Aston Villa this week confirmed their newest manager with Unai Emery being appointed from Villarreal, a decision that caught many fans and pundits by surprise.
The Spanish manager had previously enjoyed two fantastic seasons with the La Liga side as Emery led Villarreal to European success in the UEFA Europa League against Manchester United followed by a fairytale run to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals against Liverpool. However, the former Arsenal boss has returned to England.
Most Premier League fans will be aware of Emery through his exploits with Arsenal, for better or for worse, and Villa appointing the former Sevilla manager is a move has raised some concerns with those familiar with his time in north London, which ultimately ended in disaster.
With Villa a club in need of a saviour, Emery could be that man for the Birmingham-based giants in the coming months, and here are five former players the Spaniard could sign in January to help the Villians get back on their feet this season.
Pau Torres
Villarreal is an obvious shopping location for Emery following his appointment by Villa, and Pau Torres might just be the best possible player the new Villains manager can recruit in January if the Premier League side are serious about investing in the squad.
A reported target for the likes of Tottenham with a release clause worth £43m, Torres is a regular with Spain who was key to Villarreal’s Europa League triumph and Champions League run, and with Diego Carlos out injured, the 25-year-old would be quite the replacement and eventual partner for the Brazilian defender.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Emery’s time at Arsenal is not remembered fondly by supporters, yet if there was one thing that fans appreciated was the Spaniard’s commitment to playing academy graduates, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles was arguably the biggest winner from this philosophy in the new Villa manager’s 18-months in north London.
Whilst the midfield is currently on loan at Southampton, the one-time England international has hardly had a chance at St. Mary’s, and Villa could test the waters with Arsenal and the Saints’ in January to get Maitland-Niles to Villa Park in the January window.
Ivan Rakitic
Steven Gerrard’s tenure at Villa brought hope of the former Liverpool captain being able to convince his former teammates to join the cause at Villa Park, and Emery could do something similar in the form of Ivan Rakitic, who could be ready for a crack at the Premier League.
Despite now being 34-years-old, the Croatian is still easily one of the best technical operators on the ball in Europe, and with Rakitic falling out of favour at Sevilla this season, Emery could tempt the veteran to sign for Villa for a season or two in a move that could rejuvenate the midfield.
Emile Smith Rowe
Just like with Maitland-Niles, Emile Smith Rowe was a huge winner from Emery’s time at Arsenal as the England international made his senior debut under the Spaniard and made quite a name for himself at the north London club, and with Villa being linked with he winger in 2021 as reported by Sky Sports News, it makes sense why a move could be within the realm of possibility.
Injuries might have plagued Smith Rowe’s season this term, but with the attacker set for a return in December, Emery could work his magic with Villa’s financial backing to finally bring the Arsenal talent to Birmingham, where the youngster might be an ideal fit for the Spaniard.
Gerard Moreno
Before Villa’s demolition job against Brentford last weekend, goals have been a major issue for the Premier League side this season, yet Emery could find a solution for this problem in former side Villarreal, with Gerard Moreno one of the best goalscorers in all of Spain.
Just like with Smith Rowe, injuries have been an issue for Moreno this season, but as one of La Liga’s most prolific forwards in the past three years, the Spanish international would be quite the addition for Villa’s forward line alongside Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins.
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