Break-up of Villa's Europa heroes leaves cracks for Emery to fill

Aston Villa’s European heroes are already part of history.

They ended a 30-year wait for a trophy by lifting the Europa League in May against Freiburg but the club could have sold six of the starting XI by the end of the transfer window.

Ezri Konsa’s imminent £51m departure to Arsenal is the latest high-profile exit at Villa Park this summer as Unai Emery’s squad undergoes drastic change.

Istanbul goalscorers Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers left last month, Rogers’ £117m move to Chelsea a record for an English player.

Lucas Digne was sold to Paris St-Germain and Villa must also find a solution for goalkeeper Emi Martinez after his failed move to Juventus and the signing of his replacement - Zion Suzuki.

Al-Hilal may also test Villa’s resolve again before the 1 September transfer deadline for Ollie Watkins, with the Premier League club reportedly tabling a new contract to try to keep the striker.

That would leave Matty Cash, Pau Torres, Victor Lindelof, John McGinn and Emi Buendia as those who remain from the 11 that started in Istanbul.

Like many, Villa are a selling club, mainly due to necessity, and have been for a number of years.

They must comply with Uefa’s squad cost ratio (SCR) which restricts them to spending 70% of their football related revenue on player and staff wages, transfer fees and agent fees.

They have already been fined twice by Uefa for breaches, being hit with a £9.5m sanction last year and a £19.4m fine in June, although £12.9m was suspended after Villa came to a settlement agreement with Europe’s governing body. But it has meant the club’s hands are tied in the transfer window.

The Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) also limited financial losses to a maximum of £105 million over a rolling three-year period.

In their latest accounts, ending 30 June 2025, Villa had a post-tax profit of £17m but their two previous years showed losses of £119.6m (2023) and £85.4m (2024).

The regulations have now been replaced by SCR, which sees the Premier League fall in line with Uefa’s model.

“It’s necessity because of the rules,” one former Villa executive told BBC Sport, when asked about the sales. “The PSR, the SCR, issues are well documented.”

“It does seem slightly unfair they’re having their ambition capped at this level. But it has forced this very big churn of players, which is unfortunate.”

“Some will be forced due to PSR, some will be player demand. Combined it makes a big problem for Emery and certainly it is a lot to swallow in one go and to try and replace.”

This summer has crystalised their situation further because of the high profile nature of the departures.

Villa had raised just over £200m with the sales of Jhon Duran (£71m), Douglas Luiz (£42.5m), Jacob Ramsey (£40m) and Moussa Diaby (£50m) over the past two years.

This window will see them bank, once the Konsa deal goes through, around £212m, including £9m for Lewis Dobbin who never played a senior game for Villa before leaving for Southampton.

The academy has also paid its way comfortably with Jaden Philogene and Cameron Archer being bought back to be sold again, while Burnley spent £12m on Aaron Ramsey in 2023.

Internally, when Villa first returned to the Champions League in 2024, it was recognised it would be harder for academy prospects to break into the squad which left Villa more open to selling them.

Last summer their gross transfer spend was £71m which was dwarfed by Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal who were all over £200m while Wolves, who finished bottom last season, were £109m.

It justifies Emery’s argument Villa are not part of the elite, especially when they spent months working on a deal for Conor Gallagher only for Tottenham to be the ones to step in and buy him in January.

Rogers’ £117m move to Chelsea this summer was the easiest way for Villa to comply with Uefa’s financial rules.

The plan came after their first fine last year and under it they must break even in 2026-27.

Their run to the Champions League quarter-finals in 2024-25 banked them close to £70m and the main reason they managed to turn a profit in the latest accounts.

Winning the Europa League means Villa guaranteed themselves around £45.6m, which includes the minimum earned for qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Despite the departures optimism remains. Last week’s battling Super Cup defeat in Salzburg to Paris St-Germain still showed Villa’s competitiveness and Emery’s powers of adaptability.

Emery has constantly needed to roll with the punches during his three-and-a-half years in charge but he has consistently improved Villa, having taken over when they were 14th following Steven Gerrard’s reign.

In Austria, skipper John McGinn pointed to the fact they still have Emery while others - Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea - have new managers and that Villa’s structure remains intact.

“We have a structure in place, standards and rules which have made us a success. I am really excited about the new Aston Villa,” said McGinn.

That includes Brian Madjo after Villa won their battle with Fifa to register the 17-year-old earlier this month.

The striker scored on his debut against PSG, eight months after initially signing from Metz for £10m, and could prove one of the surprises of the season.

The drive towards younger players comes after Roberto Olabe replaced Monchi last September as president of football operations with a long-to-mid term directive on transfers.

Midfielder Joao Gomes, 25, goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, 23 and defender Matteo Ruggeri, 24, have joined this summer after 20-year-old Johan Manzambi became the club’s record buy in July.

They have also had an £18m bid rejected for 24-year-old Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

The loan signing, with an obligation to buy, of Alejandro Garnacho from Chelsea allows Villa to spread the cost while Aaron Wan-Bissaka is due to move from West Ham on a similar deal.

