If any club is to be successful in the Premier League in the modern-day, huge funds need to be invested to steal the crown from clubs like Arsenal and Manchester City.
Aston Villa have established themselves as a contender to disrupt the so-called ‘big six’ in recent seasons and ended the last four seasons in a European spot.
However, despite the continued success under Unai Emery, the Villans have often had to cash in on their biggest talents to help satisfy the division’s strict financial rules.
Some of the sales have been enforced after spending big in the transfer window, with a handful of their ambitious additions failing to deliver at Villa Park.
Why Diaby is one of Villa’s worst signings in recent years
In the club’s attempts to secure success in England’s top-flight, the Villa hierarchy splashed out a reported then club-record £52m for the signature of winger Moussa Diaby in the summer of 2023.
The Frenchman was seen as the perfect attacking option to take the Villans to the next level, but it’s safe to say his time in the West Midlands was far from successful.
He would last just one year in England before moving on to pastures new in Saudi Arabia, and only managed to find the back of the net on six occasions.
Despite the big-money spent on his signature, the 27-year-old struggled to adapt to life in England, with his underlying stats showcasing his struggles under Emery.
|
Aston Villa’s most expensive additions |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Fee |
Signed From |
|
Nicolas Jackson |
£65m |
Villarreal |
|
Johan Manzambi |
£59.5m |
Freiburg |
|
Moussa Diaby |
£52m |
Bayer Leverkusen |
|
Amadou Onana |
£50m |
Everton |
|
Ibrahim Mbaye |
£47m |
PSG |
|
Joao Gomes |
£38m |
Wolves |
|
Ian Maatsen |
£37.5m |
Chelsea |
|
Emiliano Buendia |
£33m |
Norwich City |
Diaby could only complete 42% of his attempted dribbles in the Premier League that term, with a such a figure ranking him below more than 50% of other attackers in the division.
His lack of quality within the final third was further evident in his average of just 0.8 shots on target per 90, which also saw 70% of forwards better him in such a department.
However, his small frame also saw his struggle to fend off the opposition, as the winger lost 68% of the ground duels he entered – with only 10% of players in England’s top-flight losing more.
Why one Villa star is becoming the next Diaby
As part of the rebuild to soften the blow of numerous high-profile departures this summer, Emery spent a pretty penny to inject needed quality back into his Villa squad.
The likes of Johan Manzambi and Ibrahim Mbaye both joined for fees over £40m, with both players seen as huge talents for the immediate and long-term future of the club.
However, the subsequent transfers will no doubt spell bad news for numerous players who were already on the books before the recent summer window.
Emiliano Buendia is a player who certainly fits into such a category, with the attacking midfielder a player who has certainly been an inconsistent figure at Villa Park.
The Argentine was one of the biggest investments made by the board after the club’s return to the Premier League, subsequently costing £33m in the summer of 2021.
He’s since racked up 160 appearances for the Villans in the five years since his arrival, and even spent one of those years on loan at German side Bayer Leverkusen.
Over the last two years, the 29-year-old has enjoyed a resurgence period under the Spaniard, subsequently featuring 61 times since the start of last season.
However, despite the faith shown in him by the manager, the attacker has ultimately struggled to match the expectations placed upon him within attacking areas.
Buendia has only registered 12 goals since his return to action last year and is currently averaging a goal every five games he features in for the Villans.
This season has highlighted his struggles once again, as the attacker has produced some disappointing stats which rank him below a host of other players in the division.
He’s only completed 0.5 successful dribbles per 90 so far this campaign, whilst creating the same number of chances – with both figures ranking him below 80% of attackers in the division.
Such struggles are made even worse when considering the Argentine has pocketed £22m in wages during his time in West Midlands – taking the total amount spent on his signature to £55m.
There’s no denying he’s been unable to justify such a huge amount of money, with the club desperately needing to ensure he’s moved on in the new figure.
The summer window presented a period of fresh ideas and creativity, something which Buendia has so far demonstrated he’s unable to match at present.
