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Change at the top at Villa

Monchi (as the former goalkeeper is usually known) is set to leave his role as Aston Villa president of football operations, according to multiple club sources.  Monchi had come under growing scrutiny from supporters for the perceived lack of improvement within Villa’s squad.

Since joining the club in the summer of 2023 at the request of manager Unai Emery, Monchi has been in charge of player recruitment. However, as The Athletic explained last week, Emery has the overarching say on signings, with Monchi’s remit being to facilitate the former’s wishes.

Inescapably, though, Villa’s transfer strategy has come under question. Nine of the starting XI that featured against Sunderland were already Villa players before Emery’s arrival in October 2022, with a lack of squad turnover contributing to the current stagnancy.

This is a monumental departure in Villa’s hierarchy, with Monchi forming the triangle of power alongside Emery and director of football operations, Damian Vidagany. The trio had been extremely close and were the front-facing figures in Villa’s remarkable rise.

However, Monchi’s exit is a clear indication that Villa acknowledge they need to improve recruitment and be intelligent with incomings, having faced and breached UEFA sanctions previously and given their continual run-in with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR).

Is the problem or is he a scapegoat?  Villa fans will have their own views.

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