“The problem is they may now be at the end of a chain of transfer deals, with the players involved and their transfer targets dependent on other moves happening first,” said the former Villa decision-maker.

Above all, though, Emery remains Villa’s biggest asset and he has overhauled them before. This time it would be one of his biggest achievements.

“There’s a lot of hope and ambition resting with the manager,” said the ex-Villa Park executive.

“He’s the ace card they’ve got left and everybody’s hoping with his experience and knowledge they can pull through.”

“It’s a lot of pressure on him and you’ve got to wonder if he’s trying to think ‘maybe I need to go somewhere else with more resources?’”

“I don’t think it’ll be this season but, at some stage as a manager, you get fed up juggling all those demands.”

Spurs agree £75m deal to sign Man City's Savinho

Savinho joined Manchester City from French club Troyes in 2024

Tottenham have agreed a deal with Manchester City to sign winger Savinho for £75m, with a further £10m in potential add-ons.

Savinho, 22, will now have a medical before signing a long-term deal with Spurs.

The Brazilian’s move to north London has been more than 12 months in the making, with Spurs failing in a bid to sign him last summer.

Savinho opted to remain at Etihad Stadium, but his game time was limited under Pep Guardiola last term when he made just seven Premier League starts.

Having spent a combined £185m on midfielders Mateus Fernandes from West Ham and Sandro Tonali from Newcastle, Tottenham head coach Roberto de Zerbi is looking to strengthen his side’s attack.

But Spurs are unlikely to end their spending here, with sources telling BBC Sport talks for Savinho’s City team-mate Omar Marmoush are progressing positively.

The Egypt forward, a £59m signing from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2025, fell down the pecking order at City last season.

Spurs also remain interested in Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, but it is unclear whether they could finance a deal for the Netherlands attacker as well as moves for Marmoush and Savinho.

Savinho’s arrival will push Spurs’ spending this summer past £300m, although they have recouped about £140m through the sales of Cristian Romero, Djed Spence and Luka Vuskovic.

Tottenham kick off their Premier League campaign at Brentford on Saturday (17:30 BST), while City host Bournemouth on Sunday (14:00 BST).

Savinho’s output at Manchester City makes Tottenham’s decision to invest heavily in him look curious at first glance.

The Brazilian, who last October signed a contract extension to 2031 at City, has made 84 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals and providing 13 assists.

In the Premier League, the winger has scored just twice over his two seasons at the Etihad.

But those numbers tell only part of the story of a player who joined City from sister club Troyes for £30.8m in 2024.

Savinho’s reputation was built during a breakout 2023-24 campaign with Girona, where he was on loan from Troyes, when he became one of La Liga’s most dangerous ball carriers.

He featured in 37 league matches as Girona secured Champions League qualification for the first time, registering nine goals and eight assists across his various attacking roles.

Savinho also led La Liga for: Successful take-ons (104), Progressive carries (181), Goal-creating actions (25), Expected assists (9.9). He also ranked second for passes into the penalty area and progressive carrying distance.

Most of his best work came from the left. Girona used him there in 27 matches, during which he scored five goals and supplied six assists, although he also featured centrally and from the right.

That versatility and directness could suit De Zerbi’s approach. His teams often try to draw opponents forward in possession before exploiting the space that opens up, creating one-against-one situations for wide players.

Savinho’s acceleration and willingness to take defenders on make him well suited to those moments. From the left he can hold the width and attack the outside, while from the right he can move inside on to his stronger left foot and combine with team-mates.

His value is not limited to goals.

At Girona, much of his threat came from carrying the ball over distance and disrupting defensive shape, which could give Spurs a more direct route through compact defences and create openings for central forwards.

That side of his game was less visible at City, where competition for attacking places was intense and players such as Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki were better suited to central roles.

Tottenham are therefore investing in the qualities Savinho showed so clearly at Girona: pace, ball carrying, one-against-one ability and chance creation from wide areas. At 22, those attributes help explain why Spurs are prepared to pay a huge sum despite his modest scoring return in Manchester.

Barcelona face striker dilemma - could they cope without one?

Hansi Flick has experimented with Lamine Yamal as a false nine but prefers to keep the teenager on the right

Spanish champions Barcelona have spent the summer strengthening different areas of their squad.

They have signed Rodri from Manchester City, which meant adding a Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup-winning captain to a midfield already packed with talent.

They have added pace and width in their attack with Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi, while Belgian winger Jesse Bisiwu, 18, has arrived as a longer-term investment.

But there is one notable gap - Barcelona do not have an established striker.

With their first La Liga fixture away to Elche on Sunday, 23 August, Hansi Flick’s side could go through the campaign without a number nine if they do not sign a striker before the window shuts on 1 September.

The experienced Robert Lewandowski, 37, left for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer when his contract expired at the end of last season, while Ferran Torres has joined Paris St-Germain for about 50m euros (£42.7m).

Torres scored 21 goals in 49 appearances last season and was often used as an alternative to Lewandowski through the middle.

Those two departures leave Barcelona without an established senior striker in their first-team squad.

The club have made it clear their preferred solution is to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid.

The Argentina international, 26, said during the World Cup he would be looking for a move away.

