Aston Villa: Why Unai Emery is navigating a necessary rebuild and not a bad transfer window ahead of Morgan Rogers’ exit | Football news

After ending 30 years of waiting for silverware and qualifying for the Champions League again, Aston Villa has been rocked by player exits and injuries, forcing them to rebuild unexpectedly.

Youri Tielemans, the Villa central midfielder who once referred to Unai Emery as his son, has joined Manchester United in a £35m deal.

Chelsea have agreed a record £117m deal to sign Morgan Rogers and Amadou Onana looks set to miss the season before kick-off after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament during the World Cup against Belgium.

The exit doesn’t stop there either. Lucas Digne, 32, also looks set to leave, with Paris Saint-Germain ready to trigger the £8.5m release clause included in his contract.

The four players who made 172 appearances for Villa last season now leave four holes at the heart of Emery’s side.

It’s been a bad start to the summer, and here, Sky Sports you analyze everything…

A nightmare window or a necessary rebuild?

Any sale would cause panic but Villa’s situation is different given the quality of player they are losing.

Rogers rose to fame at Villa Park. Since joining Middlesbrough in January 2024, he has grown from a youngster to a full-fledged England international, who can deliver in style in the Premier League.

Villa knew that European officials were circling and an offer of £117m, set to beat Elliot Anderson’s British record at Manchester City, could not be refused.

Although arguably one of the best talents in English football, a return of 14 goals in 55 games last season can be changed. Especially when you consider the financial boost his sales will provide Emery.

Tielemans’ exit, however, will sting. The midfielder has been integral to their style of play, providing composure on the ball and an innate ability to open up defenses with vision and passing ability that will be hard to replace. Without him, Villa’s win rate dropped from 53 percent to 41 percent.

The club did not want to sell and keep the core of their Europa League winning team together,​​​​ Tielemans and Rogers hitting that famous night in Istanbul, was always popular. But instead of overhauling the team this summer, their hand will now be forced to rebuild.

Who rents the Villas?

They had the second highest average age in the top flight last season at 28, and the turnover in recruitment is already clear.

Villa enter a new era under Emery and although it arrives in poor circumstances, the early signs are already encouraging.

Awaiting Rogers’ exit, they secured Newcastle’s deal for Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi and have now completed a club record £59.5m signing of the 20-year-old.

He was a star player with Switzerland at the World Cup, scoring two goals and adding two assists before an injury sidelined him in the 3-1 quarter-final loss to Argentina.

“We have a diamond now in our attack. A street footballer, the type that needs to be free,” said former Freiburg and Switzerland player Bruno Berner. Sky Sports about Manzambi. “We can use him flexibly, defensively in midfield, but also on the wing.”

It’s an exciting opportunity considering Emery’s affinity for getting the best out of players, especially those as soft as his new 20-year-old “diamond”.

Villa have also agreed a £38m deal to sign Joao Gomes, 25, from Wolves and are in the race to add on-loan Joao Palhinha to their ranks, as his blocks have been assembled in the center of the new stadium.

Manzambi and Joao Gomes breathed a sigh of relief in the aging group. Palhinha’s arrival will add top-flight experience and valuable leadership to the ranks.

Consider the possible return of Boubacar Kamara after being sidelined since January with a knee injury, wearing the number 8 shirt once worn by Tielemans, and he has an engine room that can compete in all areas.

The quick and efficient business from the Second City points to a team that was ready to make a splash, rather than one reacting in a panic.

Digne has been solid since joining Everton in 2022 but as he approaches his 33rd birthday and with Ian Maatsen waiting in the wings, the exit marks the best result for both clubs.

Former Brighton left-back Pervis Estupinan could also be a suitable replacement, with Sky in Italy reportedly in talks to bring the AC Milan defender, who worked with Emery at Villarreal, back to the Premier League.

Rogers’ departure, on the other hand, leaves a seismic gap going forward.

Armed with significant transfer money for the club to acquire, and a squad better placed than when Jack Grealish moved to Man City for £100m in similar circumstances, Villa are expected to strengthen and a move for the striker is said to be accelerating.

Selling some of the best talents on your team can never be considered a blessing, but in these circumstances, it shouldn’t be seen as a curse.

Emery has never shied away from a challenge…

Emery knows how to weather this type of storm and has a proven track record of dealing with this type of blow.

Tielemans and Rogers are the latest names to be tasked with replacing them. Jacob Ramsey, Jhon Duran, Moussa Diaby and Douglas Luiz all left – and a struggle to replace them followed.

But with Emery, the man who masterminded Villa’s rise from the threat of relegation when he arrived, on that famous night in Istanbul to win the Europa League, the club has a calm head who will work hard to find a solution.

His side did not score in their first four Premier League games last season, with their first effort in the league coming in a 1-1 draw against Sunderland on September 21.

Even his self-confidence was reduced when he sat the team down and admitted that he was worried. But they came from the early darkness to end the drought in this team to mark the campaign.

Emery has never shied away from a challenge and replacing Tielemans and Rogers is the latest. The full focus will be on ensuring Villa build on the foundations of their recent success, rather than reminiscing about it in the years to come.

Your ideas!

Today: No player is bigger than the club. If Rogers wants to go, then bye! But £117m seems low. £130m will be eligible; however, the group knows what it values. Chelsea seems like an odd choice, not in Europe? With Unai we trust!

Stuart: We had an aging team, and we desperately needed to add to it. Losing Tielemans is a big blow Emery will get the right players. Rogers had a patchy season last season and can be replaced. You need a left back, another midfielder and at least two wingers. I would like Summerville and Rashford.

Matt C: Emery must have the final say on leaving so that when he signs, he can trust the person who made us European football.

WJ: Reconstruction was always inevitable. This squad is getting old and after years of careful coaching by Emery a change of squad is probably necessary. He took this crop of players and achieved what the team wanted from him: a trophy. Becoming a Champions League club will always be the next goal.

GAVFC: I am very optimistic about the changes because I hope Unai can keep us competitive. Tielemans and Rogers are players worth selling because of their salaries and Rogers’ transfer price. The UTV.

Sam: We have the oldest team in the league and the highest paid players. Rebuilding is needed and there is no better time than now for Champions League football next season. Rogers was very hot and cold. £117m is good business for us.