It's been a strange old summer at Villa Park.
Fresh from qualification for the Champions League, a spring should have been in the step of every club employee and supporter. It was missing, however, because of the spectre of Profit and Sustainability problems that were clouding the issue.
Villa had to be clever. Out went Douglas Luiz, Moussa Diaby, Cameron Archer and unknown forward Omari Kellyman in exchange for £150m-plus. In have come Amadou Onana, Ian Maatsen and Jaden Philogene for fees totalling not much less.
This will be Emery’s second full season and the last few days before the deadline closes promise to be interesting ones. Ahead of the window slamming shut on Friday night, Mirror Football takes a look at the deals that could still take place at Villa Park...
The Dutch international, who also has suitors at home and abroad, is Aston Villa’s top target ahead of the transfer window closing this week.
The 24-year-old, who can operate at right-back, centre-half or as a defensive midfielder, offers the Spaniard cover in key positions. And with Champions League matches to come as well as a packed domestic programme, Villa need all the options they can get.
A fee of £30m has been discussed but as Geertruida has interest from Liverpool and RB Leipzig, it is by no means certain that the Birmingham club can push the deal over the line.
It otherwise promises to be an interesting few days in B6.? Geertruida is likely to be the only incoming addition to Emery’s squad that does need trimming.
If the Dutchman arrives at Villa Park, it is likely to spell the end of Diego Carlos time at Villa Park. Emery will be looking to recoup a large chunk of the £28m shelled out by Steven Gerrard on the defender two seasons ago.
?Carlos struggled with injury in his first 12 months and since regaining full fitness has found it difficult to dislodge first-choice pairing Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa.
With Tyrone Mings returning - he is expected to join in with the first-team group next month - and the potential arrival of Geertruida, Villa are over-burdened in that area. Crystal Palace is one potential destination for Carlos now that Joachim Anderson’s £30m move to Fulham has finally gone through.
Emery’s stance on the Belgium international has been a strange one.
He did feature for the club during the first campaign - he featured in midfield during a 3-0 victory over Newcastle United in April last year that was arguably the best of the season. But after that, he’s been surplus and spent the second half of last season on loan at Napoli.
He only made three appearances in Serie A and, even though the Italians had an option to buy, it was made clear that wouldn’t be taken up. Dendoncker is another who can fill multiple roles but it seems that Emery has preferred options.
?Decisions will also likely be taken on ex-Juventus midfielder Enzo Barrenechea.
Barrenechea impressed on an early pre-season outing at Walsall but whether the 23-year-old is ready to be thrust into the Premier League or Champions League in his first campaign with the club is a matter for Emery.
Villa’s boss also must take into consideration the likely return of Boubacar Kamara. The France international is coming back from knee ligament trouble.?
Given that his scheduled date is October, it appears to make more sense to send the Argentine out after Christmas if he cannot get game time with Villa.?
