Aston Villa

Hannah Gowen
Fan writer

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On paper, Aston Villa's owners have plenty of dry powder to throw at squad investment.

Yet still, another transfer window has gone by in which the club has had to juggle limited resources.

The past month has been plagued by injuries and Villa have been tasked with plugging gaps across the front two-thirds of the pitch. Two players left, another two came in. Two more got injured, one came in to cover. Papering over cracks springs to mind.

Unai Emery has typically always had a relatively small squad, meaning a few injuries quickly lead to things looking bare. It is hard to say that Villa are stronger now than in December as a decimated midfield weighs heavily on Emery's team selection and ability to rotate.

However, with minimal money to spend, the incoming and outgoing movements feel sensible and give a boost to both the dressing room and to fans, who have already welcomed the not-so-newbies warmly at Villa Park.

This business may have looked comical to outsiders, re-signing and recalling players from Villa years gone by. To those connected with the club, it makes perfect sense - limited risk and potentially great reward.

Donyell Malen and Evann Guessand made way for Leon Bailey and Tammy Abraham; two players who, at their best, added real quality for Villa. With goals drying up in the Premier League, the addition of two proven creative players could be key in the coming months.

Meanwhile, the injuries ruling out the heart of Villa's midfield resulted in the return of fan favourite Douglas Luiz. The Brazilian's appearance on Sunday against Brentford was a perfect example of how important he will be for the rest of this season - an engine in the midfield, and someone to rotate with an injury-prone Amadou Onana.

It may not be the most exciting window on paper, but adding players with a connection to the club, who can immediately immerse into the Emery universe, can only be a positive.

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Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

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After full-time on Sunday, you could feel that uneasy mood that hung over Aston Villa and their connections last August coming back, the general sense that the world was not quite giving them a square deal.

Like in August, you couldn't say that Villa were being cheated: the PSR regulations are what they are, and the ball probably was over the line, and all the way back there probably is where the attacking phase started - nothing personal, just rules.

But as they set off home, you could tell that the Villa collective were sensing the ground beneath them somehow tilting slightly uphill.

The fearsome look on Unai Emery's face as he left the playing area had softened by the time he arrived in the radio room 40 minutes later and the tone of his remarks was well-judged.

He gently protested against the disallowing of Tammy Abraham's goal – the words "not fair" made for an easy headline, but were part of the most polite of complaints – but his first thought was to congratulate Brentford on their outstandingly disciplined performance and he reminded all concerned that Villa being in third place at all remains a big deal.

Emery's tone is worth taking time to note because it is hard to think of another major club at present where the head coach is such a singular, totemic figure.

Managers are the most prominent public face and voice at most clubs now, but few are regarded with the reverence Emery inspires among Villa fans, players and staff.

This never lasts for ever – even Manchester City fans must soon contemplate a world after Pep Guardiola – and one could easily believe that Emery is so invested in his work that he is to some extent unaware of his own standing.

But players, when interviewed, frequently talk unprompted about his influence within the club, and fans take their cue from his mood. In Emery, they trust.

The Brentford defeat was of a different nature to the loss against Everton. Where they appeared short of energy a fortnight previously, this time they lacked guile to pick through the visitors' remarkably well-constructed defence.

A 10-man plan is seldom executed so well for so long as it was by Brentford, which was Villa's real misfortune.

Their response to the last setback, winning two demanding away fixtures in seven days, was impressive. This time the next task is equally difficult, to visit Bournemouth without being distracted by the pack behind them finally gathering momentum.

This working week, behind the gates of Bodymoor Heath, may therefore be the most important of the season to date.

Listen to full commentary of Bournemouth v Aston Villa at 3pm on Saturday on BBC Radio WM [95.6FM]

And tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

Explore Aston Villa content on BBC Sounds

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Liverpool loanee Harvey Elliott's future at Aston Villa has been in doubt since Villa boss Unai Emery decided he did not want to make his move from Anfield permanent, but he is now expected to remain at Villa Park at least until the end of the season.

