How will Aston Villa fair next season after multiple departures with more set to happen.

The Departures

    In the summer transfer window, Aston Villa have seen some major losses from the team that won the Europa League. Youri Tielemans, a crucial playmaker, has left for Manchester United and Morgan Rodgers, a hybrid midfielder and winger who uses elite dribbling and long shots to score and assist many goals. Starboy in between the sticks, Emi Martinez is set to leave as he didn't play on Sunday in a humiliating defeat away to Brighton. In the recent days, Saudi club, Al Hilal have expressed interest in star striker, Ollie Watkins, who is wanting to go ahead with the move. This will be a major loss for The Villa as their main striker is set to leave with no real replacement. In defense, Ezri Konsa has gone from Birmingham to London, joining the Champions, Arsenal. This sale makes a gaping hole as Konsa was an elite 1v1 modern defender who had a 95% passsing accuracy. Finally, starting left-back, Lucas Digne has also departed the Birmingham side to European champions, PSG; again, this takes away another one of their starting players.

How does this impact Aston Villa?

    These departures have an astronomical impact on Aston Villa and their squad, but also their finances. They have been on thin ice with PSR(Profit and Sustainability Rules), they have a net spend of £117.4m after receiving a total of £256.9m from player sales and getting their replacements. This has given the club more commercial growth and has boosted their sponsorships with Adidas and Betano. On the pitch, these sales mean that there needs to be a rebuild of Aston Villa and their departures need to be replaced. These players that have been sold provided immense value to the Villa squad and provided depth and experience into a team that had to play European and Premier League football. Their replacements have to match the skill and quality of their predecessors and hit the ground running. The Champions League return additionally means that they need even more strength in depth and quality players who can compete with the big guns both in the Champions League and the Premier League.

Who are these replacements?

    With their money from sales, Aston Villa have made moves in the market to replace these players. Alejandro Garnacho has joined from Chelsea on an initial loan with an obligation to buy if he plays over 10 games. He is a rapid winger who is going to replace Morgan Rodgers. With Martinez set to leave, Villa have penned Japan international, Zion Suzuki from Parma. In addition, to fill their left-back vacancy is Matteo Ruggeri, who brings defensive stability and aerial dominance to Villa Park. In midfield, they have signed Joao Gomes from Wolves who got off to a nightmare start after conceding a penalty and getting sent off in his Aston Villa debut. Johan Manzanbi has arrived as their marquee attacking threat tasked with filling the Morgan Rodgers and Ollie Watkins shaped hole. The club have also reached a verbal agreement for Leon Goretzka to join to add to the midfield.

How will Aston Villa do next season?

    With Champions League and Premier League next season combined with multiple big-name departures, it will be a struggle for Aston Villa to replicate last season. They don't have enough strength in depth to compete with the big guns and many of their new signings are not proven in the Premier League. However, manager, Unai Emery is renowned for fostering talent and will have aims to do that with his new bunch of players. Due to their high profile departures and busy schedule, it may well be a mid table finish for the Birmingham side.

Final Words