As we approach the new Premier League season, a number of clubs still have a significant body of work left to complete in the transfer market.
UEFA Europa League champions Aston Villa - who will compete in the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain next week - are one of those, amid a surprising summer overhaul at Villa Park.
Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans have already departed for pastures new, whilst Leon Bailey and Lucas Digne both look set for moves within the next week.
Add this to Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho's expired loans - alongside the season-ending injury at Amadou Onana - and Aston Villa have a job on their hands to secure recruitments ahead of the new season.
Johan Manzambi, Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Gomes have already joined the club, but a number of positions are still light in Unai Emery's squad.
The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell confirmed on the 1874 Podcast that the Villans are in the market for 4-5 new signings this summer, before any other departures throw any more spanners in the works.
Tanswell specifically mentioned five positions, covering both full backs, a defensive midfielder, an attacking midfielder and a second winger, as Emery looks to strengthen his squad for the tribulations of a season back in the UEFA Champions League.
With all that said, we take a look at five players who could be signed before the end of the transfer window at Villa Park.
Left Back - Matteo Ruggeri
Alternatives: Pervis Estupinan & Joaquin Seys
One of the most pressing positions for Aston Villa to fill before the start of the new campaign is left back, with Lucas Digne set to join Paris Saint-Germain for around £8m.
The 33 year-old Frenchman featured in 42 matches for the Villans across all competitions last season, including 31 in the Premier League, registering seven assists in the top flight - the highest of any defender in the division.
According to various reports, Villa's main target to replace Digne had been Pervis Estupinan, though this has since changed due to delay from AC Milan in sanctioning his exit.
This has led to reports that Aston Villa are closing in on a deal to sign Atletico Madrid's 24 year-old Italian defender Matteo Ruggeri, for a fee in the region of €18m plus add ons.
Club Brugge's 21 year-old left back Joaquin Seys had also been linked, however - with Ian Maatsen the Villans' only senior left back at present - a more experienced option seems to be preferred.
Right Back - Emerson Royal
Alternatives - Lutsharel Geertruida & Joe Gomez
A position neglected by the Villans in recent seasons, could this summer finally be the one which sees a first team right-back move to Villa Park?
Matty Cash has firmly established himself as Emery's premier option in that position, but with the Poland international prone to the occasional injury, alongside the Villans not currently possessing a deputy, a new right-back will be high on the Villans' priorities this window.
Reports have long linked Villa with a move for former Tottenham Hotspur right back Emerson Royal this summer, with his club side Flamengo currently blocking any move before securing a replacement.
Though ridiculed for most of his time in the Premier League previously, the 27 year-old has vast experience of European football, something highly valued by Emery, who has consistently got the most out of players like Emerson throughout his managerial career.
Should Emerson be unatainable, the Villans could revive interest in Lutsharel Geertruida, who spent last season on loan at fellow English side Sunderland, impressing greatly.
The Dutchman was available to the Black Cats at around £17m this summer, a figure which the Villans could stretch to, with Emerson likely to cost around £10m.
Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has also been linked with a move to Villa Park, although the Reds' squad depth, a potential transfer fee and his high wages are likely to make that move a non-starter.
Defensive Midfield - Joao Palhinha
Alternatives - Marc Bernal & Pape Matar Sarr
Aston Villa need midfield reinforcements having lost Belgian duo Youri Tielemans - to Manchester United - and Amadou Onana to injury, leaving them with just Ross Barkley, Boubacar Kamara and Lamare Bogarde as senior players to play in the pivot.
The £35m aquisition of Gomes from Wolves, likely a direct replacement for Tielemans, was a shrewd one, but, despite this, the Villans still need to cover for Onana's injury.
Under FIFA rules, Villa will receive compensation for Onana's injury - as it was sustained whilst he represented Belgium at the 2026 World Cup - giving them funds and UEFA SCR wiggle room to bring in cover.
According to Tanswell, Aston Villa are aiming for a loan in this position. With Onana set to return ahead of the 2027/28 season, Joao Palhinha is the number one target.
Palhinha, who spent last season on loan at Spurs, is said to be the one holding the deal up, with terms between Villa and Bayern Munich said to be no issue.
Should the Portuguese midfielder decide against a temporary move to Villa Park, Tottenham Hotspurs' Pape Matar Sarr is another reported target, though Spurs are unlikely to sanction a loan deal to a direct, Europe-chasing rival.
A permanent deal is not off the table to cover for Onana, though this would divert funds from elsewhere, with Barcelona's Marc Bernal another reported target, with the Spanish prodigy said to be available for around €30m.
Attacking Midfielder - Jack Grealish
Alternatives - Ethan Nwaneri & Mason Mount
Having lost Morgan Rogers, Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott from their attack, leaving just John McGinn and Emiliano Buendia from last season, an attacking overhaul was always on the cards this summer.
Johan Manzambi and Alejandro Garnacho help push the numbers up to four players for the three positions behind the striker in Emery's system, but this still leaves the Villans one or two players short.
Like with the defensive midfielder, Tanswell hinted that a loan move could be likely to cover that spot in the squad and various reports have linked former Villa hero Jack Grealish with a return to Villa Park this Summer.
Grealish, 30, spent last season on loan at Everton and was performing extremely well, before an injury ultimately ended his campaign early.
With a lack of homegrown players in the Villa squad, Grealish would help to add an extra body to their UEFA Champions League register, giving them room to add other players in more pressing positions.
Manchester City are reportedly willing to sanction a loan deal, so if the financials work out, this move would make a lot of sense for all parties.
Should Villa decide against a move for their former prodigy, loan moves for Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri or Manchester United's Mason Mount have both been mentioned in passing, though those moves would likely be expensive and difficult to complete.
Winger - Igor Paixão
Alternatives - Ibrahim Mbaye & Allan
With Alejandro Garnacho as the only natural winger currently on Villa's books ahead of the new season, a new wide man would be needed to complete Emery's squad.
The Villans have been long linked with a move for Paris Saint-Germain's Ibrahim Mbaye, stretching back to January, though this deal looks unlikely with reported interest from elsewhere.
Recent reports have also linked Aston Villa with a move for Palmeiras' Brazilian winger Allan, who has had an impressive season so far in the Brazilian Serie A, though Tanswell played these links down in the podcast.
Instead, the most tangible link out wide at present is Marseille winger and reported Leeds United target Igor Paixão, who had a breakout Ligue 1 season last campaign.
The 26 year-old Brazilian scored 10 goals and registered five assists across all competitions last season, with four of his goals coming in the UEFA Champions League.
He would reportedly command a fee in the region of £30m, but would fit the bill that the Villans are looking for, as a fast and direct wide man.