Elliott is now three appearances away from triggering a transfer worth £35m after initially joining on loan in the summer.

"The way I see it is that Villa don't want him, to be brutally honest," former Birmingham and Walsall midfielder Martin O'Connor told BBC Radio WM.

"With the terms of the deal, I don't think they fancy him or else he would have been in the team by now.

"Obviously Villa are doing really well this season, I don't think Liverpool really fancy him because they've loaned him out, so he's in that precarious position where neither side really wants him."

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton on Aston Villa's recent dip in form: "You think about Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn, Youri Tielemans - three good players in their own right, but more importantly the way they have performed this season.

"They have been absolutely outstanding, the three of them, so I'm not sure if any team could cope with losing all three in the engine room.

"Ollie Watkins hasn't had a great season. I never understood letting Donyell Malen go. They could have held on and it's these details. It's hard enough to keep up with Arsenal as it is but these fine details are the difference between winning a league or finishing third.

"Villa, in the main, have coped well with Europe and they have a pretty strong bench but the Everton loss and then again against Brentford would have been sickening."

The Observer's Rory Smith added: "It's difficult to build the strength of Arsenal in a few years. Villa are getting there. They have not been a Champions League club for X number of years, they don't pay the wages other teams do.

"Villa are massively ahead of their curve, they are further ahead than they should be, they are still overperforming. Third in the Premier League is incredible. Because they have got so close makes it so frustrating."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Boss Unai Emery had seemed more frayed this month, the stress of the window and Aston Villa's financial restrictions appeared to be wearing on him.

That was added to the Premier League pressure with Villa losing successive home league games for the first time in two years.

It may have been a relief, then, that Villa's window ended quietly with a few young loans out- Samuel Iling Jr leaving on loan for Pisa after his spell at West Bromwich Albion was cut short and Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba replacing him at The Hawthorns for the second half of the season.

Villa's dealings were essentially done and signing Tammy Abraham for £18.25m should represent good business given they get a 28-year-old England international returning with excellent experience picked up at Roma, AC Milan and Besiktas.

Douglas Luiz slots back in out of necessity following the season-ending injury to Boubacar Kamara while Harvey Elliott has come in from the cold and Leon Bailey was given a surprise recall from his loan at Roma.

All of those point to Villa needing the bodies, with Bailey's recall not planned at the start of the month.

Villa have done what they can with what they have but it still feels like they are one more injury - to Morgan Rogers for instance - away from being in real trouble.

So it may not be a surprise Emery has seemed a little more strained than usual as he tries to guide Villa back to the Champions League and end a 30-year trophy drought.

Aston Villa have done the following business on deadline day:

• Stockport County have re-signed forward Louie Barry from Aston Villa for his third loan spell with the League One club.

• Winger Samuel Iling Junior has been recalled from his loan spell at Championship side West Bromwich Albion and loaned straight out to Serie A club Pisa until the end of the campaign.

• Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba has joined West Bromwich Albion on loan until the end of the season.

• Villa winger Kadan Young has joined Reading on loan until the end of the season.

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Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Aston Villa's Samuel Iling Junior has cut short his loan at West Bromwich Albion to move to Pisa in Serie A.

The winger has spent the first half of the season at the Baggies in the Championship.

He scored once in 24 games but now moves to Pisa to help them in their relegation fight with the club second bottom of Serie A.

Iling Junior has previously played for Juventus and Bologna in Italy.

The Baggies - 21st and three points above the Championship relegation zone - have replaced him with Aston Villa team-mate Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba.

Preston were also keen to take the 19-year-old on loan but Jimoh-Aloba wants to help the Baggies' relegation fight and has opted to return to the club over North End, while Leicester City also enquired.

Attacker Jimoh-Aloba came through the academy at The Hawthorns before moving to Villa in 2023.

