Whilst it was never going to be an easy start to the season for Aston Villa after so much change, even the most pessimistic fan may have been expecting at least one win in their opening four Premier League games.
Defeat against Nottingham Forest exposed the issues that Unai Emery is currently facing once again, with two more goals making it seven conceded for the season so far.
Meanwhile, going the other way, only Tottenham Hotspur have scored fewer than the Villans, who netted their first goal of the season against Forest courtesy of Alysson.
It’s a symptom of losing Ollie Watkins and waiting for Nicolas Jackson to find his feet in the Premier League, but it’s also a sign that Villa need to dip into the January market.
Even after spending more than £250m, there is still recruitment to be done at Villa Park. They watched on as Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Emiliano Martinez all left for the exit door in the summer. Replacing an era of talent which ended on a Europa League high doesn’t simply happen in one window.
That’s where the January window could provide Emery with a much-needed boost and a creative spark who’s in-demand all across the Premier League.
Aston Villa join hectic race to sign Geny Catamo
As reported by TeamTalk, Aston Villa have stormed into the race to sign Geny Catamo from Sporting Club in the January transfer window. The winger was the subject of interest from Sunderland in the summer, but now has a total of six Premier League sides chasing his signature.
Sunderland and Villa are joined by Brighton, Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United and Brentford in a hectic race. Crucially, however, only the Villans can offer Champions League football.
The deal may not come cheap, though. If those in the Midlands want to avoid the same tough negotiations that Sunderland endured in the summer, then they could trigger Catamo’s €60m (£51m) release clause.
|
Fee (add ons included) |
Signed From |
Year |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nicolas Jackson |
£65m |
Villarreal |
2026 |
|
Johan Manzambi |
£59.5m |
Freiburg |
2026 |
|
Moussa Diaby |
£51.9m |
Bayer Leverkusen |
2023 |
|
Amadou Onana |
£50m |
Everton |
2024 |
|
Ibrahim Mbaye |
£47m |
PSG |
2026 |
It would instantly make Catamo one of the most expensive players in Aston Villa’s history just months after they splashed out on Jackson, Johan Manzambi and Ibrahim Mbaye.
If his form is anything to go by, however, then Catamo would be worth every penny. The winger has been involved in five goals in seven games in all competitions, which included a goal in the Champions League earlier this month.
At 25 years old, this is a player at the peak of his powers who is beginning to add the type of output that Villa so desperately lack right now. Whether they manage to jump ahead of Premier League rivals in a hectic race remains to be seen, though.