Aston Villa, read in full

Read the story of

AFC Bournemouth Arsenal Aston Villa Brentford Brighton & Hove Albion Chelsea Coventry City Crystal Palace Everton Fulham Hull City Ipswich Town Leeds United Liverpool Manchester City Manchester United Newcastle United Nottingham Forest Sunderland Tottenham Hotspur Alavés Athletic Club Atlético de Madrid Barcelona Celta de Vigo Deportivo de La Coruña Elche Espanyol Getafe Levante Málaga Osasuna Racing de Santander Rayo Vallecano Real Betis Real Madrid Real Sociedad Sevilla Valencia Villarreal Atalanta Bologna Cagliari Como Fiorentina Frosinone Genoa Internazionale Juventus Lazio Lecce Milan Monza Napoli Parma Roma Sassuolo Torino Udinese Venezia Augsburg Bayer Leverkusen Bayern München Borussia Dortmund Borussia M'gladbach Eintracht Frankfurt Elversberg Freiburg Hamburger SV Hoffenheim Köln Mainz 05 Paderborn RB Leipzig Schalke 04 Stuttgart Union Berlin Werder Bremen Angers SCO Auxerre Brest Le Havre Le Mans Lens Lille Lorient Monaco Nice Olympique Lyonnais Olympique Marseille Paris FC Paris Saint-Germain Rennes Strasbourg Toulouse Troyes ADO Den Haag Ajax AZ Cambuur Excelsior Feyenoord Fortuna Sittard Go Ahead Eagles Groningen Heerenveen NEC PEC Zwolle PSV Sparta Rotterdam Telstar Twente Utrecht Willem II

Chapter one · read the club

Aston Villa,read in full.

Unai Emery's side line up in a and sit in the table. His teams take of the threat in their matches and average defensive actions.

Chapter two · find the gap

The gaps are at and .

Biggest need · centre-back · below its rivals, ageing
The best of them, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, is worth ; at the clubs closest to Aston Villa in strength the best option there is typically worth . of the options are veterans, so the position needs renewing soon.
Second need · central midfield · ageing
Aston Villa have the numbers and the level there today (Johan Manzambi, ), so the need is about the years ahead. of the options are veterans, so the position needs renewing soon.

Every position is compared with the six squads in its league closest in strength: depth, the best option's value, ageing. Players count where they actually start, not where they are listed.

Chapter three · scout the fix

Three ways to fix it.

Biggest need: centre-back

Dream targets · whatever the cost

Aurélien Tchouaméni
Club
Real Madrid
Age
Contract
months left
Price
(likely –)
Plays centre-back, defensive midfield · right-footed · cm · caps
Why him
In style he is in the top of centre-backs in Europe's biggest leagues for share of duels won, the top for interceptions and the top for passes ( league season). Next to Pau Torres, the last of Aston Villa's regular starters there (a ball-playing centre-back), he would add interceptions: he is ahead of of centre-backs in Europe's biggest leagues for it, Pau Torres ahead of . The most valuable regular starter we found at centre-back. We expect him to play of Aston Villa's minutes. Market value .
Dayot Upamecano
Club
Bayern Munich
Age
Contract
months left
Price
(likely –)
Plays centre-back · right-footed · cm · caps
Why him
A regular: minutes for Bayern Munich in the past year's matches on record, and international caps. That is more than Pau Torres, the last of Aston Villa's regular starters there ( goals and assists per full match), so he would add end product. The second most valuable regular starter we found at centre-back. We expect him to play of Aston Villa's minutes. Market value .
Riccardo Calafiori
Club
Arsenal FC
Age
Contract
months left
Price
(likely –)
Plays centre-back, left-back · left-footed · cm · caps · injury risk
Why him
In style he is in the top of centre-backs in Europe's biggest leagues for dribbles completed, the top for duels contested and the top for tackles ( league season). Next to Pau Torres, the last of Aston Villa's regular starters there (a ball-playing centre-back), he would add duels contested: he is ahead of of centre-backs in Europe's biggest leagues for it, Pau Torres ahead of . The third most valuable regular starter we found at centre-back. We expect him to play of Aston Villa's minutes. Market value .