He made his Premier League debut last month and scored Villa's winner in the 3-2 comeback victory over Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League last week.

Watch Total Sport's transfer deadline day special for West Midlands clubs, focusing on the business done by Aston Villa and Wolves, plus the region's EFL sides.

The show, which runs from 18:00-20:00 GMT, will offer the latest updates and analysis on your team's transfer business.

Watch it here

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Harvey Elliott is expected to stay on loan at Aston Villa.

The Liverpool loanee's future has been in doubt since Villa boss Unai Emery decided he did not want to make his move from Anfield permanent.

Elliott is now three appearances away from triggering a transfer worth £35m after initially joining on loan in the summer.

The attacker had been sidelined by Emery - although he has remained training with the first team - with the manager saying Villa decided in October not to buy the 21-year-old.

Yet after an injury crisis at Villa with Boubacar Kamara out for the season and John McGinn and Youri Tielemans out for months, Elliott has featured in Villa's last two games - having not played since 2 October.

He played the entire match in Villa's Europa League win over Red Bull Salzburg last week and was a second-half substitute in Sunday's 1-0 home defeat by Brentford.

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We asked you what still needs to happen before the transfer window closes at 19:00 GMT on Monday.

Here are some of your comments:

Rob: I can't see us signing anyone else this January with PSR restrictions, so my hope is that Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba stays. Having someone with pace on our bench is just what we need now Donyell Malen's gone. Unai Emery wants to loan him out so he can get game time more regularly, but he changed the game against Salzburg as a substitute. He could be waiting in the wings to give our squad a boost when we need it the most.

Jimmy: What we need depends on two things we don't know. How likely it is that John McGinn is back by early to mid March and whether Alysson is part of the first-team plans. If McGinn is back, and Alysson will be given a run, then we can get away without additions. But if one or both is not happening then we need a winger or an attacking midfielder.

Chris: With the lack of midfielders currently available, another one wouldn't go amiss. I liked the look of Angel Gomes at Marseilles a couple of seasons back but he seems to have vanished off the radar and now seems to be surfacing on loan at Wolves. A few months under Unai could have turned him back round again. Another right-back would be nice seeing as though Andres Garcia is either injured permanently or not trusted enough. But we are hamstrung by PSR and it's incredibly difficult to recruit the required quality.

Chay: The best thing Villa should do is do nothing as our squad is strong enough to compete (as long as no more injuries). If not, then consider some loan deals for the midfield or the right-back position for more needed cover.

Cassie: Depending on the amount Villa can spend, I would like to see Harry Wilson join as his experience in defending and attacking is what we urgently need in midfield. I would sign Ibrahima Konate from Liverpool, but his wages could be difficult. These two players added to the squad would ensure a top-two finish - and if Arsenal slip up... then winners!

Adam: A combative defensive midfielder (or two) - preferably with a healthy injury record! A new contract for Emery to ward off Real Madrid or Manchester United also wouldn't go amiss.

Ask us questions about Aston Villa and we'll put them to our experts

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Aston Villa have already done the bulk of their business with the arrivals of Tammy Abraham and Douglas Luiz.

The loan return of Juventus midfielder Luiz, who was sold to the Serie A side 18 months ago, was enforced after the season-ending injury to Boubacar Kamara.

Abraham was a labour of love for Villa, having tried to sign him several times, and he bolsters an attack after the departures of Donyell Malen and Evann Guessand.

Harvey Elliott's situation remains unchanged, despite the Liverpool loanee coming in from the cold against Red Bull Salzburg for his first appearance since 2 October. Villa are still unwilling to make his move permanent for £35m but it will automatically trigger if he makes four more appearances.

There is interest from clubs in taking Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba on loan for the second half of the season. West Bromwich Albion have held an interest, with the 19-year-old having come through the academy at the Hawthorns.

But after the attacker scored Villa's winner in their 3-2 comeback victory over Salzburg on Thursday, a number of other Championship clubs are circling.

