Aston Villa reveal latest January signings to bolster hopes in UEFA Champions League

National World - LocalTV

Aston Villa have been quietly efficient in the January transfer window, strengthening key areas while holding firm on their star players.  With smart additions and a focus on maintaining squad depth, Unai Emery’s side look well-positioned to push for a strong finish this season. But could there still be late drama before the window closes?

Transcript

00:00The transfer rumours are in and out. Let's start with the defensive part of the side.

00:18It's something that we spoke about. There's been a fair few big names come through, certainly

00:24European quality, the likes of Diego Carlos, Pau Torres over the last few seasons. They're

00:29after a wing-back. What's the latest you can tell us defensively? Let's start off with

00:34them and any new signings that have been brought in this month.

00:39The understanding for the last few months really is that Unai Emery has been desperate

00:43to bring in a new right-sided defender. Someone who can play either as a right-back, right-wing

00:47back or as a central defender. A little bit like Ezra Konza has done so over the last

00:52year or two. When Tyrone Mings was out, he was mainly left-sided but occasionally played

00:57on the right with Pau Torres on the left. Konza was so important. Diego Carlos as well.

01:02When he has long-term injury, Konza was important. But you can't rely just on him. When you have

01:06Matty Cash on the right being quite inconsistent, he can have some outstanding games but some

01:12very poor games, very susceptible to giving away penalties. I think Emery just wants a

01:16few more bodies in that position and a few more options, especially for Champions League

01:20football this season. It has been very tricky. In terms of targets for that position, Mingueza,

01:26who is a right-back at Celta Vigo, can play in the centre as well or he can play as a

01:30wing-back. Fitz de Bil, he's got a £16m release clause. He's a player that Aston Villa are

01:36considering. There's Andres Garcia as well, also in Spain. In terms of a central defender,

01:41out and out, you've got Loic Bardet of Sevilla. £25m should be enough for him. We could see

01:47Diego Carlos move in the other direction. They're the latest rumours at the moment,

01:51but Villa are definitely prioritising that defence.

01:55In terms of attack, they've made one signing on the right-hand side, possibly to replace

02:02the outgoing of Moussa Diaby. What's the latest you can tell us on him? Are Villa fans excited

02:09about what this new signing can bring for the remainder of the season? At the end of the day,

02:16they're halfway through. They've got a big run-in ahead of them, Champions League-wise,

02:20Premier League-wise as well. They can really go for it and make a push. Is this signing the man

02:25to aid that? Yeah, Daniel Marlon from Borussia Dortmund, £23m when you include add-ons.

02:32The same amount that Villa have sold Jadon Filigin to Ipswich Town for. I think that's

02:36incredible business, personally. Filigin, Emery was hoping he could step back up from the

02:40Championship. That's why he came back. Didn't quite work out for Marlon. He can play on either

02:45side. He can play through the middle if Villa want. Moussa Diaby obviously leaving in the

02:50summer is a big miss. Marlon is a fairly similar profile player and he should really help if the

02:55likes of Leon Bailey are out of form.

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