Aston Villa summer transfer window: Targets, budget, and priority positions amidst renewed Marco Asensio interest

There was little time to reflect on a painfully close Champions League near-miss for Aston Villa last season, as the Birmingham club quickly began preparations for the 2025-26 campaign.

After finishing just outside the Premier League's top five, Villa now need to recruit from a lower tier - both in terms of transfer fees and salaries - rather than continuing their ambitious policy of recent windows.

Instead of proven stars, players with potential are set to arrive, and while head coach Unai Emery will be keen to retain all of his main men, some may have to depart if the Villans are to have many incomings.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at Villa's 2025 summer transfer window, including their top targets, priority positions, budget and most likely signings.

Aston Villa's top targets for 2025 summer transfer window

The much-loved Emiliano Martinez had been heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia or Manchester United, with Villa reportedly interested in shot-stopper Lucas Chevalier, but the Frenchman has since joined Paris Saint-Germain and any talks of the Argentinian departing Villa Park have gone quiet.

As Axel Disasi heads back to Chelsea, Aston Villa are keen on strengthening their centre-back options, with Jhon Lucumi and Loic Bade both linked, while young Yasin Ozcan has arrived from Kasimpasa in a switch secured earlier this year.

In midfield, Villa had been weighing up a potential move to re-sign Douglas Luiz just a year after selling him to Italian giants Juventus, although Nottingham Forest are seemingly now set to bring in the Brazilian.

The Villans were said to not be looking at any deal to bring Marco Asensio back to the club on a permanent deal after his loan spell earlier in the window, but Aston Villa are supposedly interested in the Spaniard once again, especially with Jacob Ramsey's departure to Newcastle United.

A member of Manchester United's so-called 'bomb squad', Alejandro Garnacho is supposedly being tracked; the winger sparked rumours following a social media post wearing Marcus Rashford's Aston Villa shirt.

Meanwhile, Villa have been linked with a potential move for Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson, who could struggle for playing time following the arrivals of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro.

However, the Villans turned their attention to Nice striker Evann Guessand, and the forward has since joined the club in a deal worth £23.5 million, potentially rising to £28 million if add-ons are met.

Looking to further strengthen their attack, there were emerging reports that Aston Villa could be interested in a potential deal for Arsenal's Leandro Trossard, but that possibility has died after the Belgian signed a new contract with the Gunners.

Aston Villa budget for 2025 summer transfer window

Missing out on successive Champions League qualifications means that Emery and co must cut their cloth accordingly, and Villa's summer budget has suffered.

The Midlands club stand to lose out by anywhere between £30m and £100m, and player sales will be required to boost the coffers.

As they need to reduce an inflated wage bill to comply with UEFA's new restrictions - 'only' 70% of revenue can be spent on wages and agent fees from next season - remaining high earners could be sold. Already set to incur a substantial fine for last year's breaches, squad costs simply have to come down.

So, with that in mind, Villa have finally cut Philippe Coutinho loose. With 12 months left on his contract, he had been on loan at Vasco da Gama; all parties were keen for him to stay, and a deal has been agreed, while Kaine Kesler-Hayden has also left the club to join Coventry City.

Aston Villa have confirmed Alex Moreno, who was on loan at Nottinghmam Forest last seaosn has joined Girona on a permanent deal, while the Villans have not found a way to get Emiliano Buendia off their books.

Buendia, who spent the second half of last season at Bayer Leverkusen and Villa have rejected a another temporary move offered by Stutgartt, who proposed an option to buy for the Spaniard.

RB Leipzig had a £12m option to buy full-back Kosta Nedeljkovic but did not take it up, instead extending his loan for one more year.

Recent reports have suggested that Ollie Watkins may also be heading for the exit, though a supposed £60m valuation may put off any interested parties.

Aston Villa's most likely signings for 2025 summer transfer window

Both brought in during what was widely considered a successful January window, loanees Disasi and Asensio were targets; however, a longer-term deal is surely out of reach for Disasi, though a move for the Spaniard could still materialise.

Disasi looked set to be allowed to leave Chelsea, but Villa did not hold an option to sign him on a permanent basis and would now need to negotiate, and after several defensive injuries, the Blues may opt to keep the Frenchman for the immediate future.

A more modest buy, teenage Feyenoord striker Zepiqueno Redmond arrived at Villa Park earlier this month. Out of contract in Rotterdam, he is seen as one for the future and should initially join up with the Under-21s.

Marco Bizot has been brought in to replace outgoing back-up goalkeeper Robin Olsen, with Brest's Dutch stopper recently signing for a cut-price fee.

Aston Villa's priority positions for 2025 summer transfer window

Emery has been consulting with long-time associate Monchi - Villa's president of football operations - and several others on the recruitment team about potential targets, and defensive reinforcements seem to top their list.

The claret-and-blue club intend to strengthen at right-back and in the centre, although upgrades might be tough to secure given the financial situation before making more sales.

A departure for top-earner Martinez could help combat further concerns over PSR (the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules), but another goalkeeper would then have to come in, as Robin Olsen has already left for Malmo on a free transfer.

Leon Bailey has made the switch to Roma on loan, while Jacob Ramsey has joined Newcastle United.

There is a possibility that Villa may need to sign a striker if Ollie Watkins departs this summer, with the forward believed to be generating interest from several top clubs across the continent.

With Ollie Watkins also attracting strong interest from across Europe, Villa may yet be forced into the striker market before the window closes.

That uncertainty has already prompted the club to make contact with Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku, signalling that Villa could be preparing for major changes up front.

All of which points to a frantic finale to the summer in B6.