What Aston Villa and Unai Emery can learn from out-of-form RB Leipzig ahead of their Champions League clash, writes TOM COLLOMOSSE
Unai Emery need only look at Wednesday’s opponents to be confident Aston Villa can stay competitive while also selling key players.
Yet this may be possible only if Villa’s outstanding leader can be persuaded to loosen his grip a little on the steering wheel.
RB Leipzig coach Marco Rose is under pressure thanks to a dire Champions League campaign and stuttering domestic form but while there may be doubts about the coach, the plans that drive the club are unlikely to change. Rose is required only to take the team and has little influence over player trading.
Backed by energy drink giant Red Bull, Leipzig’s transfer model has seen players like Josko Gvardiol, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konate, Christopher Nkunku and Dani Olmo sold at enormous profit. Since they reached the Bundesliga in 2016, Leipzig have finished outside the top four only once, as well as winning three trophies. Based on their transfer business since 2017, Leipzig are about £20m in the black. Leading Premier League clubs would love to have similar balance sheets.
Villa transfer chief Monchi admitted in September that the club should not be afraid to sell players as this was their best way to generate serious revenue. The problem is how to achieve it.
Emery’s career proves beyond doubt he is one of the best coaches around. So many Villa players have reached another level since he took charge two years ago. But is as good a talent spotter? Based on his time at Villa, the jury is out.
Aston Villa are gearing up to face RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday night
Marco Rose is under huge pressure after five-game losing streak in the Champions League
But Unai Emery and Aston Villa could learn from how Leipzig manage the transfer market
Of the 18 players, including loans, who have arrived in the Emery era, only Morgan Rogers, Pau Torres and – this season – Youri Tielemans have established themselves as key first-team players. It was interesting that when Emery really needed a win last Wednesday after eight games without one, the starting XI against Brentford featured only two players signed during his tenure.
Across the world, transfers usually play out as follows. When a new signing delivers, coaches, executives and recruitment chiefs cannot move quickly enough to claim credit for it. When a player proves an expensive mistake, you do not see them for dust.
Yet Emery has a huge influence over transfer policy at Villa and on his watch, the club have spent about £265million on players and sold £176m worth. Of those to arrive, only Jhon Duran and Rogers would generate a huge profit if sold today.
The Duran deal was conducted by former sporting director Johan Lange and had Villa not faced Middlesbrough in the FA Cup last season, would Rogers have been signed at all? Rogers was bought for a little more than £8m. Any club wanting him now would probably have to stick a zero on that number simply to open negotiations. There are few Emery-era signings like him, however.
If ever they departed, Amadou Onana and Pau Torres would fetch comfortably enough to stop Villa breaking spending rules but might not allow them to reinvest heavily in the squad.
During his first spell at Sevilla, Monchi was perhaps the most admired sporting director in Europe. His flagship deal was Brazilian full-back Dani Alves, signed for about £400,000 and sold to Barcelona for £27m, but there were many more.
Though a poor stint at Roma and a mixed return to Sevilla dented that reputation a little, Monchi is still a master of the market. Even when constrained by profitability and sustainability rules, he still has the expertise and contacts needed.
Look at the magic Emery has worked with the squad he inherited. Most are worth far more than they were when Steven Gerrard was hired, regardless of age. Look at Tyrone Mings and John McGinn, who are 31 and 30 respectively, or Ollie Watkins, who turns 30 next year.
Josko Gvardiol (left) and Christopher Nkunku (right) are among those to have left RB Leipzig for significant transfer fees, moving to Premier League clubs Man City and Chelsea respectively
Villa have several stars, including Jhon Duran (above), who could fetch a huge transfer fee
Emery would be wise to loosen his grip a little on the steering wheel in terms of transfer policy
Boubacar Kamara was signed on a free transfer in summer 2022 and could be one of the world’s best defensive midfielders if he can stay injury-free. Imagine the value Emery would be able to find in the kinds of players Leipzig sign.
The average age of players signed under Emery, including loans, is a little more than 23, so the strategy is correct. Expect that number to drop in coming windows, too.
It is never easy to persuade a workaholic to step away from their desk, yet leaving transfers entirely in the hands of Monchi might be the smartest move Emery could make.
