Tielemans and Kamara are worth around £100m combined considering not only their quality but, certainly in Tielemans' case, experience in European football and international football with Belgium. A similar logic applies to the recruitment of Ross Barkley from Luton Town. Villa landed an experienced top-level player for just £5m, but Emery wanted another profile of midfielder to count on for the new season. Amadou Onana's arrival from Everton at £50m was a statement by Villa to their rivals that although they had to part with one of their key players from the previous campaign in Luiz, they still managed to secure one of the most coveted young midfielders in Europe. Enzo Barrenechea will also develop under Emery after he joined Villa alongside Samuel Iling-Junior from Juventus in a separate deal to Luiz's move. Jaden Philogene's return to Villa Park wasn't expected, but Moussa Diaby's exit opened the door for the winger to head back to Bodymoor Heath just 10 months after leaving for Hull City. Villa are essentially paying £13m for him after matching Ipswich Town's £18m bid while also holding on to a 30 per cent sell-on clause. Philogene was sensational for the Tigers last term, but Villa must replace the 28 Premier League goal involvements which Luiz and Diaby recorded last season. That will be one of the big challengers Emery faces in the opening months of the campaign. The turnover of players could be a concern heading into the new season, not only because Emery's starting XI will look different, but the new signings may need time to bed in. However, Villa are in a strong position to mitigate the issues that come with making many new signings in one window, because firstly they have one of the few elite managers in world football and secondly, there is a fair chance that the new arrivals won't need too long to settle into their new environment. Barkley and Philogene have already spent time at the club and won't take long at all to bed into the dressing room. Barkley knows Tyrone Mings, Emi Martinez, Ezri Konsa, Matty Cash, Ollie Watkins and McGinn from his time at the club while on loan in 2020/21, while Philogene left the club less than 12 months ago. Onana has two years of Premier League experience, speaks five languages and is fluent in English. Iling-Junior has played alongside Villa's Morgan Rogers and Philogene in the England U21s in recent months and arrives with former Juve teammate Barrenechea. The Argentinian is joining a dressing room with compatriot Martinez and Emi Buendia as well as Spanish speakers. Emery and his staff have been communicating with Barrenechea in his first language during training at Bodymoor Heath. Yet, it's one thing fitting in and another thing understanding Emery's system and tactical demands. It took Tielemans until November to earn his first start under Emery last season after coming on as a sub in the previous 11 games of the campaign. When he did start against Fulham, it was the best he had played in claret and blue up until that point. Emery only put him in from the off when he felt he was ready. Tielemans grew into the side and looked every bit the top player we'd seen flourish at Leicester some years ago. Emery has a proven track record of polishing rough diamonds or getting a player's career back on track. Leon Bailey and Morgan Rogers both discovered their best form last season and will be key to Villa's quest of going deep in the Champions League next season and competing at the top end of the Premier League. Strap yourselves in, Villa fans, it's going to be a helluva' ride!
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Thu Aug 15, 2024 
