window.
The Villains were treated to three separate deals on transfer deadline day. Villa signed Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho joined on loan, with Vitor Lindelof completing the trio of deals.
Dan Plumley exclusively told Football Insider that Aston Villa were forced to sell Jacob Ramsey with the threat of further financial sanctions looming at Villa Park.
Before the final day of the window, Aston Villa had only signed Marco Bizot and Evann Guessand to their team, who both came straight into the lineup for the 2025/26 campaign.
Sadly, the Villans’ form from last season has not continued, with the club currently sitting 19th in the Premier League table, and there are suggestions problems might run a little deeper…
Jacob Ramsey’s exit causes frustration at Aston Villa
Speaking about Villa’s recent business, Stelling believes letting Ramsey leave to join Newcastle United would have gone against Emery’s wishes.
“They had to sell Jacob Ramsey, which I’m absolutely certain Unai Emery did not want to do. With [Emi] Martinez, I think they probably wanted him out,” he told talkSPORT (3 August).
“It’d have been a huge amount off the wage bill. I like Harvey Elliott a lot, and they’ve brought in Jadon Sancho as well, who might turn the clocks back. Victor Lindelof… My hands are tied, but I’m not impressed.”
It is also now understood that goalkeeper Senne Lammens snubbed Villa for a “dream” move to Man United despite the Red Devils submitting a lower transfer offer to Royal Antwerp.
What has Unai Emery said about Jacob Ramsey’s exit?
The 24-year-old joined Newcastle United on a deal worth up to £43million [Sky Sports], with the Magpies clearly submitting an offer that could not be turned down this summer.
However, when speaking to the media after John McGinn expressed his sadness about the transfer, Emery said: “I agree with the players, with the same message they sent. I agree, but we have to move on and try to do our best.
He continued: “There are always three circumstances (with any potential transfer), one is the club, second is the team, then there are the player’s wishes.
“Those three circumstances, if there are two, it is getting the objective. We did everything linking those three circumstances, with the players and those who are leaving.”
Selling one of the local players to their direct rivals was clearly not part of Emery’s plans this summer, but given the financial struggles for the Villans, the club may have had no choice in the matter.
Villa cruelly missed out on Champions League qualification last season, and the impact from the fallout is still having a huge impact at Villa Park. Fans, though, will be hoping the manager can turn things around.