Realistic targets · gettable

Joel Ordóñez
Club
Club Brugge KV
Age
Contract
months left
Price
(likely –)
Plays centre-back · right-footed · cm · caps
Why him
A regular: minutes for Club Brugge KV in the past year's matches on record, and international caps. That is more than Pau Torres, the last of Aston Villa's regular starters there ( goals and assists per full match), so he would add end product. A move that can happen: Club Brugge KV sell players like him more often than most ( chance in a window), and players tend to move up to richer clubs like Aston Villa. The Guardian's Rumour Mill has linked him with Aston Villa in report over the past year, which makes this move times as likely as it would be without it. The likeliest move of those we checked ( in a window; any one move is a long shot).
Calvin Bassey
Club
Fulham FC
Age
Contract
months left
Price
(likely –)
Plays centre-back · left-footed · cm · caps · injury risk
Why him
A ball-playing centre-back: in the top of centre-backs in Europe's biggest leagues for dribbles completed, the top for share of duels won and the top for passes ( league season). Next to Pau Torres, the last of Aston Villa's regular starters there (a ball-playing centre-back), he would add share of duels won: he is ahead of of centre-backs in Europe's biggest leagues for it, Pau Torres ahead of . Closest in style: L. Badé and W. Saliba. A move that can happen: Fulham FC sell players like him more often than most ( chance in a window), and players tend to move up to richer clubs like Aston Villa. The second likeliest move of those we checked ( in a window; any one move is a long shot). Only months are left on his contract, which brings the price down.
Chris Richards
Club
Crystal Palace
Age
Contract
months left
Price
(likely –)
Plays centre-back · right-footed · cm · caps · injury risk
Why him
A front-foot defender: in the top of centre-backs in Europe's biggest leagues for tackles ( league season). Next to Pau Torres, the last of Aston Villa's regular starters there (a ball-playing centre-back), he would add tackles: he is ahead of of centre-backs in Europe's biggest leagues for it, Pau Torres ahead of . Closest in style: S. Goglichidze and P. Dawidowicz. A move that can happen: Crystal Palace sell players like him more often than most ( chance in a window), and players tend to move up to richer clubs like Aston Villa. The third likeliest move of those we checked ( in a window; any one move is a long shot). Only months are left on his contract, which brings the price down.

Hidden gems · young, rising

Ruud Nijstad
Club
FC Twente Enschede
Age
Price
(likely –)
Plays centre-back · left-footed · cm · caps
Why him
That is more than Pau Torres, the last of Aston Villa's regular starters there ( goals and assists per full match), so he would add end product. Aged and already a regular ( of FC Twente Enschede's minutes), projected to be worth in a few seasons.
Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal
Club
Stade Rennais FC
Age
Price
(likely –)
Plays centre-back · right-footed · cm · caps
Why him
That is more than Pau Torres, the last of Aston Villa's regular starters there ( goals and assists per full match), so he would add end product. Aged and already a regular ( of Stade Rennais FC's minutes), projected to be worth in a few seasons.
Bruno Ogbus
Club
SC Freiburg
Age
Price
(likely –)
Plays centre-back · right-footed · cm · caps
Why him
He would compete with Pau Torres () for a starting place. Aged and already a regular ( of SC Freiburg's minutes), projected to be worth in a few seasons.

Second need: central midfield

Dream targets · whatever the cost

Alex Scott
Club
AFC Bournemouth
Age
Contract
months left
Price
(likely –)
Plays central midfield, defensive midfield · right-footed · cm · injury risk
Why him
He scores and sets up league goals per full match; for goals and assists he is behind most players at his position in Premier League (ahead of ). That is more than João Gomes, the last of Aston Villa's regular starters there ( goals and assists per full match), so he would add end product. The most valuable regular starter we found at central midfield. We expect him to play of Aston Villa's minutes. Market value .
Alexis Mac Allister
Club
Liverpool FC
Age
Contract
months left
Price
(likely –)
Plays central midfield, defensive midfield · right-footed · cm · caps · injury risk
Why him
In style he is in the top of midfielders in Europe's biggest leagues for tackles, the top for duels contested and the top for chances created ( league season). Next to João Gomes, the last of Aston Villa's regular starters there, he would add chances created: he is ahead of of midfielders in Europe's biggest leagues for it, João Gomes ahead of . Closest in style: Urko González and Y. Ayari. The second most valuable regular starter we found at central midfield. We expect him to play of Aston Villa's minutes. Market value .
Junior Kroupi
Club
AFC Bournemouth
Age
Contract
months left
Price
(likely –)
Plays attacking midfield, centre-forward · right-footed · cm · caps
Why him
He scores and sets up league goals per full match, more goal involvement than of players at his position in Premier League. That is more than João Gomes, the last of Aston Villa's regular starters there ( goals and assists per full match), so he would add end product. The third most valuable regular starter we found at central midfield. We expect him to play of Aston Villa's minutes. Market value .

