Unai Emery will be keen to add depth and quality to his squad ahead of next season, with Villa eager to go far in the Champions League while establishing themselves in the Premier League top four.
Last campaign was simply extraordinary as the Villans finished ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Newcastle United and Manchester United to qualify for Europe’s most elite competition. Villa also reached the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League, achieving great success despite suffering several injury woes.
Tyrone Mings and Emiliano Buendia will feel like new signings upon their returns from serious anterior cruciate ligament knee issues, but Villa will want to recruit fresh faces altogether. Business is already being conducted as several deals are expected to be finalised this week.
Villa can also spend a lot more freely now as they have been relieved of concerns over the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations. Speculation is rife and plenty of reports have accuracy to them, so how could Villa line up in 2024/25 if the rumours do indeed prove true?
Only including the most credible links and taking into account current injuries, here’s the starting XI and substitutes Emery could name away at West Ham United on the opening day of the new Premier League season.
Tyrone Mings and Emiliano Buendia will feel like new signings upon their returns from serious anterior cruciate ligament knee issues, but Villa will want to recruit fresh faces altogether. Business is already being conducted as several deals are expected to be finalised this week.
![Barkley will join from Luton Town in a £5 million deal – it’s already been completed. Emery will probably rotate the former England international with the likes of Tielemans and McGinn. Gallagher too if he signs.](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/jpim-static/2024/06/28/12/06/GettyImages-2149434632.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
17. Sub 6: Ross Barkley
Barkley will join from Luton Town in a £5 million deal – it’s already been completed. Emery will probably rotate the former England international with the likes of Tielemans and McGinn. Gallagher too if he signs. | Getty Images
![Ramsey was recently the subject of a bid from Tottenham Hotspur - £20 million plus Giovani Lo Celso - but Villa have no interest in a sale. Emery is eager to unlock the wide midfielder’s vast potential.](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/jpim-static/2024/06/28/12/19/GettyImages-1914368200.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
18. Sub 7: Jacob Ramsey
Ramsey was recently the subject of a bid from Tottenham Hotspur - £20 million plus Giovani Lo Celso - but Villa have no interest in a sale. Emery is eager to unlock the wide midfielder’s vast potential. | Getty Images
![The Argentine was another to miss last season through a serious knee injury but he’s expected back in full training over the coming weeks. Buendia’s return will offer great versatility and depth in attacking midfield.](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/jpim-static/2024/06/28/12/28/GettyImages-1574562118.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
19. Sub 8: Emiliano Buendia
The Argentine was another to miss last season through a serious knee injury but he’s expected back in full training over the coming weeks. Buendia’s return will offer great versatility and depth in attacking midfield. | Getty Images for Premier League
![Rogers, signed from Middlesbrough for £8 million plus £7 million in add-ons, has been excellent since he arrived in January. Being benched feels cruel but there are so many options. Samuel Iling-Junior, imminently joining from Juventus, narrowly misses out but is likely to be rotated in.](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/jpim-static/2024/06/28/12/37/GettyImages-2143482537.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
20. Sub 9: Morgan Rogers
Rogers, signed from Middlesbrough for £8 million plus £7 million in add-ons, has been excellent since he arrived in January. Being benched feels cruel but there are so many options. Samuel Iling-Junior, imminently joining from Juventus, narrowly misses out but is likely to be rotated in. | Getty Images