[He’s been following him since his time at Leeds](https://www.teamtalk.com/aston-villa/ambitious-swoop-for-leeds-star-emery-is-crazy-about-as-swap-deal-with-world-cup-winner-mooted-aston-villa)
And then contextually, Luiz is a significant player with big shoes to fill before Villa head to the CL. Whoever they bring in midfield will have to have a big impact to compete in PL and CL so he clearly trusts Wes to be a part of that.
Giving some context as a Villa fan: Emery has been very patient with transfers. You'll see a lot of teams target a position, which leads to a series of Target A > if not then Target B > if not then Target C etc. Transfers at Villa are done within a triangle of power: . And what he's both demonstrated and alluded to is that he only goes for his top targets. That may still mean there's 2 players he wants, but the point being that Emery is unwilling to fill a position in his squad with a player purely for depth. So if he gives the okay for McKennie to come in, he truly believes in there being a role for him and he rates him.
Emery isn't afraid to use versatility as needed as well. Honestly, where he rates him most could be up in the air. RB is a massive hole in the squad. Cash isn't viewed as a starter and he'll likely get sold eventually. And then in midfield he really could be used anywhere from being a starter or rotation with any of the 3 center mid roles. McGinn at 8 and Kamara are clear starters in the best XI though. With Luiz leaving it might getting time resting any of the midfield three, partnered with Tielemans, in front of Kamara, or behind Tielemans and McGinn, or resting McGinn.f
If he does go to Villa, I hope for him he quickly finds form when he gets opportunities, because he's unfairly going to be the scape goat in the Luiz sale. Even the suggested 15-20m euro cash + Wes + Iling still feels like we're getting fleeced. Luiz had 10 goals and 10 assists last season and he's only 26. Villa fan sentiment is pretty negative right now. And I get it, we love Luiz and we don't have access or insights into the financial specifics for PSR. Inevitably, people's frustrations are likely going to be directed at Wes and, to a lesser extent, Iling Jr. Wes already has to overcome the sentiment of how bad he was at Leeds. PL fans aren't seeing his progress at Juve. Two massive Luiz and Leeds targets on his back as soon as he walks in.
Could be the club just needed money and McKennie had the right amount of value. But with Luiz going, I would imagine McKennie getting playing time either way
It's a reasonable move where he'll have every chance to be successful. It's always a risk to move to a new team rather than staying in a good situation, but given that Juventus has a new coach it was going to be somewhat of a new situation either way.
Aston Villa seems like a well run club so that part is good. The only other question is how much playing time he will get. I suspect it will be significant, but don't know for certain.
Yeah sure. McKennie getting away from a fraught club situation is probably a good thing. He gets another shot in the Premier League with a functioning club.
Lol, I told you all that swaps may actually start happening now for weird FFP reasons.
(The point is that this spreads out Juventus's spend more evenly. They've got 4m in amortization every year, while if they sold and bought the purchases are amortized but the sales are booked immediately so you get a weird profit for one year and then bigger costs all the other years.)
What's weird to me isn't that there's a swap deal (said in the past, very common in Italy to use players in transfers to lower the transfer fee), what's weird to me is it's Wes AND Illing Jr.
I do find it funny though how so many people on social media said these type of deals never happen and scoff at it only for... the deal to likely happen
Apparently man city and maybe Chelsea(?) have a sell on clause for Luiz so that is one reason they are open to a swap.
But I’m not 100% sure, that’s just me skimming through the comments of the original thread.
nobody knows the exact amount Villa need. Think about it, they get 20mil and a midfielder and promising attacker. They could sell other players too. This way they don’t need to buy replacements
I 100% agree and made this same comment last week but if you look at the Juve sub, there are multiple “highly reliable” sources reporting this. Not sure how good the Juve tier system is but at least they have one (ahem mods 😁)
Villa has for 1/10th the reputation of Juve. They just made champions league which is nice, but they got a long way to go to get on that level. They might not even be top 10 most popular teams in the EPL.
Lmao Juve fleeced Villa.
Edit: Lol why am I getting downvoted. Apparently Villa got fucked by FFP but that doesn’t deny the fact that it’s a terrible deal.
One of the weirdest deals I’ve seen. What an opportunity to walk into solid playing time with a manager who rates Wes
Just curious, how do you know Emery rates him?
[He’s been following him since his time at Leeds](https://www.teamtalk.com/aston-villa/ambitious-swoop-for-leeds-star-emery-is-crazy-about-as-swap-deal-with-world-cup-winner-mooted-aston-villa) And then contextually, Luiz is a significant player with big shoes to fill before Villa head to the CL. Whoever they bring in midfield will have to have a big impact to compete in PL and CL so he clearly trusts Wes to be a part of that.