Young striker Rory Wilson is more likely to stay at Villa Park than leave, although his situation could change at short notice.

Bundesliga side Hoffenheim wanted to take him on loan, with an option to buy, and use him in their under-23 side in Germany's third division. However, that did not happy, and while there is plenty of interest in the 20-year-old, he could stay at Villa beyond the deadline.

Today is the final chance of the season for your Premier League team to do transfer business.

The window closes at 19:00 GMT, meaning teams - and fans - can avoid the usual late-night transfer scramble.

It has already been a busy window - for some teams anyway - but whether it turns out to be a day of transfer action or a pretty quiet one for your club, you will be able to keep across it all on BBC Sport.

Follow our live text coverage throughout the day here

Get alerts and keep up to date with all the latest news, insight and fan views for your club

Danny Murphy and Troy Deeney join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's four Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Aston Villa 0-1 Brentford

• Manchester United 3-2 Fulham

• Nottingham Forest 1-1 Crystal Palace

• Tottenham 2-2 Manchester City

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery walked down the side of the pitch at full-time with a face like thunder.

It could have been the defeat, but you expect he will be mulling over what to say about the VAR decision which denied Villa at least a point.

A four-minute delay to disallow Tammy Abraham's goal had Villa Park singing anti-Premier League and VAR songs, while the debate will rage over whether going back 19 seconds to the start of the move was correct.

There is no denying, though, that Villa suffered back-to-back home league defeats for the first time since February 2024 when they lost to Newcastle and Manchester United.

This time - unlike Thursday's win from 2-0 down against Red Bull Salzburg - there was no comeback despite an expected goals (xG) of 1.98, compared to Brentford's 0.53.

Kelleher did not have a serious stop to make and Villa failed to open up a Brentford team who played more than half the game with 10 men.

It was attack versus defence in the second half, but Villa were not good enough to find a way through Brentford and failed to capitalise on the gift of Kevin Schade's red card.

Emery has always played Villa's title chances down and, after losing at home to Everton and Brentford, they have fallen further behind Arsenal.

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Aston Villa and Brentford.

Here are some of your comments:

Villa fans

Ian: A woeful performance from Villa. Someone signing in after half time would not have realised Brentford had 10 men. Villa huffed and puffed playing slow short passes outside the Brentford box without creating any real chances

Steven: Like with Everton, we huffed and we puffed but without any of our standout long term midfield trio of Kamara, Tielemans and McGinn we aren't able to turn over teams with that incisive pass or in transition. Fair play to the Bees, they dug in and took time out of the game - who wouldn't I guess…

Magy: If it's 0-0 when the opposition has a player sent off and, despite having more than a half to play, you still lose, you get what you deserve. Villa need to find a way to break down teams who just park the bus.

Ged: Just not good enough - Groundhog Day when attacking and hitting a wall of Brentford players. VAR should never have intervened as there was no clear evidence to prove the ball was out - therefore not a clear and obvious error - goal should have stood. Well done Brentford though, they defended valiantly.

Brentford fans

George: A thoroughly deserved win that showcases just how far our defensive stability has come - we have always struggled to hold onto a lead and have been wholly outmatched on several previous visits here. If only they gave you a fourth point for winning with ten!

Mel: Despite Villa's injury list (we know what thats like), its still a 'wow' for this victory. To beat Villa away with 10 for about an hour, shows high levels of focus & resilience. This squad and management team continue to impress (even after last weeks loss) and they deserve nothing but praise. Shade's red - well, let's hope he learns from this.

Neel: Disappointing judgment by Kevin Schade, once again. Fortunately, a massive performance from the Bees. A mature defensive display full of mettle. Credit to Keith Andrews for making changes early in the 2nd half.

