Managing Aston Villa as deal sealed for £80m star and Ollie Watkins gets transfer wake-up call

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Aston Villa's start to the season has been below par by Unai Emery's standards. His squad have only managed to find the back of the net six times in their first seven Premier League matches.

Following a commendable yet somewhat disappointing sixth-place finish last season, the Villans have been sluggish off the mark. A goalless draw against Newcastle was followed by losses to Brentford and Crystal Palace .

After another 0-0 draw and an early exit from the Carabao Cup, alarm bells started ringing . However, there's been a recent upturn in form, with Emery's men clinching victories in their last four games across all competitions, and they're set to face Tottenham next.

Spurs were among the clubs rumoured to be interested in Morgan Rogers during the summer transfer window. Despite his underwhelming season so far, securing his future at Villa Park should be high on the agenda.

Mirror Football dives into more crucial decisions that could provide a much-needed boost both on and off the pitch, including addressing Villa's goal drought and giving more game time to a new recruit.

Rogers was undeniably one of Villa's standout performers last season, boasting an impressive tally of 27 goal involvements across all competitions. This naturally sparked transfer interest over the summer, with Tottenham and Chelsea showing interest , leading Villa to slap an £80million price tag on him.

Despite a rocky start to the season with his club, he netted his first goal for England in their 3-0 victory over Wales last week and Villa should pull out all the stops to secure him on a new contract.

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His current deal is set to run until 2030, having only been signed last year, but it's his salary that needs a significant boost. It's believed he currently pockets around £3.9m annually, which equates to roughly £75,000 weekly.

This is about half of what Emi Martinez and Youri Tielemens rake in. If Rogers were to receive an offer from another club willing to double his pay, it could be a tough one to resist.

Villa should take action now and fend off any January interest by offering him a lucrative extension, potentially sweetening the pot with a release clause exceeding £100m.

Another player who's had a less than stellar start to the season is forward Ollie Watkins. The 29-year-old netted 16 Premier League goals last season but has only managed one this term.

In previous seasons, Watkins has had Jhon Duran and loanee Marcus Rashford vying for his spot up top, but now he finds himself without much competition. He may also be facing a stint on the sidelines after picking up an injury while on international duty with England .

The striker performs better when he has a colleague hot on his heels for playing time and so, coupled with an injury worry, a new striker should be brought in come January. Ivan Toney could be the perfect fit.

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It has reported by talkSPORT that the former Brentford striker, who made a move to the Saudi Pro League last summer , might be considering a loan move to the Premier League in an attempt to secure his place at the 2026 World Cup.

This could provide the perfect competition for Watkins, who is also battling for a spot on the England squad behind Harry Kane . Both players could spur each other on as Villa have been struggling to find the back of the net, and a loan deal would be a cost-effective solution.

Despite a recent improvement in form, Villa are still missing a creative force in the final third. With Rogers not yet hitting top form and Watkins lacking service, it's possible that new recruit Harvey Elliott could be the answer.

Elliott, who joined on loan from Liverpool this summer with a £35m buy option included in his contract, has only started twice this season, once in the Carabao Cup where he scored a goal and then in the 3-1 win against Fulham .

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Although he was substituted at half-time in that league match, he has shown flashes of brilliance in the cup and as a substitute that he can pull things together. He simply needs more playing time to adapt to Emery's style, as the manager himself has stated.

The 2-1 triumph over Burnley , which Elliott observed from the sidelines, could perhaps have been a more convincing victory with an additional creative spark in the attack.

Rogers has the ability to operate from the left and can shift centrally, freeing up space for Elliott to occupy a wider role that he's familiar with. Despite his industrious nature, Emi Buendia hasn't displayed the same level of creativity that Elliott brings to the table.

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