During this transfer window, Aston Villa want to add to their roster, but they also want to offer new contracts to their present group of players.
The significance of planning in football cannot be overstated, and managers that follow this process typically see the highest levels of success.
Both on and off the field, Unai Emery has demonstrated a keen eye for the future since joining Villa Park in November 2022.
Although he has made some bold transfers, he has also significantly increased the club’s overall success, leaving fans scratching their heads.
Emery has demonstrated what can be accomplished in just over a year, going from fighting for survival when he first took the job to currently contending for the Premier League championship.
His ability to change several of his players has been a major factor in this accomplishment.
While Leon Bailey has transformed from zero to hero, Douglas Luiz is Villa’s key player in the midfield, and Ollie Watkins is now a complete goal machine.
With six goals and five assists in the top division this season, the Jamaican has been in outstanding form.
As a result, it was disclosed yesterday that Villa appears to be planning to extend an offer to him in order to keep him with the team.
There was a chance he would leave with just 12 months left on his current contract, but supporters will be happy to hear this news.
On the other hand, Nicolo Zaniolo suffers a further setback with Bailey landing a contract.
For Nicolo Zaniolo, Bailey’s contract extension is bad news.
Even though Zaniolo scored the game-winning goal late in the draw with Sheffield United, his performance since joining on loan from Galatasaray has been lackluster.
The Italian has played a variety of front-row roles, such as offensive midfielder, right winger, and left winger.
Despite being called “fantastic” by Fabrizio Romano, the 24-year-old has only scored one goal in 13 games and isn’t making the kind of impact in the final third that Emery would have liked.
The announcement that Bailey’s contract has been extended is a further setback to his playing time at Villa Park.
Although many would not have been surprised if the Jamaican left at the beginning of the season, he is currently one of Emery’s most important players.
Zaniolo will have an even more difficult time breaking into the side because of his importance.
Watkins is unstoppable up top, Bailey is a lock to start down the right in most games, and Jacob Ramsey has recently been utilized on the left.
Given that he is just on loan, Villa may choose not to make the Italian’s move permanent, leaving him to eke out minutes from the bench.
