Aston Villa are poised to welcome a host of new faces to Villa Park this summer, with Unai Emery hoping to use his charm once more.
After the scramble to ensure PSR boundaries weren’t overstepped, Monchi and Unai Emery can soon focus on possible new signings at Aston Villa.
The sale of Tim Iroegbunam partnered with the pending exits of Douglas Luiz and Omari Kellyman have ended Villa’s need to generate profit.
Now, Emery will be eager to bolster his squad with new talent, with an insight now revealing how crucial the manager was to capturing one star.
Unai Emery had personal talks with Aston Villa capture Ross Barkley
Lewis Dobbin became the first official Villa signing of the season however, four other players are all but confirmed to be joining the club.
Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea will arrive as part of Luiz’s deal to join Juventus, with Ian Maatsen and Ross Barkley said to be Villa’s next purchases.
After a hot and cold loan spell at Villa in 2020/21, not many would have anticipated that Barkley would return to the club ahead of their Champions League quest.
It’s now come to light just how badly Emery wanted the Englishman to return to Villa Park, as relayed by journalist John Townley.
The BirminghamLive reporter states that the Villa boss ‘personally met’ with the Luton Town star in a bid to ‘convince him to return’ to the club ahead of his proposed £5m move.
After a terrific season back in the Premier League with the Hatters, it’s unsurprising that Villa were chasing the 30-year-old, who is evidently thought very highly of by Emery.
Barkley can offer so much to Emery’s side at Villa
With nine goal contributions during Luton’s trialling season in the top flight, Barkley stood out as one of Rob Edwards’ best players.
The former Everton sensation was lauded as “unbelievable” by teammate Andros Townsend, via talkSPORT, as he showcased his Premier League quality in Luton’s midfield.
After a torrid time following fleeing the nest at Goodison Park, it’s been a career recharge over the past year for Barkley, whom Emery is clearly very keen to re-integrate at Villa.
Given that Luiz’s exit is looming, it makes perfect sense as to why the Spaniard personally approached the former Villa loanee to join his project.
Last season, Barkley completed more successful dribbles and won more total duels per game than the Brazilian, via Sofascore, reinforcing why the boss was lured to his talents.
In hiring the 30-year-old, Emery can add experience and the confidence of an in-form player to his side, in what could go down as a phenomenal piece of business by Villa.
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