Aston Villa “are in talks” to sign Emery’s next Tielemans

Aston Villa are ready to tackle the Premier League campaign ahead, but there’s a sense that there is plenty of work still to be done before Unai Emery‘s outfit reach full speed.

On Wednesday evening, Aston Villa face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup, a reward for their triumph in the Europa League last season, beating Freiburg 3-0 in the final.

There’s plenty of optimism regarding the Villans chances of making it another special season. They are back in the Champions League, after all. However, Morgan Rogers has been sold to Chelsea for £116m, and any number of changes have occurred in the middle of the park.

Matteo Ruggeri is set to join the ranks at Villa Park after a £17m deal was agreed with Atletico Madrid, but Emery and co still need to put the finishing touches on their midfield after so many changes, with Youri Tielemans still not replaced.

Why Aston Villa still need to replace Youri Tielemans

Tielemans grew into a mainstay across his three-year stay with Aston Villa. The 29-year-old Belgium international became synonymous with the club’s growth in Emery’s system, and it’s fitting that he scored a spectacular goal against Freiburg in May, setting his side up for glory.

Aston Villa have a first-class technician in Boubacar Kamara back from injury. He can step into Tielemans’ boots from a tactical standpoint. Moreover, deals to sign Joao Gomes and Johan Manzambi address different issues in midfield, bringing intensity, tough-tackling strength and maverick attacking ability to an ambitious outfit in transition.

But Tielemans is a leader, and the long-term injury sustained by Amadou Onana while serving his nation at the World Cup calls for another signing before the end of the window. It calls for a midfielder who can take the reins and lead by example, a talisman.

Tielemans is a modern legend for the Villa Park side. Replacing him will not be easy, but Aston Villa have done well to bring over a number of talented midfielders this summer.

Now, they could put the icing on the cake with a veteran who knows the English game very well indeed.

Aston Villa confirm talks for Tielemans replacement

Tielemans leaves Aston Villa with silverware in the bag and an enhanced reputation as one of the most talented technicians in the Premier League.

Villa have a ready-made replacement in Kamara, but they could sign Joao Palhinha to fill that hole – albeit in a different fashion. According to Aston Villa director of Football Damián Vidagany, the Lions “are in talks” with Bayern Munich over a deal for the Portuguese veteran, who spent last year on loan with Tottenham Hotspur, instrumental in pulling the Lilywhites away from the relegation zone.

The 31-year-old is one of the Premier League’s meanest midfielders, and Vidagany has suggested that Palhinha would be the perfect signing to counter the long-term injury sustained by Onana. Signing him would require an outlay, though, with Die Roten demanding £27m.

It says something of Palhinha’s defensive intensity that he was out-tackled only by Everton’s James Garner last season. The England midfielder played all 38 fixtures in the Premier League, whereas Palhinha missed five for Spurs.

The Portugal international is a rare breed. He is tenacious and unrelenting in winning the ball back, but he is also curiously measured, taking his time when in possession. He also has a penchant for a big attacking contribution. There is a reason Bayern signed him from Fulham two years ago, after all.

Palhinha has a wealth of Premier League experience and he showed that he can thrive as a centrepiece in tough circumstances, doing so for Spurs last season as the Londoners plumbed new depths.

A technician in Kamara could provide perfect balance in the Villa engine room, but Palhinha has what it takes to establish himself as Emery’s new linchpin now that Tielemans has fled for pastures new.