6 players who could join or leave Aston Villa, including £18m mistake inkeinspires

Aston Villa’s Premier League form may have been mixed in recent months, but Unai Emery will still be confident of leading the club to another top four finish.

Progression to the Champions League last 16 is all but guaranteed, while the Villa Park side are set to kick off their FA Cup campaign against West Ham this week. Add to that the league matches and Emery’s side will be fully tested over the coming weeks.

As such, the January transfer window could see many arrivals and departures as the Spaniard looks to strengthen his squad while shipping out some of the deadwood.

Potential Aston Villa entries

Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund)

With only Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins as the two senior center forwards, Emery could have a big problem heading into the second half of the season if either of them gets injured.

With this in mind, Borussia Dortmund striker Donyell Malen has emerged as a key target, with Villa even recently submitting a bid for the player.

According to German sales outlet BILDDortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl isn’t budging on his €25-30m (£21-25m) valuation of former Arsenal academy gem, with Villa reportedly offering 18m euros (£15 million).

The report states that an improved offer could be made as the manager is keen to lure Malen to Birmingham on a salary of around £7 million per year.

Nicolas Kuhn (Celtic)

Another area where Emery appears to want to strengthen is out wide, particularly on the right flank. Leon Bailey did not reproduce the form of the last mandate, managing to record only four contributions to the objectives in all competitions this season.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Tottenham Hotspur and Villa are I watch a movement for Celtic sensation Nicolas Kuhn this winter, who has been in superb form during the first half of the 2024/25 season.

In fact, the German scored 16 goals while recording 11 assists for the Parkhead side, who sit top of the league and on course for a fourth consecutive title.

The report says Celtic could easily triple the money they paid to sign the winger just over 18 months ago, meaning a bid of over £10million could well be enough to Emery to recruit the player.

Antonio Silva (Benfica)

Even before the transfer window opened, it was reported that Villa were keen to bring in central defender Antonio Silva to bolster their defensive options.

The 21-year-old is a sought-after talent, with Newcastle United also apparently keen, while the youngster is said to have his heart set on a move to Juventus.

Nothing concrete has happened from the Serie A side, which suggests Emery needs to act now or he might regret it later.

It’s no secret that the Spaniard wants to add another defender to his team, especially with Diego Carlos sparks interestbut only time will tell if Silva is tempted to move to the Midlands.

Carney Chukwuemeka (Chelsea)

Carney Chukwuemeka moved from Villa to Chelsea in August 2022 for a a staggering £20 millionwhich represented an excellent deal for the Midlands given that he had played only 16 times for the senior team.

However, his time at Stamford Bridge was not as productive as many hoped. Since moving to west London, the 21-year-old has played 32 times for the club in all competitions.

With Enzo Maresca making a few signings during the summer transfer window, he has slipped down the pecking order and Villa are seemingly I can’t wait to sign him again this month to add some depth to their midfield.

One thing that might put Emery off is the price. Chukwuemeka is available, but only if a club raises £40 million in the process.

Considering he may not be an automatic choice in the starting XI, this fee is lavish to say the least, and the manager could go elsewhere for better value unless Chelsea are willing to negotiate.

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Potential departures from Aston Villa

Diego Carlos (Fenerbahçe)

When Steven Gerrard signed Diego Carlos in 2022, the Brazilian was expected to become the cornerstone of his side, forging a key partnership with Tyrone Mings at the heart of Villa’s defence.

In his second appearance, he suffered a serious injury that almost kept him out for the entire 2022/23 campaign, before returning to full fitness and made 38 appearances under Emery in 2023/24.

So far this season, Diego Carlos has made just 14 starts, and it looks like his time in the Midlands could be coming to an end.

Apparently, Fenerbahce wants to recruit central defendercontacting Villa about a potential move this month.

With Pau Torres injured, Emery could look to bring in another defender before sanctioning any departure, which could put any move to Türkiye on the back burner. But if a decent offer comes in, Villa would be foolish to turn it down.

Jaden Philogene (Everton)

Jaden Philogene could leave Villa again, just months after joining the club.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Everton opened negotiations sign the young man, who made only 15 appearances since returning to Villa, having failed to establish himself as a regular in the starting XI this season.

Romano says the Toffees are trying to make the move permanent rather than a loan deal, which could work out well for all parties involved, particularly with Emery looking to raise funds for the new arrivals.

Nothing was mentioned regarding potential fees, but considering the villa was paid for around £18 million to lure him back to Villa Park during the summer window, Everton may have to at least match that fee if they want to sign him.

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