As Aston Villa get set to compete in the UEFA Champions League once more, reports have suggested that Unai Emery is searching for a new winger this summer.
According to Jacob Tanswell via The Athletic, one of Aston Villa's main areas of priority is to recruit at least one winger, preferably two.
Within the same article, Tanswell reported that Unai Emery has requested his club sign a fast right sided winger, who makes frequent runs beyond opposition defences.
With Leon Bailey's form falling off a cliff ever since his sensational 2023/24 season and Moussa Diaby lasting just one season with the club, Aston Villa have been without a tricky, pacy winger in their squad for around two seasons.
It is therefore vital that the Villans bring in a player to help bring pace into their squad in transition, but also one to help pin back opposition full backs and prevent them from overlapping as freely.
With that in mind, let's take a look at which wingers Aston Villa have been credited with a chance of signing this summer.
Jonathan Rowe
One name that refuses to go away for Aston Villa this summer is former Norwich City winger Jonathan Rowe.
The 23 year-old has reportedly been of interest to Aston Villa for a number of years, even preceding Unai Emery's time at the club, with the winger highly rated across Europe.
Now at Bologna, Rowe shot to prominence - particularly in Villa circles - after an exceptional performance in the Italian side's 3-1 defeat to the Villans in the Europa League quarter final first leg earlier this season.
Rowe gave Matty Cash some significant problems defensively and scored a sumptuous curling goal in the match and, despite ultimately coming out on the losing side, was widely seen as the man of the match.
Given the reported interest in him from clubs across the Premier League, Rowe would likely cost a decent chunk this summer, with some reports putting the fee as high as £40m.
Ibrahim Mbaye
Another name that has been mentioned closely with Aston Villa's for a number of months, Paris Saint-Germain's Ibrahim Mbaye has been strongly linked with a move to the West Midlands.
The 18 year-old, who featured in the 2026 AFCON final for Senegal, is extremely highly rated at the Parisiens but is reportedly available for purchase due to a lack of game time.
Emery's side made a move to sign the youngster in January, but were priced out of a move, with PSG asking for £40-50m to part with one of their young talents.
While he may end up being slightly too expensive for the Villans to capture this summer, there's no doubt that Ibrahim Mbaye will be one to watch in this summer transfer window.
Karim Adeyemi
One mentioned almost out of nowhere by Tanswell in his article, Karim Adeyemi is reportedly in line to follow former teammate Donyell Malen to Aston Villa.
The Athletic have reported that Adeyemi looks set to leave Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund this summer, with the Premier League his preferred destination.
Reports suggest that Aston Villa have held a long-standing interest in the German, with Adeyemi possessing the pace and threat in behind that Emery is searching for.
The 24 year-old joined Dortmund from Red Bull Salzburg in 2022 and registered 16 goals and assists in 39 matches across all competitions last season.
Harvey Barnes
Another player linked with a move to the Midlands is Newcastle United's Harvey Barnes.
The Englishman originally joined Newcastle from Leicester City - his boyhood club - in 2023, having spent almost his entire career in the Midland's prior, playing for MK Dons and West Brom on load, as well as for the Foxes.
Newcastle United will understandably be reluctant to sell their winger, having already sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for around £70m this summer, making any deal for Barnes to leave difficult.
A fee of around £40m has been touted for the 28 year-old, which in all likelihood would price the Villans out of a move unless the asking price drops.
Crysencio Summerville
The final winger linked to a move to Aston Villa this summer is West Ham's Crysencio Summerville, who was a rare bright spark in the Hammers' relegation from the Premier League last season.
As a result of West Ham's demotion to the Championship, Summerville is likely to cost slightly less than he would've if the Irons were still a top flight club, though reports suggest he would still command a hefty transfer fee.
According to Tanswell's report, Summerville is "likely to be more expensive than Rowe", which gives the implication that Villa would prioritise a move for the Bologna man over the former Leeds United winger.
With West Ham's relegation confirmed, a number of their players are likely to be subject of speculation this summer and, having been one of their standout performers, Summerville will not be short of suiters.
