Credit: Imago

Evan Lloyd

Mon 11 May 2026 11:38, UK

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Unai Emery will need to insist that Aston Villa look for a new right-back in the summer transfer window after Matty Cash’s frailties were exposed against Burnley on Sunday.

The defender has been a reliable presence for much of this season, but it was his mistake which led to the Clarets’ equaliser at Turf Moor.

Villa have heavily relied on Cash this season, with their only natural replacement, Andres Garcia, having been injured for almost the entirety of the campaign.

Victor Lindelof and sometimes Ezri Konsa have filled in on the right, but Emery will hope to see a more natural competitor for the Poland international arrive in the coming months.

Villa transfer chiefs will already be drawing up a list of potential targets, with the importance of an incoming intensified after Sunday’s struggles.

Matty Cash’s horror stats vs Burnley

Villa have been linked with Oscar Mingueza ahead of this summer, with the full-back set to leave Celta Vigo on a free transfer.

The 26-year-old has been a regular in La Liga this season and could provide just the competition for Cash that Emery is looking for.

The Poland international certainly needs it, with his performance on Sunday proving exactly why.

Cash went down extremely easily in the build-up to Burnley’s equaliser, but that was not the only bad part of his display.

Shockingly, the defender failed to make more than a single defensive contribution throughout his 80 minutes on the pitch. He won just one duel, losing the rest that he contested.

The 28-year-old was dribbled past twice and dispossessed twice, also being off the mark with the majority of his crosses and failing to create more than one chance.

It was a day to forget for Cash, and it may well have been a eye-opener for Emery ahead of the summer transfer window.

Villa’s options at right-back

There could be several targets on Villa’s radar for right-back ahead of this summer, including Mingueza.

One of them could be Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who looks set to be relegated at the end of the season with West Ham.

Brooke Norton-Cuffy has been regularly linked with a return to the Premier League since leaving the Arsenal academy for Bologna in 2024.

The 22-year-old is currently injured but has enjoyed a superb season in Serie A, scoring twice in 26 appearances.

Emery may well have spent some time coaching the right-back at Arsenal, had he taken part in any senior training sessions when he was 16 or 17.