Aston Villa have been both attentive and proactive with contract talks in recent years, and that trend is expected to continue this summer.
What we know for certain so far is that the two players who will see their current contracts expire at the end of June are set to depart, with the club confirming that both Ashley Young and Jed Steer will move on.
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However, when we look at the core of the squad and the individuals who are considered as pillars of the Villa XI, many of them are already under contract for several years still, and that is down to excellent management and an understanding of keeping a key group together and building around them.
Emiliano Martinez, Matty Cash, Boubacar Kamara and Jacob Ramsey are all under contract until 2027, as are talented young duo Cameron Archer and Tim Iroegbunam with big expectations for that pair.
Douglas Luiz, Diego Carlos, Emiliano Buendia, Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa, Alex Moreno, Lucas Digne and Philippe Coutinho have deals that run until 2026, and although there are perhaps question marks over the latter two in terms of their ability to see out those agreements, we’ve put ourselves in a strong position to either fend off interest in our key players or demand a significant fee for those whom we would consider an exit for.
That said, there will be decisions needed this summer on who is next up to try and extend, while the more prominent issue is with those that will see their contracts expire in June 2024, as a decision on their respective futures will be needed now to avoid the unwanted outcome of losing them for nothing.
As per The Telegraph last month, both John McGinn and Ollie Watkins are in line to get new, improved deals, and with their current agreements running until 2025, it again shows strategic forward-thinking and a proactive approach to keeping our top players at the club.
Should those deals get agreed in the coming weeks, all-but one player in the starting XI that sealed a Europa Conference League spot against Brighton on the last day of last season will be under contract for another three years at least, and that in turn will hopefully help Unai Emery have a foundation to build on and strengthen the squad where he deems appropriate.
In contrast, there are some key decisions ahead too. Bertrand Traore, Marvelous Nakamba, Keinan Davis, Wesley, Jaden Philogene and Louie Barry will all become free agents next summer as things stand, and so for those that are now deemed surplus to requirements, Villa will want to move them on in this window and receive fees where possible.
It’s questionable if any of those named have a long-term role to play in Emery’s plans, especially when you consider he will bring in reinforcements of his own, and so there could be a number of exits in the coming weeks.
Looking slightly further ahead, while we hope McGinn and Watkins will extend beyond 2025, Morgan Sanson, Calum Chambers, Kortney Hause and Leon Bailey will see their deals expire in two years time and so decisions may well be needed on them too.
Bailey aside, it seems unlikely any of the others in that group will be playing a significant role for Villa moving forward, and so if that is indeed the case and Emery is open to letting them leave permanently, it would again make sense to try and move them out this summer and recoup funds that can be used to strengthen, assuming the interest is there.
With changes being made to the management infrastructure this summer as we await news on a possible new sporting director, movement will be expected on these matters. While recruitment will be fundamental to prepare us for next season as we look to build on last year’s progress, sorting our in-house situations will help make the picture clearer moving forward too.
Would you extend any of those coming to the end of their contracts in the next two years other than McGinn and Watkins?
