{"id":254730,"date":"2026-07-26T08:10:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T08:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/26\/another-96m-spent-what-aston-villas-xi-could-look-like-in-2026-27\/"},"modified":"2026-07-26T08:10:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T08:10:14","slug":"another-96m-spent-what-aston-villas-xi-could-look-like-in-2026-27","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/26\/another-96m-spent-what-aston-villas-xi-could-look-like-in-2026-27\/","title":{"rendered":"Another \u00a396m spent: What Aston Villa’s XI could look like in 2026\/27"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

After securing a place in the Premier League<\/a>\u2019s top-five and winning the Europa League last season, Unai Emery<\/a> will do well to trump such success at Aston Villa<\/a> next term.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Spaniard has transformed the Villans into a force to be reckoned with domestically and continentally – but it\u2019s crucial the hierarchy continue to back him to take the club up a level.<\/p>\n

Huge business is expected this window to try and bolster the senior ranks in key areas – especially after the departure of Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers to Manchester United and Chelsea, respectively.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Work has already been conducted in recent weeks, as Joao Gomes and Alejandro Garnacho<\/a> have arrived in the West Midlands – but the latter may struggle to find a place in Emery’s starting eleven.<\/p>\n

So, how could Villa line up for the opening game of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion in a month\u2019s time?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n 1 <\/span>
\n
\n GK – Emi Martinez<\/strong>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/h2>\n
\n
\n \"Aston\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The Argentine has once again been strongly linked with a move to Juventus this summer, but the Villa faithful will be hoping the club can keep hold of their number one.<\/p>\n

He could even return to Villa Park next campaign as a two-time World Cup winner – which undoubtedly highlights his world-class quality between the sticks.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n 2 <\/span>
\n
\n RB – Matty Cash<\/strong>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/h2>\n
\n
\n \"Aston\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Matty Cash<\/a> will be lining up for his seventh campaign as an Aston Villa player, but this time he will return to Villa Park with a new hairline after a hair transplant over the summer.<\/p>\n

The Polish international will be sporting a new look for the opening months of the campaign, but hopefully it won\u2019t change his fortunes and have an effect on his performances.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n 3 <\/span>
\n
\n CB – Ezri Konsa<\/strong>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/h2>\n
\n
\n \"Ezri\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Another player who will be returning late to the senior squad is Ezri Konsa<\/a>, who, like Martinez, has been featuring at the ongoing World Cup for his national side.<\/p>\n

The Englishman has recently been touted with a move to Premier League champions Arsenal, but Emery and Co will be confident of keeping the 28-year-old beyond the summer window.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n 4 <\/span>
\n
\n CB – Pau Torres<\/strong>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/h2>\n
\n
\n \"Pau-Torres\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Whilst the Spaniard may have had his issues with injuries last term, there\u2019s no denying that when he\u2019s fully fit, he\u2019s one of, if not, the club\u2019s best central defenders.<\/p>\n

His partnership with Konsa at the heart of the defence will be crucial to Emery if he is to bring added silverware to Villa Park during the 2026\/27 campaign.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n 5 <\/span>
\n
\n LB – Pervis Estupinan<\/strong>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/h2>\n
\n
\n \"estupinan-ac-milan\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The first of the club\u2019s new additions this summer could come in the form of left-back Pervis Estupinan – with the AC Milan full-back already in talks to join the Villans.<\/p>\n

Personal terms have been agreed with the Ecuadorian international, who is seen as the perfect option to replace the outgoing Lucas Digne this summer.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n 6 <\/span>
\n
\n CDM – Jo\u00e3o Gomes<\/strong>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/h2>\n
\n
\n \"joao-gomes-wolves\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

As previously mentioned, Villa recently completed the \u00a338m signing of midfielder Gomes from West Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers.<\/p>\n

The Brazilian penned a deal with the Villans until the summer of 2031 and will no doubt offer needed cover for Emery in the heart of the club’s midfield.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n 7 <\/span>
\n
\n CDM – Jo\u00e3o Palhinha<\/strong>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/h2>\n
\n
\n \"Tottenham's\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The second holding midfield addition this window could come in the form of Bayern Munich star Joao Palhinha<\/a> – who\u2019s been touted with a loan move to Villa Park.<\/p>\n

His previous loan spell at Tottenham Hotspur last season saw him catch the eye with his ball-winning ability – something which Emery\u2019s men will lack in the absence of Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n 8 <\/span>
\n
\n RW – Ibrahim Mbaye<\/strong>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/h2>\n
\n
\n \"ibrahim-mbaye-psg-aston-villa\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Whilst a deal for Ibrahim Mbaye currently isn\u2019t close, the Senegalese star has been consistently mentioned as a key attacking target for Villa this summer.<\/p>\n

The PSG winger, who\u2019s been dubbed the \u201cnext Kylian Mbapp\u00e9<\/a>\u201d by GOAL, could be available for around the \u00a340m mark, after netting at the ongoing World Cup this summer.<\/p>\n

A move for the youngster could see Garnacho have to settle for a place on the bench, with Emery no doubt going to want to utilise such a big-money addition.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n 9 <\/span>
\n
\n CAM – Johan Manzambi<\/strong>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/h2>\n
\n
\n \"Switzerland's\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Despite huge rumours around deals for Estupinan and Palhinha, Villa\u2019s first summer deal has been confirmed, with Johan Manzambi arriving from Freiburg for a club-record fee.<\/p>\n

The Swiss international will be hoping to build on his own impressive World Cup, after registering three goals and two assists despite featuring just four times for his nation.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n 10 <\/span>
\n
\n LW – John McGinn<\/strong>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/h2>\n
\n
\n \"John-McGinn-Aston-Villa-Europa-League-Trophy\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

After the English-record \u00a3117m sale of Rogers this summer, Emery will undoubtedly need other players to step up to the plate – and who better than the Scottish international?<\/p>\n

He’s currently the club’s longest-serving player and has taken the armband in recent seasons – a role which he will no doubt assume once again next term.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After securing a place in the Premier League\u2019s top-five and winning the Europa League last season, Unai Emery will do well to trump such success at Aston Villa next term. The Spaniard has transformed the Villans into a force to be reckoned with domestically and continentally – but it\u2019s crucial the hierarchy continue to back […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":254731,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6808],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-254730","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254730","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=254730"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254730\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/254731"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=254730"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=254730"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=254730"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}