Sources: Aston Villa big-name trio could leave in January to pave way for arrivals
Aston Villa cannot sign anyone in January unless they lose big earners from their wage bill, sources have told Football Insider.
The Villans must offload Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott back to their parent clubs or sell Ollie Watkins, should they want to bring in new arrivals at Villa Park.
Football Insider revealed on Friday that Villa would accept £35million for Watkins if an offer of that sum arrives in January.
Villa are interested in both Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson ahead of January, with the latter currently on loan at Bayern Munich.
Liverpool are unhappy with Elliott’s lack of game time under Unai Emery, but the midfielder would be unable to play for another European club this season due to FIFA’s rules.
Aston Villa set for key decisions amid unexpected title push
Villa beat Arsenal 2-1 at Villa Park on Saturday, with Emery‘s side now within three points of the top of the Premier League table.
It has been a dramatic turnaround for the Villans, who had started the season without a win in any of their opening six games across all competitions.
| Aston Villa – form (All competitions) |
| Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal |
| Brighton 3-4 Aston Villa |
| Aston Villa 1-0 Wolves |
| Aston Villa 2-1 Young Boys |
| Leeds United 1-2 Aston Villa |
| Aston Villa 4-0 Bournemouth |
| Aston Villa 2-0 Maccabi Tel Aviv |
But with Villa now having won seven consecutive matches, fans have started to dream, and a strong January transfer window will only fuel fantasies of the title.
While Emery would appear ready to let Elliott go in a heartbeat, his attitudes towards Sancho and Watkins may make a potential departure tougher to take.
The Spaniard has started Watkins in all but two of Villa’s Premier League fixtures this season, and while the striker has failed to score more than three goals, his contributions are clearly aiding his team’s form.
Sancho, too, has been among Emery’s first options off the bench in six of the Villans’ last seven Premier League games, and is a regular starter in the Europa League.
Villa need reinforcement at the back
Villa brought in Victor Lindelof on a free transfer in the summer, and the Swede has served as a handy deputy when needed.
But given the injury to Mings, and the lack of depth in the centre of defence past Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres, Emery would likely welcome the arrival of a further option.
That alternative could well come in the form of another cheaper signing, or the Villans could look to push the boat out and sign a defender sure to challenge for a starting role.
Whether Emery would be willing to sacrifice one of his favoured forwards for such an arrival, however, remains to be seen.