Martinez must move on and Elliott is 'excellent business'
- Published
Emi Martinez's move to Manchester United never materialised and the World Cup winner must move on quickly.
The Argentina goalkeeper has often been the centre of attention - his vulgar gestures with his World Cup golden glove trophy and the Copa America prime examples.
His future has also dominated Villa's summer, even before last season ended with his perceived emotional goodbye following the final home game of the campaign against Tottenham.
Now, it would be best for the former Arsenal stopper - who turns 33 today - to keep a low profile as he proves his commitment once again to Villa.
Away from Martinez, Villa needed to box clever in the window given the financial restrictions with profit and sustainably rules a constant concern.
Regardless of whether it was the first or last day of the window, signing Harvey Elliott from Liverpool - especially for the £35m he will cost next summer - is excellent business.
Elliott is a mature 22-year-old who has class, drive and experience, having won the Premier League and is coming off the back of a second European Championship win with England Under-21s in the summer.
Victor Lindelof himself is an Under-21 Euros winner with Sweden in 2015 and will provide competition for Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings.
Jadon Sancho will hope Emery - who had to sell Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle to help comply with PSR - can revive his career almost like Marcus Rashford last season, where his former United team-mate returned to the England squad.
Rashford's form did not necessarily justify that call in March but playing at Villa put him back on the radar. As long as the mindset is right and Emery can harness the talent which convinced United to pay Borussia Dortmund £73m for Sancho in 2021, there remains a chance he could follow in Rashford's resurgent footsteps.
The triple arrival on deadline day meant Villa's business went from underwhelming and worrying to promising - especially in Elliott's case. It would be wrong to say it was haphazard, Villa could only work with the finances they had.
Late, yes, but with Villa looking undercooked and aimless in their opening winless and goalless three games, the arrivals are very much needed.