5 possible summer 2023 transfer targets for Aston Villa

Aston Villa are in the midst of a strong season in the Premier League under new manager Unai Emery, and they still have a shot at qualifying for a European place. Currently in eighth, the Lions are only one point behind Brighton in seventh. The Seagulls may have two games in hand, but compare Villa to Tottenham in sixth. Villa are just three points behind Spurs.

If Villa can finish strong and qualify for Europe in 2023/24, that means they can push for more signings to compete at that level and fill out a deeper squad. But even if they fall short, they should still invest in their squad to push for more, rewarding Emery’s hard work.

Here are five possible summer 2023 transfer targets for Aston Villa.

Valencia DM André Almeida

Valencia could be relegated to the Segunda, meaning another one-time giant of European football will have fallen. If that’s the case, some of their star players could be available for cheap, and perhaps nobody should intrigue the Lions more than defensive midfielder André Almeida.

Aston Villa could use one more quality midfielder, especially someone who can add a high level of quality in possession. Almeida, despite Valencia’s lack of success, has been exceptional in the 2022/23 LaLiga season, standing out as one of the best up-and-coming midfielders in the league.

The 22-year-old has two goals, four assists, 1.4 dribbles completed per game, 1.2 fouls drawn per match, and 1.1 key passes per contest as an essential part of Valencia’s initial stages of attacking football. Defensively, he’s been adept at winning the ball back for his team, even against the best opponents in LaLiga, averaging 1.9 tackles per match.

Almeida is an underrated transfer target for Villa and someone they can affordably sign this summer. And at 22 years old, he has a ton of potential to grow.

Marseille DM Mattéo Guendouzi

Mattéo Guendouzi seems to be at the top of the Lions’ list, given how often he has been linked with a return to playing for Unai Emery.

The 24-year-old midfielder has found a renewed purpose since joining Marseille, as he has done his best to help the Olympians push PSG at the top of the Ligue 1 table.

Like André Almeida, Guendouzi has two goals and four assists in the league campaign, offering quality in possession and in defense. Guendouzi was even more impactful in the previous seasons with four goals, six assists, and a greater imprint on Marseille’s attacking play.

A well-known name and a former Arsenal player, Guendouzi has positive traits he can offer to Aston Villa, but when considering his expected fee as well as the fact that Almeida is younger and having a better season on a worse team, he may be an overvalued target for the Lions.

Toulouse DM Branco van den Boomen

Within Ligue 1, Branco van den Boomen is a much more intriguing option for Aston Villa, as he has legitimately been one of the best players in the league.

Toulouse have been a pleasant surprise, winning the Coupe de France 5-1 over Nantes while staying well clear of the relegation zone. Van den Boomen, who was an elite player in Ligue 2, has been a massive part of that success.

This season, the 27-year-old Dutch midfielder has five goals and eight assists. His set-piece deliveries are among the best in Europe, and the deep-lying playmaker is also adept at creating chances from open play with a jaw-dropping 2.6 key passes per game for the newly-promoted side.

Van den Boomen’s ability to translate to the Premier League will be called into question by some, but as standout left back Alex Moreno has shown with his immediate success from Real Betis, the difference between leagues is not a huge issue.

Defensively, van den Boomen is averaging 2.1 tackles per game. He actually isn’t the strongest defender in one-on-ones or at holding positions as a traditional anchor, but there’s nothing traditional about how he plays. Van den Boomen is exciting and remains an asset on the defensive end because of his willingness to be aggressive.

Barcelona SS/RW Ferran Torres

Ferran Torres hasn’t quite worked out for Barcelona, but even amidst an overall disappointing 2022/23 season for the league leaders, the former Manchester City man has been a decisive match-winner in some games.

The Spanish international clearly has talent. He is capable of taking over games on his own, but it seems as though he does not fit Barcelona in terms of his personality or the style of play. Torres is likely on the way out with Barcelona needing to sell someone in order to facilitate the dream return of Lionel Messi.

It is entirely plausible for Torres to end up back in the Premier League, and Aston Villa would be a sensible landing spot for him. Unai Emery is surely familiar with Ferran’s work, as he is one of the most talented attacking players to come from Spain in recent years. He was a sensation for Valencia before Pep Guardiola plucked him, and he was so good that Real Madrid strongly considered signing him from the Bats in the past.

Torres can play on either wing, but he is at his best when he can play closer to the striker in central areas. Emery is still tweaking his ideal formation and style of play, which is likely to change based on the summer signings.

Villarreal RW Samuel Chukwueze

Finally, another possible reunion for Unai Emery, and this one would be even more exciting. Samuel Chukwueze is one of the most talented wingers in LaLiga, and he recently showed a glimpse of his world-class potential by torching Real Madrid with a hat trick beyond words. One of his goals, a curler to beat Thibaut Courtois (the best in the world) all ends up, stands out as one of the best of the entire LaLiga season to this point.

Chukwueze is a left-footed right winger, which is a rare and highly coveted position in the modern game. The Nigerian international has improved significantly even in the short time since Emery’s departure, creating chances and taking defenders on with the best of LaLiga’s wingers.

Just 23, Chukwueze is still rapidly improving and showing signs of developing a consistent end product. Villarreal have several other attackers who could intrigue Emery and the Lions, including the more touted Yeremy Pino, but Chuwkueze’s rare skill set and exciting dribbling skills make him a particularly intriguing possibility for a Premier League side with consistent top six dreams.