Jerry: Silly from Schade to fall for the Matty Cash theatrics but a superb goal from Outtara followed by a brilliant defensive display in the second half gave the Bees a deserved victory. What does Thiago have to do though to get a decision go his way? It took two Villa defenders to pull him down halfway through the second half, but the ref decreed that Igor was the culprit because the two Villa players couldn't deal with his strength and were left sprawling on the deck. Onwards and upwards for the Bus stop team.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery speaking to BBC's Match of The Day: "We tried everything and we were dominating, creating chances and stopping them.

"After the red card, they scored so quick. Before the second-half, we were fighting and taking corners but we didn't score and in football we must accept that and keep going because we are more than then match we lost."

On his teams disallowed goal: "I have to accept the referees decision but I think it isn't fair.

"Villa defended fantastically, they have experienced players and today they needed to defend and they did fantastic. We did everything to try and score and everything to stop them but we must accept it."

On new signings Tammy Abraham and Douglas Luiz's performance: "It is the first match, they need to keep going and we are trying to get information about them, so we keep going.

"We are frustrated but we will stand up quick and think about how we are and what we are doings.

"After tomorrow, [transfer deadline] we can do a plan."

Hear more from Emery on BBC Sounds

Did you know?

• Aston Villa lost a Premier League match in which the opponent received a first half red card for the first time since April 2021, when they lost 2-1 against a Manchester City side who had John Stones dismissed.

• Villa completed 355 passes in the second half, their most passes in a single half of Premier League of football on record (since 2003-04).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Aston Villa's performance

What did you make of Brentford's display?

Come back later on Sunday for a selection of your replies

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Ollie Watkins fails to recover from a hamstring injury to face Brentford as Tammy Abraham and Douglas Luiz makes their Aston Villa returns.

Unai Emery makes seven changes from Thursday's 3-2 win over Red Bull Salzburg, where Watkins came off in the first half.

He is not in the squad but Abraham starts up front with Luiz also in after returning from Juventus on loan.

Emi Martinez, Lamare Bogarde, Jadon Sancho and Emi Buendia keep their places.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Torres, Konsa, Maatsen, Bogarde, Luiz, Sancho, Buendia, Rogers, Abraham

Subs: Bizot, Lindelof, Digne, Mings, Barkley, Hemmings, Onana, Bailey, Elliott

Brentford boss Keith Andrew makes three changes at Villa Park.

Sepp Van den Burg, Jordan Henderson and Dango Ouattara come in following last week's 2-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Nathan Collins, Yehor Yarmoliuk and Mikkel Damsgaard drop to the bench.

Brentford XI: Kelleher, Henry, Ajer, Van den Berg, Kayode, Jensen, Henderson, Janelt, Schade, Thiago, Ouattara

Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Pinnock, Yarmoliuk, Collins, Lewis-Potter, Damsgaard, Donovan, Bentt

There are four games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Aston Villa v Brentford - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Manchester United v Fulham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Tottenham v Manchester City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 14:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Aston Villa v Brentford" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Tottenham v Man City", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

It's transfer deadline day tomorrow, with the window closing at 19:00 GMT.

How would you assess Aston Villa's window? Do you think any position needs more attention? If so, give us names of who should be brought in. And what about who needs to go?

Get in touch with your views here

Youri Tielemans is the latest Aston Villa midfielder to be sidelined by injury. He has been so good for them and it is another big blow after they also had John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara ruled out.

Villa still put in an amazing performance to win at St James' Park without McGinn and Kamara last weekend, and I think they will cope this time too.

They could be a bit light in midfield and Douglas Luiz will have to go some to match Tielemans' form after rejoining on loan this week, but Villa still have plenty of quality elsewhere.

They have also brought in Tammy Abraham to help Ollie Watkins out up front, and Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers are both having brilliant seasons.

Brentford have been so good at home all season but then they went and got 'Dyched' by Sean Dyche's Nottingham Forest last weekend.

The Bees really need Igor Thiago to get back among the goals to give them any hope - and he will probably score because I am going to write them off.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here