Villa have completed significant business this summer, but Sunday’s 4-0 defeat against Brighton demonstrated how much work remains.
Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martínez could still leave, Leon Goretzka must be registered, an opening bid for Jean-Philippe Mateta has fallen short and negotiations continue for attacking and defensive reinforcements.
The Premier League confirms that the window closes at 11pm on Tuesday 1 September.
These are the five decisions Villa must resolve before then.
Aston Villa transfer window decision one: Complete Goretzka registration
Goretzka is the most advanced of Villa’s outstanding deals.
The former Bayern Munich midfielder has successfully completed his Aston Villa medical, according to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg.
Villa must now complete his contract, international clearance and Premier League registration before he can play.
That process carries additional urgency because Arsenal visit Villa Park on bank holiday Monday.
The normal registration guidance points towards midday on Friday as the relevant cutoff, as Read Aston Villa’s registration analysis explains.
Goretzka would provide an immediate midfield option following João Gomes’ red card at Brighton. Amadou Onana and Johan Manzambi are also unavailable, leaving Emery short of established central midfielders.
Completing the transfer announcement alone will not guarantee Goretzka can face Arsenal. The registration process represents the final and most time-sensitive step.
Decision two: Settle Watkins and the striker position together
Villa cannot treat Watkins’ possible departure and their search for another striker as separate pieces of business.
Al-Hilal have reportedly made four approaches for the England international, including a proposal worth approximately £45million.
TalkSPORT reports that the Saudi club remain confident of reaching Villa’s valuation with another offer.
Watkins has returned to training and apologised to his teammates after missing the Brighton defeat. That repairs the immediate situation without guaranteeing he will remain at Villa Park.
Reuters reported that Emery would only consider selling if the outcome suited Villa, Watkins and the club’s plans for a replacement.
Villa have subsequently submitted an opening bid for Mateta. The offer fell well below Crystal Palace’s valuation, meaning considerable negotiation would still be required.
There is also a difference between signing Mateta and replacing everything Watkins provides. The Palace forward offers greater physical presence, while the latest statistical comparison reveals the attacking adjustment Villa would need.
Nicolas Jackson remains another option, but Chelsea’s reported £65million valuation and rival interest make that route expensive.
The sequence is critical. Villa need an acceptable replacement secured before sanctioning Watkins’ departure.
Decision three: Determine how far to pursue Rafael Leão
Mateta would address Villa’s central striking position. Leão represents a possible answer to the creativity and carrying ability lost when Morgan Rogers joined Chelsea.
Sky Sports reports that Villa have approached AC Milan and the Portugal international is open to the move.
The clubs remain in contact, but there is no agreement over a fee or confirmation that Villa have settled personal terms.
Leão scored nine goals and supplied three assists across 29 Serie A appearances last season. He can operate from the left, behind a centre-forward or occasionally through the middle.
That versatility would give Emery another player capable of progressing possession directly towards defenders.
Villa’s opening Rafael Leão discussions have therefore moved beyond a routine transfer link. However, the financial commitment would be substantial, particularly if the club also need Mateta or Jackson.
Leão and Mateta are not necessarily alternatives. One would primarily replace Rogers’ attacking profile, while the other would prepare Villa for Watkins’ possible departure.
The decision is whether Villa have the financial and squad-cost capacity to pursue both needs during the same week.
Decision four: Agree a centre-back deal with Club Brugge
Villa’s defensive rebuild remains incomplete following Ezri Konsa’s transfer to Arsenal.
The Guardian reports that Villa are intensifying their pursuit of Club Brugge centre-back Joel Ordóñez.
The Ecuador international is a longstanding target and impressed Villa during the clubs’ Champions League meetings.
Villa have reportedly agreed personal terms with Ordóñez, but there is no club-to-club agreement.
Brugge could demand as much as £43million, considerably above the earlier valuation of approximately £30million.
There is also an immediate availability concern because Ordóñez is recovering from a fractured metatarsal. Villa would need to assess both the injury and whether his likely return date justifies the requested fee.
Alternative target Taylor Harwood-Bellis could offer quicker availability, but Southampton have already rejected two Villa proposals.
Brighton exposed the urgency behind the search. Villa conceded four times inside 31 minutes, with Victor Lindelöf and Pau Torres struggling before Tyrone Mings entered at half-time.
Emery needs another central defender. Villa must decide whether Ordóñez remains the correct target at Brugge’s price or whether the limited time requires them to pursue a more attainable alternative.
Decision five: Resolve Martínez and Suzuki’s goalkeeper roles
Villa have already completed their long-term goalkeeper move by signing Zion Suzuki from Parma.
The unresolved issue is what happens to Martínez.
Juventus represented his clearest exit route but subsequently signed Guglielmo Vicario. Sky Sports confirms that the Italian club moved to their alternative after failing to agree a deal with Villa.
Martínez remains under contract until 2029, while Emery has acknowledged that the goalkeeper is open to a new challenge.
Neither Martínez nor Suzuki started at Brighton. Marco Bizot was selected, with Suzuki among the substitutes and Martínez absent from the matchday squad.
That arrangement cannot remain unclear indefinitely.
Suzuki was signed for a package approaching £30million and is expected to become Villa’s long-term first choice. Martínez has been one of the club’s most influential players and would expect to play regularly if he remains.
If no suitable offer arrives, Emery must define their roles and reintegrate Martínez. If another club enters negotiations, Villa need enough time to complete the departure without destabilising the position further.
The goalkeeper issue is financially and tactically separate from Watkins, but both situations involve senior players whose futures remain uncertain after replacements have already been identified.
Villa’s five decisions are closely connected
Goretzka’s completion can progress independently. The other four decisions influence one another.
Selling Watkins could fund Mateta, Jackson or part of a Leão deal. Spending heavily on two attackers could limit Villa’s ability to meet Brugge’s valuation for Ordóñez. A Martínez sale would create further flexibility but leave Suzuki immediately responsible for the position.
Villa have generated significant money through the departures of Rogers, Konsa, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne.
However, their squad-retention figure has already fallen to a Premier League-low 65.6%. Further changes would increase the pressure on Emery to establish a functioning team quickly.
The final week cannot simply be measured by how many players arrive.
Villa need Goretzka registered, clarity over Watkins and Martínez, a coherent attacking plan and another centre-back capable of contributing once available.
Completing those five tasks would give Emery a balanced squad after an extraordinary summer. Leaving several unresolved would carry the uncertainty exposed at Brighton beyond the transfer window.
