Aston Villa midfield transfer business looks increasingly important after UEFA confirmed Unai Emery’s squad for next week’s Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain.
Villa have named only four players in the midfield section of their current list: Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn, João Gomes and Ross Barkley.
There is flexibility elsewhere in the squad, but the numbers underline why another midfielder could still be high on Villa’s agenda before the transfer window closes.
Aston Villa midfield transfer need becomes clearer before PSG
UEFA’s official squad list includes 23 Villa players ahead of the meeting with Paris Saint-Germain in Salzburg. View Villa’s official UEFA Super Cup squad
Emery can call on players who operate across several positions. Emi Buendía can drop into an attacking midfield role, while Lamare Bogarde has previously been used centrally despite being listed among the defenders.
Even so, the recognised midfield options look relatively light for a team preparing for Champions League football.
McGinn has also been managing a knee problem suffered against BG Pathum United, although Villa have received encouraging news over his condition. Boubacar Kamara has only just returned following seven months out.
As ReadAstonVilla reported when UEFA confirmed Emery’s squad, Johan Manzambi is absent while continuing his rehabilitation from a knee injury.
That leaves Gomes as Villa’s only fully established summer addition to the midfield currently available.
Villa have already shown interest in adding further experience in that area, with João Palhinha among the players linked during the window.
Friday’s friendly against Bayern Munich should provide another indication of how Emery intends to balance his midfield. More importantly, the Super Cup against PSG five days later could expose whether Villa have enough depth before the competitive season properly begins.
