Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has confirmed he has told Marvelous Nakamba to leave during the January window. Morgan Sanson is also trying to secure a transfer away from the club.
The Villans are backing Emery to stamp his mark on the team that he adopted from Steven Gerrard in Birmingham. But the Spaniard’s desire to sign, at least, one midfielder is leaving Nakamba and Sanson with uncertain roles. So, Aston Villa permitted the pair to get moves.
Emery, nor Gerrard, has fielded Nakamba for a single second in any competition so far this season. The 29-year-old has also only featured on the bench in one Premier League fixture since Emery took charge in November. He watched last Friday’s 2-1 win over Leeds United.
Sanson, similarly, has struggled to see much match time so far this season. The 28-year-old has played just nine minutes in the Premier League over two appearances. He also did not play before Emery took charge. But he has only since faced Manchester United and Leeds.
Emery also afforded the Frenchman 67 minutes against Stevenage having started in the FA Cup as Aston Villa lost 2-1. Sanson further scored against the League Two team to lead 1-0. It was also his first goal for the Villa Park outfit over 23 games since joining from Marseille.
Emery has told Nakamba and Sanson to target transfers away from Aston Villa
Dean Smith paid Marseille £16m to sign Sanson on a four-and-a-half-year contract in 2021. He also paid Club Brugge £11m to see Aston Villa sign Nakamba on a five-year deal back in 2019. But Emery has told Sanson and Nakamba that they are free to now leave Aston Villa.
The Villans boss had already admitted that Sanson was free to seek a move away from the club. But Emery has now also added Nakamba – who Gerrard called ‘outstanding’ – to the list of players who are free to leave as Aston Villa strive to back him in the transfer market.
“We are speaking about how we can improve,” Emery said, via quotes by Birmingham Live. “Some players like Nakamba, I told him to leave. Sanson, as well, is in the possibility to leave but Sanson, for me, is a very good player.
“He understands very good how we want to play and he has the skill to do it. But he has to play in a team to be consistent, trying to play more and here, it’s difficult to give him it. He is, as well, finding something to leave.
“If they are leaving, Nakamba, Sanson, maybe we try to add one player more inside, inside midfielder. It’s not clear about this possibility because I want to sign one player [who can] improve the quality of the squad.”
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