Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has provided some insight into the club’s plans for the upcoming January transfer window.
After 19 games of the Premier League season, Villa sit in third place in the table after picking up 39 points, while we’ve advanced to the knockout stage of the Europa Conference League.
READ MORE: Villa team news vs Burnley: Emery provides Digne, Pau Torres updates
With our involvement in the FA Cup in mind too, we still have plenty to play for this season, and it remains to be seen if we opt to bring in reinforcements to help us sustain our progress in the second half of the campaign.
With the January transfer window fast approaching, Emery is now starting to be asked more regularly about his intentions for the window, and whether or not he will be looking to bring in new faces next month to strengthen the group.
Speaking to the media in his pre-Burnley press conference on Friday, the Villa boss noted that the club are assessing our options, but ultimately he will adopt a similar approach to the previous two windows in that he only wants to add players if they significantly improve what we already have.
“We are analysing and we are meeting with Monchi (president of football operations) and the owners in how we can improve and change something in the squad, but I am very happy,” he said, as per The Athletic.
“We might change something, but not 100 per cent — only if we can get something that can really help. We are going to be alert as to whether we have the possibility to add to the squad, but at the moment we are happy with the players we have, getting good results, good commitment and the competitive structure we are creating.
“I don’t know if we are going to get something or not in the transfer window.”
It remains to be seen though if our current injury situation impacts Emery’s plans and decisions, as along with long-term absentees Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne is the latest to go into the treatment room with a hamstring problem that could sideline him for up to a month.
Pau Torres is still not fit, Youri Tielemans remains sidelined and suspensions are also causing issues, but ultimately if these are short-term issues, it’s equally as important that we don’t buy for the sake of it to fill gaps.
It promises to be an intriguing period though to see if there is significant movement in either direction if the right deals present themselves, as it could certainly be a key factor in how our season ends.