Aston Villa may not end the 2024/25 season with a trophy, but Unai Emery could still lead them back into the Champions League courtesy of a top-five finish in the Premier League.
The Spaniard now needs to add some depth to the current Villa squad this summer, especially if they do reach the promised land once again.
Securing a permanent deal for Marcus Rashford – now out for the season through injury – and Marco Asensio could be an excellent way to start his summer business.
It is another Premier League midfielder who Emery has recently targeted, however, and this could be a game-changer.
Why Aston Villa want to sign Kevin De Bruyne
According to Sky Sports last week, Villa have held internal discussions regarding a sensational move for Kevin De Bruyne once his Man City contract expires in a few weeks.
He wouldn’t cost a penny, therefore it could be one of the best bargains of the summer should a potential move go ahead.
After 11 years at City, where he won six league titles and the Champions League, the Belgian is now looking for a new challenge.
He will be 34 by the time the 2025/26 season begins, yet according to Transfermarkt, he is still valued at €27m (£23m) after registering 13 goal involvements this term.
It’s safe to say he’s been one of the most elite playmakers we’ve ever seen in the English top-flight.
A six-time Premier League winner, a Champions League winner and the assister of 121 goals in the Premier League, few have been better when it comes to supplying chances and creating magic than the Belgian.
This is the type of quality Emery needs. Although there is someone who plays in his position that is valued nearly twice as much as the Belgian.
Aston Villa’s very own De Bruyne
When Villa spent just £15m on bringing a certain Morgan Rogers to the Midlands from Middlesbrough in the 2024 winter transfer window, it was deemed a signing for the future.
Three goals and an assist in his first 13 top flight games, however, cemented Rogers as one of the finest young talents in the Premier League.
|
Morgan Rogers’ stats for Villa this season |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Metric |
Premier League |
Champions League |
|
Goals |
8 |
4 |
|
Assists |
8 |
2 |
|
Big chances created |
13 |
5 |
|
Key passes per game |
1.3 |
1.3 |
|
Successful dribbles per game |
1.8 |
1.6 |
|
Via Sofascore |
||
This season couldn’t have gone any better for the Englishman who is now following in the footsteps of De Bruyne, creating and scoring goals aplenty while shining on the European stage too.
Across 50 matches so far, he has amassed 27 goal involvements – 14 goals and 13 assists – with seven of these coming in the continent’s premier club competition, the Champions League.
The former Man City starlet even made his England debut against Greece towards the end of 2024 and was called up for Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad for the games against Albania and Latvia.
Following his display against the latter, Glenn Hoddle hailed the midfielder as “wonderful” and his future at both club and international level looks bright indeed.
He ranks 14th for big chances created (13) and eighth for successful dribbles per game (1.8) in the Premier League this season, just rubberstamping those comparing to De Bruyne.
These displays have, unsurprisingly, seen a staggering rise in his market valuation over the previous 12 months.
As per Transfermarkt, Rogers is now valued at €50m (£43m) and this is nearly double what De Bruyne is worth at the time of writing.
If Emery does persuade the City dynamo to join Villa, hopefully it won’t be to the detriment of Rogers, who certainly has the number ten position locked down with a string of excellent performances.
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