Alan McInally Backs Aston Villa Strategy During Summer Transfer Window

Former Aston Villa striker Alan McInally has given his verdict on what Unai Emery’s side need to do in this summer’s transfer market.

Villa are preparing for Champions League football after their fourth-place finish in the Premier League last time out and are 50/1 with betting sites to win Europe's premier club competition.

They have already been busy this window, agreeing deals to sign Ross Barkley, Ian Maatsen, Lewis Dobbin, Samuel Iling-Junior, Enzo Barrenechea and Cameron Archer.

European Campaign Was Draining

Villa have been linked with the likes of Federico Chiesa, Baris Yilmaz and Jaden Philogene in recent weeks, and McInally believes Emery must be given control over the club’s transfer dealings.

“All of these people that are being mentioned are definite targets for Aston Villa. Villa are looking to strengthen the squad, and it’s because of last year,” McInally told Gambling.com in an exclusive interview. 

”Getting to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League, you could see the lads were a little bit tired also continuing that push in the Premier League to make sure we got fourth place.

“You need a squad now. Look at the Euros that are happening right now. Hardly any of the managers have decided, OK, I’ll make all of my decisions within 90 minutes. 

"It’s a bigger game than that now, the bench has six or seven substitutes. It’s about change, it’s about different tactics during the game. And the best managers use that to their advantage.

“We’re not looking to buy someone just to look to sell them on for a profit of £10m. We’re looking to buy somebody that’s not going to cost us the world, and that we could turn into a better player which then makes Aston Villa stronger in Europe and domestically. 

"That’s what they’re trying to do, and it’s a great idea. With Unai Emery’s record, you give him free rein and say ‘tell us who you want’”

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Philogene Perfect For Villa 

Ipswich had been in pole position to sign the aforementioned Philogene, but Villa are reportedly set to hijack the deal.

And McInally says he would welcome a move for the Hull City starlet, who came through the Villa academy.

“I think he’d be a great signing. They’re looking at players with potential, obviously, and he had an unbelievable season in the Championship,” he added.

“There were four or five players there that I would have been delighted that Villa would have been connected with. But I think they would be buying someone who looks like he’s got a real future.

“It’s certainly a player that I think could step up another level, and if we can get him away from Ipswich and to come to Aston Villa, it’s certainly a bigger arena for him to play in. 

"I know that Ipswich have managed to get themselves to the Premier League, but if you come to Aston Villa you’re playing Champions League football.”

Bring On The Big Guns!

The Villans have not played in Europe’s premier tournament since the 1982-83 campaign, when they were defending champions.

Last season, Newcastle were drawn in the group of death alongside AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain.

And McInally says while he would welcome a big team in the group stage, he also wants Villa to progress as far as possible.

“Imagine going to Villa Park and seeing Real Madrid, and [Kylian] Mbappe, and [Jude] Bellingham and everybody else that they’ve got. That would be unbelievable.

“I spoke to Allan Evans the other day who of course was part of the squad back in the day when they beat Bayern [Munich] in the (European Cup) final with a Peter Withe winner. He would take anybody, he’s just so excited to be back in Champions League football.

“I suppose really I think 'give us a group where we can get through'. That would be all right. But at the same time, in the Champions League there are hardly any easy games. They might not be a big name, but it would be a difficult game to win.

“But I’d love to see one of the big guns, but we’re not exactly going to be in Pot 1, are we? 

"So we’ll take some of the big guns and let’s just hope that some of the players that Unai Emery brings in make us competitive, and hopefully we can get out of the group and into the next stages, which would be just absolutely phenomenal.”

Villa Should Stay Put

Off the pitch, Villa have unveiled plans to redevelop Villa Park with a long-term goal to reach a capacity of 52,500.

The club previously considered relocating, but McInally believes their present location is ideal.

“Remember, the money they got for me meant I built one of those stands! So I want them to stay where they are, I don’t want them relocating anywhere,” he continued.

“There was a lot of talk about the investment in the stadium, even at the start of the previous season, or certainly halfway through the season they were talking about the redevelopment of the club.

“I didn’t think a relocation would have been high on the agenda. I’m trying to think where they’re going to go? 

"I know Birmingham really well, and they certainly wouldn’t be relocating to somewhere close to Villa Park where they are at the moment, so it would have to be on the outskirts a little bit. 

"But at this moment in time Villa Park is one of the brilliant stadiums in this country. I’d want them to, if they could, make it better, make it bigger, make it noisier, and I think it would just be fine.”