Unai Emery’s side could be in contention to win the Premier League with a successful transfer window
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It was impossible to imagine that Aston Villa would be protagonists in the Premier League title race after that nightmarish first month of the season, but now the January transfer window could be pivotal in determining whether Unai Emery can win the second league title of his career.
Villa have only been crowned champions of England once since the First World War but their urgency in the transfer market this winter hasn’t really reflected that, as they’ve made just two signings combining for less than £20 million. Emi Martinez, John McGinn and Ollie Watkins are already in their 30s while Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Matty Cash and Youri Tielemans will enter their fourth decade by the end of 2027 so this could well be The Villans’ best chance in at least generation to win the Premier League.
So there will be a huge temptation to target some marquee signings at least on loan to try and push Arsenal and Manchester City all the way. And with that sentiment in mind, we fired up Football Manager 26 to see what the window could have in store…
Aston Villa’s predicted January transfer window
Oscar - £8m from Slavia Prague - Don’t get too excited - this isn’t the Oscar that lit up the Premier League a decade ago, he’s now playing for Sao Paulo aged 34. Instead, he’s been holding down the midfield for Slavia Prague and Liberia, and aged 27 he wouldn’t do much to inject youth into an aging Aston Villa squad that’s the second-oldest in the Premier League.
He’s primarily a defensive midfielder but would be a useful rotation piece for Boubacar Kamara, Lamare Bogarde and Amadou Onana. But given Aston Villa’s miserly transfer business under Emery, is that really worth splashing out on a depth addition?
Thomas Lemar - £11.5m from Atletico Madrid - Even older than Oscar, Lemar was once linked with a big-money move to Liverpool but opted to stay on the continent and has spent the first half of this season at Girona, on loan from Atletico Madrid. Unlike Oscar, he may well be worth a punt and his versatility is certainly an asset, as he’s able to play on either flank or through the middle.
A World Cup winner with France, Lemar played over 300 games combined for Atletico Madrid and Monaco, though he’s only played 754 minutes in the last three season due to injuries, after he stayed fairly fit throughout the early part of his career. As the season progresses and the games stack up, someone like Lemar would be hugely valuable to Emery, though he’d probably have little sell-on value unless a Saudi club comes in when the Frenchman is into his mid-30s.
Callum Olusesi - £3.3m from Tottenham Hotspur - Finally a youngster, though Olusesi would surely be too inexperienced to contribute to Unai Emery’s side this season. The midfielder has played a solitary minute for Spurs’ senior team and his appearances have been restricted to their Under-21s side this season - Olusesi has also played in England youth teams.
Once again, it’s not really a true impact signing that will have Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola quaking in their boots. However, Aston Villa will need players like Olusesi breaking into the first team over the coming seasons as their elderly squad continues to age.
Malen department a major blow
Donyell Malen - £10.25m to Girona - This would be a dark day for Villa. Second only to Rogers for goals this season at the club and boasting one of the best strike rates in England at a goal every 158 minutes, Malen has been sensational at times after a difficult first few months where he was overshadowed by late loan signings Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio.
And it’s players like Malen that Emery will need if his seed go deep in either or both of the FA Cup and Europa League. Though he’s reportedly unhappy at Villa Park, this would also mark a significant eight-figure loss for The Villans that they can ill afford - a catastrophe all round. In real life, of course, he’s just agreed a £25m move to Roma. Better than £10m, at least...
Josh Feeney also departs for Swansea City on loan, with The Swans treading water in the EFL Championship - eight points above the relegation zone and nine below the playoffs. And I-Lani Edwards moves to Chesterfield for a nominal fee.