Gabby Agbonlahor has insisted Aston Villa were right to avoid a late “panic buy” in the January window despite failing to secure a Danny Ings replacement.
The former Villa striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted any new signings must be able to propel the club into European contention in the coming seasons.
As per Birmingham Live (30 January), Unai Emery laid bare his desire to bring in a new striker signing during the January window following the departure of Ings to West Ham.
Jhon Duran, 19, was signed from Chicago Fire during the winter window but Emery shot down suggestions that he was a direct Ings replacement.
Aston Villa failed to add another forward in the final days of the window despite being linked with a cut-price move for prolific Lyon star Moussa Dembele.
Ings was Villa’s top scorer (seven goals) at the time of his departure – with Watkins chipping in with five strikes.
When asked if Emery’s side have been left exposed by not signing a striker, Agbonlahor told Football Insiderās Ewan Kingsbury: āI donāt think they have.
āIām glad they didnāt go out and panic buy. They could have easily panicked and gone for Dembele, and given him huge money.
āYou look at it again in the summer.
āAston Villa canāt be buying any players now who arenāt good enough to take them into the European places in the future.
āThey canāt buy a player who isnāt at the level just because youāve been left short.
āWatkins is available, Duran is available ā Emery has got options.”
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By: Gabriel Agbonlahor
Title: Agbonlahor makes ‘huge’ Aston Villa late-January signing claim – ‘they could have done it’
Sourced From: www.footballinsider247.com/agbonlahor-issues-aston-villa-panic-verdict-after-transfer-u-turn-silly-money/
Published Date: Fri, 03 Feb 2023 09:37:00 +0000