Realistic targets · gettable

Yasin Ayari
Club
Brighton & Hove Albion
Age
Contract
months left
Price
(likely –)
Plays central midfield, defensive midfield · right-footed · cm · caps · injury risk
Why him
In style he is in the top of midfielders in Europe's biggest leagues for tackles ( league season). Next to João Gomes, the last of Aston Villa's regular starters there, he would add chances created: he is ahead of of midfielders in Europe's biggest leagues for it, João Gomes ahead of . Closest in style: A. Mac Allister. A move that can happen: Brighton & Hove Albion sell players like him more often than most ( chance in a window), and players tend to move up to richer clubs like Aston Villa. The likeliest move of those we checked ( in a window; any one move is a long shot). Only months are left on his contract, which brings the price down.
Noah Sadiki
Club
Sunderland AFC
Age
Contract
months left
Price
(likely –)
Plays central midfield, defensive midfield · right-footed · cm · caps · injury risk
Why him
He scores and sets up league goals per full match; for goals and assists he is behind most players at his position in Premier League (ahead of ). He would compete with João Gomes () for a starting place. A move that can happen: Sunderland AFC sell players like him more often than most ( chance in a window), and players tend to move up to richer clubs like Aston Villa. The second likeliest move of those we checked ( in a window; any one move is a long shot).
Ismaïla Sarr
Club
Crystal Palace
Age
Contract
months left
Price
(likely –)
Plays attacking midfield, right winger · right-footed · cm · caps · injury risk
Why him
In style he is in the top of midfielders in Europe's biggest leagues for shots, the top for fouls won and the top for chances created ( league season). Next to João Gomes, the last of Aston Villa's regular starters there, he would add chances created: he is ahead of of midfielders in Europe's biggest leagues for it, João Gomes ahead of . A move that can happen: Crystal Palace sell players like him more often than most ( chance in a window), and players tend to move up to richer clubs like Aston Villa. The third likeliest move of those we checked ( in a window; any one move is a long shot).

Hidden gems · young, rising

Harrison Armstrong
Club
Everton FC
Age
Price
(likely –)
Plays attacking midfield · right-footed · cm · caps · injury risk
Why him
He scores and sets up league goals per full match; for goals and assists he is behind most players at his position in Premier League (ahead of ). He would compete with João Gomes () for a starting place. Aged and already a regular ( of Everton FC's minutes), projected to be worth in a few seasons. Transfermarkt lists league minutes for him last season.
Mateus Mané
Club
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Age
Price
(likely –)
Plays attacking midfield, central midfield · right-footed · cm · caps
Why him
He scores and sets up league goals per full match; for goals and assists he is behind most players at his position in Premier League (ahead of ). That is more than João Gomes, the last of Aston Villa's regular starters there ( goals and assists per full match), so he would add end product. Aged and already a regular ( of Wolverhampton Wanderers's minutes), projected to be worth in a few seasons.
Lewis Miley
Club
Newcastle United
Age
Price
(likely –)
Plays central midfield · right-footed · cm · caps · injury risk
Why him
He scores and sets up league goals per full match, more goal involvement than of players at his position in Premier League. That is more than João Gomes, the last of Aston Villa's regular starters there ( goals and assists per full match), so he would add end product. Aged and already a regular ( of Newcastle United's minutes), projected to be worth in a few seasons.

Price is our fair fee for Aston Villa today; the likely range is where most fees for players like him have landed. Wages are not shown: no free source publishes them.

Injury risk is rated for players in Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1; Eredivisie has too little injury data to rate; other leagues have none.

Linked in the press · most credible first · rumours, not facts · how sources compare

Rafael Leão · AC Milan
Aston Villa have been linked with Rafael Leão. The Guardian
Source
The Rumour Mill's own round-up:
Heat
independent outlet, report since
Reality
We put this move at in a window. months left on his contract.
Track record
- : the same source linked Tammy Abraham with Aston Villa; he .
Jean-Philippe Mateta · Crystal Palace
Aston Villa have been linked with Jean-Philippe Mateta. The Guardian
Source
The Rumour Mill's own round-up:
Heat
independent outlet, report since
Reality
We put this move at in a window. months left on his contract.
Track record
- : the same source linked Tammy Abraham with Aston Villa; he .

Chapter four · check every number

Every number has a receipt.

league position · Aston Villa
league points · Aston Villa
league goals scored · Aston Villa
league goals conceded · Aston Villa
recent league results, oldest first · Aston Villa
appointed head coach of Aston Villa · Unai Emery

Verified ×2Every figure re-checked against its source · news needs an official source or two independent ones · hover any number

Chapter five · predict Saturday

Aston Villa v Manchester City

Aston Villa win

Draw

Manchester City win

Forecast from team ratings and chance quality, tested on two full seasons: better than a classic rating system, not yet as sharp as the bookmakers.

Chapter six · fork it

Open source. Free. Yours.

Free and open source, built only on free data and open AI. Point it at your club and check every number yourself.

github.com/delta96040/dugout Read the full dossier