'I'm absolutely certain' - Jeff Stelling adamant Aston Villa just went against Unai Emery's wishes
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Credit: Hasan Karim - Breaking Media / talkSPORT YouTube
Harri Burton
Wed 3 September 2025 9:49, UK
Unai Emery appears to have been left frustrated by the Aston Villa hierarchy following the closing of the summer transfer window.
The Villans were treated to three separate deals on transfer deadline day, with Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho joining on loan from Liverpool and Man United, respectively, joined by Victor Lindelof.
Dan Plumley exclusively told Football Insider that Villa were forced to sell Jacob Ramsey before bringing Sancho in on loan, with the threat of further financial sanctions looming at Villa Park.
Before the final day of the window, Emery had only added Marco Bizot and Evann Guessand to his team, who both came straight into the lineup for the 2025/26 campaign.
Sadly, the Villans’ form from last season has not continued, with the club currently sitting 19th in the Premier League table, and Jeff Stelling believes that problems run deeper than just what fans see on the pitch.
Credit: Imago
Speaking on talkSPORT (3 August), Stelling said: “They had to sell Jacob Ramsey, which I’m absolutely certain Unai Emery did not want to do.
I like Harvey Elliott a lot, and they’ve brought in Jadon Sancho as well, who might turn the clocks back.
Victor Lindelof… My hands are tied, but I’m not impressed.”
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It is also now understood that goalkeeper Senne Lammens snubbed Villa for a “dream” move to Man United despite the Red Devils submitting a lower transfer offer to Royal Antwerp.
The 24-year-old joined Newcastle United on a deal worth up to £43million [Sky Sports], with the Magpies clearly submitting an offer that could not be turned down this summer.
However, when speaking to the media after John McGinn expressed his sadness about the transfer, Emery said: “I agree with the players, with the same message they sent.
I agree, but we have to move on and try to do our best.
He continued: “There are always three circumstances (with any potential transfer), one is the club, second is the team, then there are the player’s wishes.
We did everything linking those three circumstances, with the players and those who are leaving.”
Selling one of the local players to their direct rivals was clearly not part of Emery’s plans this summer, but given the financial struggles for the Villans, the club may have had no choice in the matter.
Villa cruelly missed out on Champions League qualification last season, and the impact from the fallout is still having a huge impact at Villa Park.