Aston Villa Submit A €17m Offer For This Midfield Gem: The Right Choice For Emery? | OneFootball

Aston Villa have submitted an initial offer worth €17m to sign Almería’s Senegal international defensive midfielder Dion Lopy, a player Unai Emery reportedly sees as the new Felipe Melo. The report, covered by Spanish outlet La Voz de Almería and relayed widely across European football media via Sport Witness, outlines the opening stages of what could become one of the more compelling transfers of this summer window. Aston Villa, who ended a 30-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League in Istanbul this season while also finishing in the top four of the Premier League, head into the summer with serious ambition.

Aston Villa target Almería’s midfield anchor for Champions League push

Emery’s personal connection to Almería adds meaningful importance to this chase. The Spaniard managed the Andalusian club between 2006 and 2008, and sees in the 24-year-old a midfielder who can anchor his midfield at the highest level. Almería are not rushing into any sale and value Lopy at around €20m before they open formal negotiations with the Villans. The gap between the two clubs currently sits at €3m, a figure that feels bridgeable given the stakes involved for both parties.

Aston Villa’s summer ambition fuelled by European success

Lopy has emerged across three seasons in Spain as one of the Segunda División’s most influential defensive midfielders, earning consistent praise for his durability and positional intelligence. This season alone, he contributed three goals and two assists across 27 appearances, reinforcing his reputation as a key figure in Almería’s setup. His contract runs until 2029, and CAA Stellar, the British agency that also represents Villa’s Ezri Konsa, handle his representation, which may smooth negotiations considerably.

Almería’s position is complex. The club narrowly missed out on direct promotion and are pursuing a return to La Liga through the play-offs, counting on Lopy as a central part of those efforts. Selling him this summer would improve their finances noticeably, but weaken a squad still chasing top-flight football.

Aston Villa face a straightforward choice this window

BARCELONA, SPAIN – DECEMBER 20: Dion Lopy of UD Almeria is challenged by Ilkay Gundogan of FC Barcelona looks on during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and UD Almeria at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on December 20, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Emery should push to close this deal. The reasoning is grounded and clear. Villa’s midfield faces serious Champions League demands next season, and Lopy represents a player built for the physical and technical requirements of that competition. He is 24, in peak development, and has already proven himself across multiple seasons in a demanding league.

Waiting another year risks losing him to a rival, and his profile fits Emery’s system so well that hesitation feels unnecessary. The €3m gap separating both clubs is a minor obstacle in the context of what Champions League football generates. Pay the asking price, secure the player, and build the squad around a manager who has shown he knows exactly who he wants.