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

Aston VillaThe form is in Premier League Things may have been mixed over the past few months, however Unai Emery He will remain confident of leading the club to a top-four finish once again.

Progress to the knockout stages of UEFA Champions League All but guaranteed, while Villa Park are set to kick off their campaign FA Cup Campaign against West Ham this week. Add to that the league matches, and Emery's squad will be fully tested over the next few weeks.

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

Potential Aston Villa deals

Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund)

With only John Doran and Ollie Watkins as the main attacking positions, Emery could face a major problem in the second half of the season if one of them suffers an injury.

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

according to German outlet BILDDortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl has not budged on his €25-30m (£21-25m) valuation for the former Arsenal academy gem, with Villa reportedly offering €18m (£15m).

The report suggests that a better offer could be made, with the manager keen to lure Malen to Birmingham with a salary of around £7m per year.

Nicholas Cone (Celtic)

Another area that Emery seems keen to strengthen is playing out wide, specifically on the right flank. Leon Bailey did not replicate the form of last term; He managed to score only four goal contributions In all competitions this season.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Tottenham Hotspur and Villa Looking forward to moving For Celtic star Nicolas Kone this winter, who has been in fantastic form during the first half of the 2024/25 season.

In fact, the German did just that He scored 16 goals While he scored 11 assists for the Parkhead team, which is at the top of the league and is on its way to obtaining its fourth consecutive title.

The report suggests that Celtic could easily triple the money they paid to sign the winger just over 18 months ago, meaning an offer in excess of £10m could be enough for Emery to land the player.

Antonio Silva (Benfica)

Before the transfer window opened, that was the case Villa reported The team was keen to sign centre-back Antonio Silva to enhance its defensive options.

The 21-year-old is a sought-after talent, With Newcastle United He also appears keen, while the youngster is said to be set on a move to Juventus.

Nothing concrete has arrived from the Serie A side, suggesting Emery must make his move now, or he may regret it later.

It is no secret that the Spaniard is keen to add another defender to his squad, especially with… Diego Carlos attracts attentionBut only time will tell if Silva is inclined to move to the Midlands.

Carne Chukwuemeka (Chelsea)

Carne Chukwuemeka moved from Villa to Chelsea in August 2022 for a contract A staggering £20 millionwhich represents excellent work on Midlands' part considering he did just that Played only 16 times For the adult team.

However, his spell at Stamford Bridge was not as fruitful as many had hoped. Since his move to west London, the 21-year-old has made 32 appearances for the club in all competitions.

With Enzo Maresca making a few signings during the summer transfer window, he has fallen down the pecking order for Villa and looks to be… Keen to re-sign him This month to add some depth to the midfield.

The only thing that might bother Emery is the price. Chukwuemeka is available, but only if The club earns £40 million In this process.

Given that he may not be an automatic selection in the starting XI, this fee is hefty to say the least, and the manager may go elsewhere for better value unless Chelsea are willing to negotiate.

Possible departure from Aston Villa

Diego Carlos (Fenerbahce)

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

In only his second appearance, he suffered a serious injury that almost kept him out of the entire 2022/23 season, before he returned to full fitness and He played 38 matches Under Emery in the 2023/24 season.

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

It is said, Fenerbahce is interested in signing the centre-backcontacting Villa about a potential move this month.

With Pau Torres injured, Emery may look to bring in another defender before agreeing to any departure, which could put any move to Türkiye into consideration. But if a decent offer arrives, Villa would be foolish to turn it down.

Jaden Philojean (Everton)

Jaden Philojean could once again be on his way out of Villa, just months after rejoining the club.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Everton opened the talks To sign the young man who came Only 15 matches Since returning to Villa, he has failed to establish himself as a regular in the starting XI this season.

Romano has stated that the Toffees are trying to make the move permanent rather than a loan deal, which could work well for all parties involved, especially with Emery looking to raise some money for the new arrivals.

Nothing was mentioned regarding potential fees, however Considering that Villa paid around £18 million To tempt him back to Villa Park during the summer transfer window, Everton may need to at least match that fee if they wish to sign him.