'I accepted it' - Unai Emery all but confirms £28m Crystal Palace and Aston Villa transfer

Evann Guessand is in London ahead of completing a loan-to-buy move to Crystal Palace, a deal Aston Villa boss Unai Emery was happy to speak about on Thursday evening.

Emery was in good spirits after his side came from two goals down to beat RB Salzburg 3-2 in a five-goal thriller at Villa Park, especially as it was a result that secured a top-two finish in the Europa League league phase. It hasn’t all been sunshine and rainbows in the transfer market, though, with Villa having to make difficult decisions in recent seasons.

These have continued this January, with Donyell Malen recently let go for AS Roma in a move which disappointed many supporters. But another outgoing, likely to be a little more well-received by the fanbase, has now been agreed.

Emery comments on Guessand to Palace news

Guessand, signed from OGC Nice for £30 million after add-ons only five months ago, is on his way out already. It was hoped the Ivory Coast international could help firm up Emery’s attacking options as a wide forward and an occasional alternative to Ollie Watkins through the middle but it hasn’t worked out.

Guessand has not scored a single Premier League goal and he’s really struggled to adapt to Emery’s system. Although he was approved as a signing by Emery, the Real Madrid-linked head coach admits Guessand moving elsewhere may be best for all parties.

When asked about Guessand’s imminent transfer, Emery said: “It’s something similar like with Malen. Three parts of this chapter – club, team, player. I was happy with him and didn’t want him to leave, but accepting something - a good deal for the club - and him the chance to play maybe (he can) get another way to show his development.

“I accepted it… we signed a striker, a winger. Maybe the last matches was more difficult for him to play in the starting XI, then he decided to leave, we’ll continue with the players we have.”

Villa reunited with former trio

In a bid to continue Villa’s remarkable form this season, Emery has turned to three former players. Well, kind of. Leon Bailey was still a Villa player but looked destined for a permanent transfer away, before Roma cut his loan short. So the Jamaican is back. As is the ultra-popular Douglas Luiz, on loan from Juventus just 19 months on from his £42 million move to Turin.

Then there’s Tammy Abraham, who should make a huge difference. Signed from Besiktas on a permanent deal worth around £18.25 million, Abraham will be eager to hit the ground running just as he did when he scored an impressive 25 goals in 37 Championship games during Villa’s 2018/19 promotion campaign.

What Emery likes about having Bailey, Luiz and Abraham involved is the familiarity. He may not have worked with Abraham before, but the former England international striker knows what it means to play for Villa and should have an upper hand as a result. Bailey and Luiz, meanwhile, will undoubtedly remember Emery’s passionate approach.