Atletico, though, made their position equally clear amid interest from Real Madrid too. Chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin said the club would not sell Alvarez, not even for 200m euros (£170.8m).

Flick acknowledged Barcelona must address the situation, but the German has options within his existing group of players.

“We know we have to do something,” Flick said this month, pointing to Lamine Yamal’s ability to play as a false nine and the versatility of Gordon and Adeyemi.

Teenager Lamine Yamal has already become Barcelona’s attacking focal point and is coming off a season in which he scored 24 goals and lifted the World Cup with Spain.

Yet his greatest quality is arguably the ability to isolate a full-back from the right, cut inside and create something from seemingly impossible situations.

Flick’s own preference remains for Lamine Yamal to operate from the right wing.

Dani Olmo can also operate as a false nine, while Raphinha has also been used centrally by Flick. Fermin Lopez is another option in advanced areas and has said he is comfortable playing as a false nine.

Gordon and Adeyemi provide pace and direct running, although neither is a conventional number nine.

The gap could also provide a huge opportunity for 18-year-old Egypt international Hamza Abdelkarim, who the club signed this summer.

Abdelkarim is a natural striker who has been in Barcelona’s pre-season squad and scored against Al Ahly in Wednesday’s Joan Gamper Trophy victory, taking his total to four pre-season goals.

Alternatively, Barcelona could choose to play with a fluid forward line, with players constantly rotating rather than one striker remaining between opposition centre-backs.

That could make them extremely difficult to defend against.

However, there is no doubt their preferred option would be to recruit a specialised striker who fits the profile.

Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres is a name being linked to their search.

Earlier this summer, there were reports Arsenal had explored the possibility of including the Sweden international in a deal for Alvarez.

But with Alvarez proving difficult to prise from Atleti, that could open the door for Barcelona to pursue a move for Gyokeres.

The 28-year-old joined Arsenal from Sporting last summer in a deal worth up to 73m euros (£64m) on a five-year contract and scored 21 goals in his first season in north London as the Gunners became Premier League champions.

Barcelona, though, would have to make a significant financial commitment to persuade Arsenal to sell Gyokeres after just 12 months.

Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez and Sporting’s Colombian forward Luis Suarez have also been linked as club sources say the management team are working hard to act before the transfer window closes.

Cancelo makes 'dream' Barca move after Al-Hilal exit

Joao Cancelo made 23 appearances on loan with Barcelona last season

Portugal full-back Joao Cancelo has rejoined Barcelona on a permanent deal after his contract with Al-Hilal was mutually terminated.

Cancelo left Manchester City to join the Saudi Pro League side on a three-year deal in 2024 but he ended last season on loan with Barca, helping them secure the La Liga title.

After agreeing his departure from Al-Hilal, the 32-year-old became a free agent this summer and he has now returned to the Camp Nou on a three-year contract.

“It’s my dream,” said Cancelo. “I’m where I want to be and I am very happy. I like the club, I identify with it. I feel loved here and I promise to give everything for this club.”

Cancelo first moved to Spain in 2014 when he joined Valencia from Benfica, initially on loan.

He later spent 2017-18 on loan with Inter Milan before making permanent moves to Juventus (2018) and Manchester City (2019), and he ended the 2022-23 season on loan at Bayern Munich.

Cancelo then joined Barca on a season-long loan from City for 2023-24, so this is his third stint with the Spanish giants but his first on a permanent deal.

Barca also completed the signing of Cancelo’s former team-mate Rodri this week after agreeing to pay City about £65m for the Spain midfielder.

Hansi Flick’s squad has also been boosted by the arrival of wingers Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi this summer, although forward Ferran Torres has left for Paris St-Germain and veteran striker Robert Lewandowski joined MLS side Chicago Fire.

Spurs in talks to sign Man City's Savinho and Marmoush

Tottenham are in talks with Manchester City over a double deal for forwards Savinho and Omar Marmoush.

Sources have told BBC Sport that negotiations between the clubs are progressing, although an agreement has yet to be reached.

Spurs’ interest in Brazilian winger Savinho dates back to 2025, when the 22-year-old opted to remain at Etihad Stadium.

But he was limited to just seven starts in the Premier League last season, and is now minded to leave the club after joining for a £30m fee in 2024 from French club Troyes.

Marmoush, a £59m signing from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2025, fell out of favour under Pep Guardiola in 2025-26 and the 27-year-old managed eight goals in 36 appearances in all competitions.

City’s valuation for the pair is unclear, but the club would expect to make a significant profit on both.

Tottenham head coach Roberto de Zerbi has revamped his midfield this summer, signing Mateus Fernandes from West Ham and Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for a combined £185m.

But the Italian has stressed the need to strengthen his attack following the side’s 17th-placed finish in the Premier League last term, scoring just 48 goals in 38 games.

Spurs remain interested in Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, but it is unclear whether the club could finance a deal for the Netherlands international as well as moves for Marmoush and Savinho.

City have already sold a host of players this summer, including Rodri, midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and second-choice goalkeeper James Trafford.

Spurs kick off their Premier League campaign away at Brentford on Saturday (17:30 BST), while City host Bournemouth on Sunday (14:00 BST).