The five summer transfers Aston Villa already have in the pipeline – including £40m dream striker raid
Aston Villa are expected to push for more big name signings this summer
Aston Villa were one of the most productive Premier League teams in the January transfer window, with Donyell Malen and Andres Garcia both arriving on permanent deals alongside a trio of high-profile loan signings: Manchester United star Marcus Rashford; three-time Champions League winner Marco Asensio from Paris Saint-Germain and Axel Diasi to provide valuable defensive depth from Chelsea.
The gamble has certainly paid off and has helped Villa boost their chance of European qualification in the league, all while sustaining their strong form on the continent to reach the Champions League quarter-final. On top of that, they’ve also given their fans a first trip to Wembley since their play-off final promotion six years ago, by reaching the FA Cup semi-finals.
This has the potential to be one of Villa’s best seasons in recent history and if they can maintain their strong standards until the end of the campaign, they could be in a position to strengthen again in the transfer window with the funds raised by the lucrative January sale of Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr.
With that in mind, we’ve taken a look at some of the deals that Villa will be targeting this summer, as well as a number of the main transfer headlines surrounding the club:
Aston Villa want to sign £40m Ipswich Town sensation
Aston Villa may have signed the likes of Rashford, Asensio and Malen in January, but they only really have one natural centre forward by trade on their books in Ollie Watkins. He was the subject of interest from Arsenal in January, and the Gunners could well return to the table with a fresh offer for the England international should they fail to land Victor Gyokeres from Sporting CP.
Either way, it appears Villa have a deficit in this area and are keen to sign another centre forward in the form of rising Ipswich Town star Liam Delap. Football Insider claim Villa are one of the leading contenders to sign the young English forward from Portman Road and suggest the club are attentive to the player’s estimated release clause of around £40m. This is likely to drop down to £30m if his side’s relegation to the Championship is confirmed. Champions League football and a hefty wage packet are likely to be a must for any club wishing to sign the in-demand striker.
Intriguingly, ex-Villa forward Darren Bent told talkSPORT: “Villa… You don’t know what’s happening with Rashford, and Watkins as well. He [Delap] could be part of that set-up under Unai Emery.”
Aston Villa to make £40m Marcus Rashford call
After falling down the pecking order at Old Trafford following a public clash with Ruben Amorim, Rashford has hit the ground running in a Villa shirt and has propelled his way back into the England squad and the score sheet. The 62-time international has scored three goals and has registered three assists for Unai Emery’s side and has proven himself as a potent threat on both the right side of attack and as a centre forward on occasion. He has reinvigorated Villa’s front-line with his incredible pace, trickery, runs in behind and his ability to drive at defenders and create chances for his teammates.
Rashford looks like a man reborn at the moment, and is much closer to the player that we saw during a sensational 2022/23 campaign for the Red Devils before his dip in form, which has only increased the likelihood of Villa activating the £40m clause option to buy clause in his loan contract to make the move from Old Trafford a permanent.
Most Villa fans would be happy to keep Rashford on board for years to come. However, the one stumbling block from a Villa perspective could be the forward’s reported £315,000 per week wages, with the club currently paying 70% of that salary until the end of the campaign, according to Mail Sport.
A push to sign a three-time Champions League winner
Aston Villa struck gold in January when they were able to pick up Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Asensio on loan until the end of the season. The Spain international has already eight goals in 11 appearances, which is more than he managed in 48 games in the French capital.
The former Real Madrid and Mallorca sensational has brought tremendous flair and creativity to an already prospering Villa attack and many supporters are eager to see him retained to boost the club’s hopes of succeeding in Europe in the near future. Unlike Rashford, Asensio does not have a permanent option including his loan deal from Paris Saint-Germain, but that won’t deter Villa from making a new approach – he’s been deemed surplus to requirements under Luis Enrique, after apparently being
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