The Villa chairman is already looking ahead.
Tony Xia
Aston Villa chairman Tony Xia has outlined his side’s January transfer plans – despite there being more than 40 minutes left of the summer window.
Villa underwent an extensive recruitment drive, landing nine new faces following their relegation from the Premier League, with late-window additions Jonathan Kodjia and Albert Adomah complementing a strong-looking squad.
Jonathan Kodjia
However, Xia is already looking ahead to the winter window, when Villa look set to lose a number of their stars to the African Cup of Nations.
The Villans could be particularly afflicted in attack, with Kodjia (Ivory Coast), Adomah, Jordan Ayew (both Ghana) and possibly Rudy Gestede (Benin) all bound for the tournament held between 14 January and 5 February in Gabon.
Rudy Gestede
When asked how Villa planned to cope without the bulk of their attack, Xia tweeted: “We have plan for this.
“Will get several loans and 1/2 ins in Jan. Don’t worry about it.”
Should the quartet receive call-ups, Villa would be left with only Ross McCormack, Libor Kozak and Gabby Agbonlahor as senior strikers.
Gabby Agbonlahor
The latter, a former club captain at Villa Park, turned down a deadline day move to Reading – a decision which left Xia feeling “disappointed”.
“I was disappointed with this,” Xia tweeted. “I said 2 gabby that going somewhere even he unlikes playing convince us a real man.”
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