Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has built something special in Birmingham, as the Lions reached the Champions League last season and have successively improved in each campaign under the Spanish coach.
Emery, as much as he was panned at Arsenal, is one of the most acclaimed coaches in European football and a serial winner at the international cup level, boasting a bevy of Europa League success in Spain at two historic clubs in Sevilla and Villarreal.
At his most recent stop, Villarreal, Emery helped develop some of European football’s biggest gems, including one standout who traveled with him from Villarreal to Aston Villa in Pau Torres, a left-footed center back.
Over the years, the transfer rumor mill has salivated at the prospect of Emery bringing someone else from Villarreal with him to Villa Park, most namely playmaking midfielder Alex Baena, who is in the midst of his best LaLiga season to date.
However, according to a report from the Daily Mail, Emery’s next reunion could be with a player who doesn’t currently play for Villarreal anymore – that would be AC Milan right winger Samuel Chukwueze.
A starting-caliber winger, Chukwueze isn’t able to get regular minutes at Milan because they have one of the best winger duos in world football between Rafael Leao and Supercoppa hero Christian Pulisic.
Chukwueze, who once blasted Thibaut Courtois with a matchwinning brace, is capable of capturing lightening in a bottle, and Aston Villa could use that gift with Leon Bailey declining on the wing.
Aston Villa are currently prioritizing Borussia Dortmund winger Donyell Malen, but Chukwueze could be both cheaper and better. So if the Malen transfer falls through, Chukwueze could be better than just a Plan B alternative to the former Euro 2020 standout.
Still only 25 years old, the left-footer scored 6 goals with 5 assists in his final season with Villarreal in 2022/23, averaging 2.3 dribbles completed per game. His past familiarity with Emery could make this a great transfer for Aston Villa.
