Aston Villa's astonishing £338m summer transfer window predicted with Spurs, Celtic, Leipzig and Monaco deals

The upcoming season promises to be full of anticipation and excitement for Aston Villa as Unai Emery’s men prepare for life in the Champions League.

After gatecrashing the top four of the Premier League last season, Villa will sit at European football’s top table once again and will hope to make a big impact by building on what was a stunning campaign last time out. It’s safe to say Emery has been active in the transfer window as he prepares his squad for a hectic season after the likes of Everton midfielder Amadou Onana, Chelsea full-back Ian Maatsen and Juventus winger Samuel Iling-Junior all moved to Villa Park over the last month. There have been departures after Douglas Luiz moved in the other direction to join Juve, Villa youngster Tim Iroegbunam joined Everton and Morgan Sanson and Viljami Sinisalo moved to Nice and Celtic respectively.

There are still around seven weeks remaining in the summer transfer window and another big sale should be completed in the near future as Villa winger Moussa Diaby closes in on a move to the Saudi Pro League. But what other business could Emery conduct as he prepares for a thrilling season at Villa Park? We fire up Football Manager 2024 to see what the world’s most popular managerial simulation believes is in store for Villa during the remainder of the window.

Goalkeepers

A slow start to this but probably not an unexpected one. There is no doubt Emi Martinez is fully established as Emery’s number one goalkeeper and he will be backed up by Robin Olsen and Joe Gauci, who may well receive game-time in cup competitions throughout the upcoming season as Villa contend with an increased number of fixtures following their qualification for the Champions League.

Emery’s goalkeeper options: Emi Martinez, Robin Olsen, Joe Gauci

Defenders

There was one change to Emery’s defensive ranks and it came in the form of a departure as Kourtney Hause moved to Championship club Sheffield United in a £1.3m deal. The real-life Emery had already completed the signing of Chelsea left-back Ian Maatsen so it was a case of one-in, one-out once we had utilised the in-game editor to put together the most up-to-date Villa squad.

Emery’s defensive options: Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos, Tyrone Mings, Ian Maatsen, Alex Moreno, Luca Digne, Matty Cash

Midfielders

Now we are cooking! Changes aplenty for Emery’s midfield ranks so we will begin this round-up with the departures. Jacob Ramsey completed a loan switch to Championship club Middlesbrough but there were permanent moves for Leander Dendoncker (£2m to Stuttgart) and Youri Tielemans (£14m to Monaco). In their place came loan signing Amadou Haidara and £12m addition Christoph Baumgartner, with both players joining from Bundesliga club RB Leipzig. The real-life additions of Amadou Onana, Enzo Barrenchea and Ross Barkley were also included in this Villa squad, meaning the virtual Emery has a whole host of options in the middle of the park.

Emery’s midfield options: Amadou Onana, Boubacar Kamara, Enzo Barrenechea, John McGinn, Ross Barkley, Amadou Haidara, Christoph Baumgartner

Forwards

Now, first and foremost, we have to state we have moved Moussa Diaby to Saudi Pro League club in a £50m deal, pre-empting the deal that may well have been concluded by the time you are reading this piece. However, the former Bayer Leverkusen winger was joined going through the Villa Park exit door by Leon Bailey (£18m to Benfica), Cameron Archer (£10m to Celtic) and Emi Buendia (£10m to Valencia. There was one new face in the virtual Villa forward ranks as Emery handed over £35m to Premier League rivals Spurs to sign Brazil international Richarlison.

Emery’s forward options: Morgan Rogers, Jaden Philogene, Samuel Ilang-Junior, Lewis Dobbin, Jhon Duran, Ollie Watkins, Richarlison

Ins

Amadou Onana (£50m from Everton), Ian Maatsen (£37m from Chelsea), Cameron Archer (10m from Sheffield United), Jaden Philogene (£12m from Hull City), Samuel Illang-Junior (£8m from Juventus), Lewis Dobbin (£6m from Everton), Enzo Barrenechea (£5m from Juventus), Ross Barkley (£4m from Luton Town), Amadou Haidara (loan from RB Leipzig), Richarlison (£35m from Spurs), Christoph Baumgartner (£12m from RB Leipzig)

Outs

Moussa Diaby (£50m to Al-Ittihad), Douglas Luiz (£44m to Juventus), Tim Iroegbunam (£7m to Everton), Morgan Sanson (£2.5m to Nice), Viljami Sinisalo (£750,000 to Celtic), Calum Chambers (free transfer to Cardiff City), Philippe Coutinho (loan to Vasco da Gama), Filip Marschall (loan to Crewe Alexandra), Kourtney Hause (£1.3m to Sheffield United), Leon Bailey (£18m to Benfica), Emi Buendia (£10m to Valencia), Cameron Archer (£10m to Celtic), Jacob Ramsey (loan to Middlesbrough), Leander Dendoncker (£2m to Stuttgart), Youri Tielemans (£14m to Monaco)