Aston Villa's £150m spend includes a new starting XI but Pep Guardiola's unwanted signing is warned to stay away

Aston Villa have been on a spending spree this transfer window to ensure their dazzling season is not a flash in the pan.

Aston Villa shocked the Premier League last season when they stormed into the top four and booked a Champions League place.

It is a testimony of Unai EmeryThe coaching skills of, having taken on the role of Steven Gerrard in October 2022, with the club fighting to stay out of the relegation zone to now make them a European team.

However, the summer did not start well, with the departure of key player Douglas Luiz to Juventus for £43m, one of the pillars of Emery's team who propelled them to glory with nine league goals in 35 appearances.

However, Premier League PSR rules stipulated that Villa had to make money quickly and… They have also sold academy aces. Omari Kellyman and Tim Iroegbunam to bolster their coffers.

Saudi Arabia also came calling with Moussa Diaby leaving after one season at Villa Park to join Al Ittihad for £55m, while Morgan Sanson, Calum Chambers and Viljami Sinisalo also left on permanent deals.

In total, Villa have earned around £150m, but that money has been put to good use almost immediately, with a total of £153.5m spent.

Two important signings have been made: Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen, both having brilliant seasons. Everton and Borussia Dortmund respectively.

Onana, who Manchester United were looking, it had been an axis of Sean DycheMidfielder and regular player for the Belgium national team, known for his defensive acumen and positional play.

While Maatsen helped Borussia Dortmund reach the Champions League final after joining on loan from Chelsea and had been linked to a transfer to Bayern Munich.

Villa also completed a shrewd move for Ross Barkley, who left Luton Town following their relegation to the Championship, for a modest fee, returning to the club he joined on loan in 2020.

With the Champions League on the horizon and the competition undergoing major changes, Emery will need options in his squad and has sufficiently reinforced the team with several high-potential youngsters.

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Academy product Cameron Archer re-signed with Villa after a year in Sheffield Unitedwho could not be saved from relegation, and who will be substitute for Ollie Watkins in the front.

Another player returning to the club is Jaden Philogene, who left city ​​Casco This summer, after one season, he rejoined Villa like Archer, and had been pursued by Premier League rivals such as Everton and Ipswich City.

Also joining are former Juventus players Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenchea, as well as Everton's Lewis Dobbin, who have shown great promise and could be the next big stars under Emery.

But Villa's summer renewal might not stop there and a bold move for the Atletico Madrid star João Felix He remains the dream of someone who could elevate the club to another level if his world-class potential is realised.

The Portuguese international joined Atletico in 2019 for a staggering £113m fee, a Spanish record, but has since been on loan at Chelsea and Barcelona with Diego Simeone happy to be rid of the 24-year-old.

The dazzling striker might not be the best fit for the Wanda Metropolitano as Simeone prefers work-rate over style and Emery could be the right coach to get the best out of the 2019 Golden Boy award winner.

There are also links with Manchester City star that goes away Kalvin Phillipswhose loan to West Ham last season did him no favours after a poor season in London.

However, that has not deterred Villa, and a loan offer is being prepared for the England international to rescue him from the Etihad, where Pep Guardiola is happy to get rid of him after just 16 Premier League appearances in two seasons.

However, Villa legend and talkSPORT pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor He doesn't believe in the ex Leeds United The star is in Villa's starting eleven and only functions as a squad option.

He told talkSPORT: “When you look at the position Kalvin Phillips plays, you look at[Boubacar]Kamara, who had knee ligament problems in February, so he might have a few more months to get back.

“When he's fit, Kamara is a starter. But it could take him three months or more to get back, so we need a bit more in that position and we have plenty of options in midfield.

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“You have (Youri) Tielemans, you have Barrenchea, you have (John) McGinn, (Jacob) Ramsey, Barkley, Onana.

“But if we talk about midfielders who are going to be that number 6, winning the ball back, starting attacks, aggressive, winning the ball back and being physical, Kamara was our main man.

“Losing him and selling Luiz, who was a different midfielder, on loan, does that make sense? Why not? You can bring him in, there's no guarantee he'll start. He's not a starter in Aston Villa's first-choice XI.

“But it is an option, especially with Kamara, you don't know what his injury will be like when he comes back, so I don't mind it being an option, it's a loan so I don't see a reason why not.”

Whether or not Phillips will make the Villa XI should he sign remains to be seen, but his potential arrival would give Emery more strength in midfield, a position weakened following the departure of Luiz.

However, it is in defence where Villa may need to strengthen, with Matty Cash the only senior option at right-back apart from Kaine Kesler-Hayden, who has only made three Premier League appearances.

In attack, Felix would provide a much-needed replacement for Saudi Arabian Diaby, while Morgan Rogers impressed with three goals following his mid-season switch from Middlesbrough last campaign.

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