Aston Villa sign Kevin de Bruyne and £62m forward gem in stunning new dream XI - if new rumours are true
Aston Villa are expected to add further big name recruits to their impressive squad
Aston Villa fans are experiencing another memorable season despite falling short in the FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace and the Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain.
The league form - especially away from home - hasn’t hit the heights of the previous season, but with four games to spare after a long 12-game European campaign and a run to Wembley in the FA Cup, Unai Emery’s men can take great pride in the fact that there still only three points behind the all-important top five positions and firmly in contention to secure Champions League football with games against Fulham, Bournemouth, Tottenham and Manchester United all on the horizon.
Villa are a club on the up, and with each passing season, they are becoming a more attractive proposition to some of the most decorated and most well known stars in European football. This was signalled by the January additions of former Champions League finalist Donyell Malen, Man United icon Marcus Rashford and three-time European champion Marco Asensio among others.
The West Midlands outfit have ambitions to remain at the top of the ladder amid expansions to their stadium and are hoping to land a number of big stars in the summer to continue their ascent up the league table. With that in mind, we take a look at how Villa’s line-up could shape up by the 2025/26 season if they get their hands on some of their main targets.
Goalkeeper and defence
GK: Emi Martinez: Argentine international Emi Martinez hasn’t quite hit the heights of previous seasons, but there are few goalkeepers available in world football with more talent. The 2022 World Cup winner has been crucial in Villa’s rise but a more competitive number two could be targeted to add depth.
RB: Jon Aramburu (signing): Aston Villa currently have youngster Andres Garcia and Matty Cash on the books, but that’s not stopped rumours over a potential move for Jon Aramburu, with Caught Offside claiming that Villa could battle Real Madrid for his services.
CB: Pau Torres: One of the first names on the teamsheet when fully fit. Spanish centre back Pau Torres was crucial in last season’s fourth place finish and is blessed with fine composure to play the ball out from the back effectively.
CB: Ezri Konsa: Whether he plays at right-back or centre-back Ezri Konsa is a vital part of the Villa backline and a key leader in the dressing room. He’ll look back fondly at his goal against PSG and will hope to represent the club in more major European nights in the years to come.
LB: Lucas Digne: Frenchman Lucas Digne is still ahead of Ian Maatsen in the pecking order for the time being but could face even stronger competition from the 23-year-old next season. Digne has played most matches this season and is blessed with great crossing ability after contributing four assists.
Midfield and attack
CM: Kevin de Bruyne (signing): Belgian playmaker Kevin de Bruyne has announced his decision to leave Manchester City after a 10-trophy-laden season at the Etihad. However, despite reports linking him with a move to Saudi or the MLS, the Belgian still believes he can do it at the highest level and could be a game-changing addition on a free transfer to an already stacked Villa midfield, according to reports from Football Insider.
CM: Youri Tielemans: The former Leicester City midfielder has enjoyed arguably his best season yet at Villa Park and is rarely taken out of the starting line-up. He knows De Bruyne from playing with Belgium and could provide the legs to support his creative talents.
CAM: Morgan Rogers: It would seem harsh to drop Boubacar Kamara from the team, but there’s simply no way we couldn’t include Morgan Rogers after his sensational breakout campaign. He’s scored 14 and assisted 13 across all competitions this term and looks nailed on for a spot in England’s World Cup squad if he hits similar numbers next season. Marco Asensio is also likely to be a target this summer, but it remains to be seen if Villa will look to make his loan spell a permanent with no option or obligation in place.
LW: Marcus Rashford (signing): Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford has slotted into Villa’s frontline in dream fashion while reinvigorating his England career in the process. He’s blessed with terrific speed, skill and still has an eye for goal. Based on recent form, you’d expect Villa to activate his £40m option to buy clause.
ST: Ollie Watkins: There may be some reports of unrest circulating around club-record goalscorer Ollie Watkins, but there’s no way any Villa fan or Unai Emery would like to see him leave to a top six rival. The 29-year-old remains crucial to the project at Villa after scoring 15 league goals this season.
RW: Matheus Cunha (signing): Aston Villa are expected to make an ambitious push to sign Brazil international Matheus Cunha from Wolves. The 25-year-old recently signed a new contract at Molineux but has a release clause of around £62.5m inserted into his contract. Villa are not alone in their pursuit of the Old Gold talisman, however, with Man United, Newcastle and even Nottingham Forest showing interest.
Full Aston Villa dream XI: Martinez, Aramburu, Torres, Konsa, Digne, Tielemans, De Bruyne, Rogers, Rashford, Watkins, Cunha