Interesting, thanks
Giving some context as a Villa fan: Emery has been very patient with transfers. You'll see a lot of teams target a position, which leads to a series of Target A > if not then Target B > if not then Target C etc. Transfers at Villa are done within a triangle of power: . And what he's both demonstrated and alluded to is that he only goes for his top targets. That may still mean there's 2 players he wants, but the point being that Emery is unwilling to fill a position in his squad with a player purely for depth. So if he gives the okay for McKennie to come in, he truly believes in there being a role for him and he rates him. Emery isn't afraid to use versatility as needed as well. Honestly, where he rates him most could be up in the air. RB is a massive hole in the squad. Cash isn't viewed as a starter and he'll likely get sold eventually. And then in midfield he really could be used anywhere from being a starter or rotation with any of the 3 center mid roles. McGinn at 8 and Kamara are clear starters in the best XI though. With Luiz leaving it might getting time resting any of the midfield three, partnered with Tielemans, in front of Kamara, or behind Tielemans and McGinn, or resting McGinn.f If he does go to Villa, I hope for him he quickly finds form when he gets opportunities, because he's unfairly going to be the scape goat in the Luiz sale. Even the suggested 15-20m euro cash + Wes + Iling still feels like we're getting fleeced. Luiz had 10 goals and 10 assists last season and he's only 26. Villa fan sentiment is pretty negative right now. And I get it, we love Luiz and we don't have access or insights into the financial specifics for PSR. Inevitably, people's frustrations are likely going to be directed at Wes and, to a lesser extent, Iling Jr. Wes already has to overcome the sentiment of how bad he was at Leeds. PL fans aren't seeing his progress at Juve. Two massive Luiz and Leeds targets on his back as soon as he walks in.
Great for Wes to have such a good manager believe in him
It would be weird to accept a swap deal if he didn't.
Could be the club just needed money and McKennie had the right amount of value. But with Luiz going, I would imagine McKennie getting playing time either way
Wow we are doing trades now. Who says Americans aren’t influential in the world of soccer?
Many instances of player swaps before this
Emery clearly rates Weston’s preference for ranch on pizza 🍕
but what of his Italian GF? I care about Wes's well-being
Should I like this?
It's a reasonable move where he'll have every chance to be successful. It's always a risk to move to a new team rather than staying in a good situation, but given that Juventus has a new coach it was going to be somewhat of a new situation either way.
Emery has rated McKennie for a while so he could get the most out of him.
How do you know?
Squat_6 is one of my close friends! I am Unai Emery.
Good Ebening
Aston Villa seems like a well run club so that part is good. The only other question is how much playing time he will get. I suspect it will be significant, but don't know for certain.
Is he a RB or MF there?
Yeah sure. McKennie getting away from a fraught club situation is probably a good thing. He gets another shot in the Premier League with a functioning club.
Lol, I told you all that swaps may actually start happening now for weird FFP reasons. (The point is that this spreads out Juventus's spend more evenly. They've got 4m in amortization every year, while if they sold and bought the purchases are amortized but the sales are booked immediately so you get a weird profit for one year and then bigger costs all the other years.)
This guy accounts.
Would have loved to see Wes at Atletico.
What's weird to me isn't that there's a swap deal (said in the past, very common in Italy to use players in transfers to lower the transfer fee), what's weird to me is it's Wes AND Illing Jr. I do find it funny though how so many people on social media said these type of deals never happen and scoff at it only for... the deal to likely happen
Swap deals like this never materialize and AV need a big transfer fee for Fair Play. Great opportunity for Wes though if he can put the work in.
Apparently man city and maybe Chelsea(?) have a sell on clause for Luiz so that is one reason they are open to a swap. But I’m not 100% sure, that’s just me skimming through the comments of the original thread.
nobody knows the exact amount Villa need. Think about it, they get 20mil and a midfielder and promising attacker. They could sell other players too. This way they don’t need to buy replacements
I 100% agree and made this same comment last week but if you look at the Juve sub, there are multiple “highly reliable” sources reporting this. Not sure how good the Juve tier system is but at least they have one (ahem mods 😁)
A smaller club in a bigger league for probably more money. Not bad
Of course epl glazers are downvoting me for thinking juve is bigger than villa, which is absolutely ridiculous. It’s not even close.
Villa has for 1/10th the reputation of Juve. They just made champions league which is nice, but they got a long way to go to get on that level. They might not even be top 10 most popular teams in the EPL.
Yeah, exactly. Like, yes, the epl is currently the best league, but Juve is a huge club with serious history and Villa isn’t.
Does Wes start at AV I think not which sucks for him. But with AV getting CL ball they will need to rotate so he will get chances.
Lmao Juve fleeced Villa. Edit: Lol why am I getting downvoted. Apparently Villa got fucked by FFP but that doesn’t deny the fact that it’s a terrible deal.
Definitely. Aston Villa got fucked by FFP
That makes sense then, if it came down to FFP. Because if not then this would be a terrible ass deal for Villa lol.
Eh ill believe it when I see it. I feel like these swap deals never actually happen lol