The January transfer window of the previous year was manager Unai Emery of Aston Villa’s first opportunity to add his personal touch to the team through hiring. Emery was not allowed to enjoy the luxury of the entire summer market because he was only appointed at the end of October.
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Villa used the money saved to make two significant winter additions: forward Jhon Duran from Chicago Fire for £14.3 million (Transfermarkt) and full-back Alex Moreno from Real Betis for £11.6 million. Despite starting the season in the lower part of the Premier League standings, they managed to finish eighth.
One year later, Emery’s team is only three points behind league leaders Liverpool after 20 games, giving them a real chance to contend for the title or play in the Champions League. Villa can offer themselves the best opportunity of securing or enhancing their spot for the rest of the season with the correct moves made in January, but Emery has now taken an early knock.
Ngonge is about to ignore Villa
This week, an Italian report (TuttoMercatoWeb) stated that Villa had agreed to pay €10 million for Hellas Verona winger Cyril Ngonge. L’Arena confirms this report and adds that the Villans had also made an offer of €2 million in add-ons (Sport Witness).
If Ngonge were to leave Verona, he would much rather stay in Serie A and would not be interested in coming to Villa Park. Therefore, Fiorentina, the domestic suitor, might be a better choice.
Ngonge, a 23-year-old right-sided attacker from his native Belgium, joined Verona from Groningen just this summer following stints with PSV and RKC Waalwijk. He rose through the youth systems at Club Brugge. He has contributed two assists and five goals in his first Serie A season of football, which has kept his team out of the relegation zone just on goal differential (Transfermarkt).
Bailey’s change under Emery lessens the impact
It’s unexpected that Ngonge doesn’t think this move is all that great. Given his apparent readiness to join Fiorentina, he has the chance to exchange a relegation struggle for a Champions League race, and it doesn’t appear like loyalty is an issue.
In any case, Emery’s main solace comes in the shape of Leon Bailey, one of his current choices. Having already recorded nine goals and eight assists across all competitions this season, the Jamaican is getting very close to a “double double.” With less than half of the season remaining, he is already having the best year of his Villa career in both categories (Transfermarkt).
Bailey has also been in particularly good form lately, having scored three goals in his previous seven Premier League games, including the game-winning goal against reigning champion Manchester City in December. He has also set up two goals.
Emery should be good through the rest of the season with Nicolo Zaniolo, Moussa Diaby, and Matty Cash all capable of playing on the right wing if necessary due to a tactical reshuffle. Perhaps Emery’s desire to sign a right-back should take precedence over other winter transfer targets, as reported by The Athletic.
