Aston Villa transfer chief provides squad assessment ahead of January window

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Roberto Olabe, Aston Villa's football operations chief, has likened the January transfer window to Christmas and is excited about the chance to make moves in the market. The ex-Real Sociedad sporting director took over from Monchi at Villa Park in September and will be working closely with Damian Vidagany, Villa's director of football operations, and boss Emery in the foreseeable future.

Villa's spending was limited during the summer window, and this will remain the case in January unless they can generate some funds.

With just over eight weeks until the winter window swings open, Olabe shared his thoughts on the transfer market with Villa TV.

"So, always, transfer window is like Christmas, like summer holidays for the people. Special moments," Olabe expressed. "I think the most important is what we have. We are really satisfied with the players that we have working with our staff, with the manager, with Unai.

"But it's true that our mentality is (to) try to improve, in terms to find some solutions that will help us. Of course, if we have a window, if we have a market, we have an opportunity to be better.

"But again, we will be better just in case that our solid base of players will develop his skills and his qualities. I believe absolutely in our manager doing the job that he is doing with the actual squad.

"That's why always we try to speak about the people that still are not here in terms of market, but the most important thing is the people that we have. We are quite calm and satisfied because we are watching how they are competing.

"We are watching how they are playing. We are watching how they are working daily. But definitely, yes, of course we want to improve, and if we have one possibility to improve the squad, I will try."

When questioned on how the Premier League's and UEFA's financial rules might hinder Villa, Olabe responded: "So, we need to naturalise. It's true that (there) are some rules around the social environment, around the football environment, and we want to respect these kinds of rules.

"Maybe we can agree, maybe we can disagree, but definitely, we need to respect, and from this, we need to adapt the way that we have to be in the market.

"But it's important also, because the prestige of the club, it's important to the people, so know that we are part of this actual environment, regarding, I mean, rules, and regarding, we will respect, but we work so hard to try to make balance between our needs and our possibilities."

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