UEFA rule gives Unai Emery transfer headache at Aston Villa
Aston Villa's priority is to sign a forward and right-back this month, but further additions can't be ruled out so early in the window.
Unai Emery hopes to bring Dutch international Donyell Malen into his squad, while Celta Vigo's Oscar Mingueza is one of a few targets Villa have assessed to add competition for Matty Cash. Villa could spend around £35m on the duo as Mingueza has a release clause of around £17m and Borussia Dortmund are seeking £25m for Malen, but Monchi and Co are negotiating to bring that fee down.
Malen is due to enter the final year of his deal at the Signal Iduna Park this coming summer and is also said to be enthused by the possibility of joining Villa and playing Premier League football. Mingueza, meanwhile, also has a contract at his club until 2026.
READ MORE: Aston Villa backed to seal transfer reunion with player Steven Gerrard dubbed 'fantastic'
READ | Everton target Villa transfer after Unai Emery's assessment of player
READ | Who is Oscar Mingueza and why Villa are targeting defender
Villa are expected to sanction loan moves for goalkeeper Joe Gauci and right-back Kosta Nedeljkovic this month, while Jaden Philogene is the subject of interest from several clubs. Everton have even opened talks over a permanent move for the winger. However, if Villa want to make another addition on top of the arrivals of a forward and right-back, a further alteration to the squad will be required as their Champions League roster would be full up.
After the completion of the league phase and before the start of the knockout phase, clubs can register a maximum of three new eligible players for the remaining matches in the current competition.
In their Champions League squad, they can name 21 players who are not 'club-trained'. Jacob Ramsey and Philogene were the only two players who were 'club-trained' in the squad named for the league phase.
If Malen and Mingueza replace Philogene and Nedeljkovic, then it's likely Villa will only carry two goalkeepers in their List A squad, while promising stopper Oliwier Zych could be promoted to the third-choice, but remain in List B.
That would mean Villa would name 21 players who aren't 'club trained', plus Ramsey, who takes one of the four reserved spaces for that quota. It's likely that if Villa made a third signing this month, they would directly be replacing another member of the squad who'd be sold or loaned out.
Here's how Villa's Champions League squad could look with only two additions this month...
Goalkeepers: Martinez, Olsen.
Defenders: Cash, Mingueza, Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Mings, Digne, Maatsen.
Midfielders: Kamara, Onana, Tielemans, Barkley, McGinn, Buendia, Ramsey.
Forwards: Watkins, Duran, Rogers, Bailey, Malen.
