Aston Villa’s director of football operations Damià Vidagany has hinted a busy summer could be on the cards, with the focus on building a team for the Champions League.
The Aston Villa director has been speaking to Marca about his club after they qualified for the Champions League this season.
Aston Villa are guaranteed a fourth placed finish this season after an impressive campaign that’s seen them win 23 of 37 games so far this season.
They’re five points ahead of Tottenham in sixth, ensuring Champions League football at Villa Park for the first time in 42 years.
Much of their success has been thanks to the arrival of Unai Emery, who has turned things around and has been backed in the transfer window as a result.
The belief is he will be backed in the summer once again, and Vidagany has certainly hinted that will be the case again.
“With the players we already had and the signings we had the dream of getting into Europe, getting into the Champions League came later because we have been very good,” he said.
“In the mini league of the top four of Aston Villa, City, Arsenal and Liverpool we have been the ones who have won the most points (recently). We are very happy and now we are concerned about building a good team for next season.”
One of the big decisions that will have to be made is over the future of defender Clement Lenglet, who has spent the season on loan from Barcelona.
Aston Villa didn’t agree a purchase clause for the defender when he initially signed, which means he is set to return to the Camp Nou at the end of this season.
So far there has been no indication if Aston Villa will make a move to sign him or open negotiations with Barcelona, but Vidagany has hinted they’re more than happy with the centre-back.
“In principle he has a one-year loan without option to buy and has to return to Barcelona, but he has had an impressive season and I think he is at the level of any centre-back in the Spanish La Liga,” he added.
