Aston Villa suffered a setback at the weekend with a 1-0 defeat at home to Everton denting their title bid.
It has been a cracking season so far for Unai Emery’s men but they will be desperate for it not to fall apart. Astute signings could help to that end but Villa are once again slightly hamstrung by spending restrictions and a need to be clever in the market.
Here, our Villa expert TOM COLLOMOSSE answers five big questions about the window with under two weeks to go before it shuts…
What have Villa done so far this January?
Donyell Malen has been allowed to join Roma on an initial £2million loan deal with an obligation to buy for about £25m at the end of the season.
Villa have spent a little less than that on striker Brian Madjo, 17, and 19-year-old Brazilian winger Alysson, but both are players for the future and besides, Alysson is currently injured.
Villa hope Madjo, bought from French club Metz, will develop as quickly as Jhon Duran and they are also likely to have loan offers for the England youth international before the window closes.
Aston Villa have loaned Donyell Malen to Roma, where he scored on his debut at the weekend
Villa have signed the England youth international striker Brian Madjo, 17, from French club Metz. They are likely to listen to loan offers for the forward
Where do they still need to strengthen?
Villa look thin in midfield. Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana and Ross Barkley are all out injured and even if they return quickly, Unai Emery cannot rely on any of them to be fit for extended periods, especially Barkley and Onana.
They tried for Conor Gallagher and need a player who can play in more than one central midfield role. Reliable back-up for Matty Cash would also come in handy and then – of course – there is the attack.
Emery wants an orthodox central striker to compete with Ollie Watkins. But as always Villa have to keep a close eye on Premier League and UEFA financial regulations and are restricted in what they can spend.
Ross Barkley is injured and Unai Emery cannot rely on him to be fit for an extended period
Which players are they targeting?
Tammy Abraham would like to rejoin Villa after his successful season on loan in 2018-19, when his goals helped Villa win promotion.
A clue to that deal may come on Monday, when Besiktas – where Abraham is on loan from Roma – face Kayserispor in the Turkish league. If Abraham does not feature, it may be a sign that the Villa deal is advancing.
At this stage, it is thought Villa are not prioritising a move for Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos though never rule anything out in the transfer window where this club are concerned.
If their financial situation were easier, it would be no surprise to see Villa move for Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta but the PSR/SCR demons make this unlikely.
Tammy Abraham would like to rejoin Villa and there may be a clue to how advanced the deal is when Besiktas face Kayserispor today
Abraham (right) played a massive role in Villa’s promotion through the play-offs in 2019, scoring 25 goals in the Championship while on loan from Chelsea
What progress has been made on signings for the summer?
The financial restrictions mean Villa cannot look too far ahead. If they are in the Champions League next season, revenue will increase and the club can be a little more ambitious in the market.
Without a place in that competition, though, Villa will be able to do little without making at least one major sale before the start of next season.
While Villa deserve some sympathy because it feels they are constantly pushing against a glass ceiling, they need to operate more calmly in the market. The arrivals of Jadon Sancho, Harvey Elliott and Evann Guessand last summer have not worked.
Villa are desperate to find a solution for Harvey Elliott to leave the club but so far the midfielder has been reluctant to move to an inferior league such as the MLS
Who could still leave this month?
Villa are desperate to find a solution for Elliott to leave the club but so far the midfielder has been reluctant to move to an inferior league such as the MLS.
Don’t rule out Guessand or Sancho moving on, either, if they can help unlock another transfer for Villa.
