Unai Emery has effectively confirmed the transfer of Evann Guessand from Aston Villa to Crystal Palace, a deal valued at around £28 million, following his public comments on the matter.
Emery's Approval of Guessand's Departure
The Aston Villa boss spoke openly about the move after his team's dramatic 3-2 comeback victory against RB Salzburg in the Europa League, a result that secured a top-two finish in the league phase. Emery admitted he gave his blessing to the loan-to-buy agreement, which sees Guessand head to London to join Crystal Palace.
He stated, "I accepted it... we signed a striker, a winger. Maybe the last matches was more difficult for him to play in the starting XI, then he decided to leave, we'll continue with the players we have." This decision comes as part of Villa's ongoing transfer strategy, which has involved tough choices in recent seasons.
Guessand's Struggles at Villa Park
Guessand, an Ivory Coast international, was signed from OGC Nice for £30 million including add-ons just five months ago. However, his time at Villa has been challenging, with the forward failing to score a single Premier League goal and struggling to adapt to Emery's tactical system.
Initially brought in to bolster attacking options as a wide forward and occasional alternative to Ollie Watkins, his lack of impact has led to this move. Emery acknowledged that while he was happy with Guessand, the transfer represents a good deal for the club and offers the player a chance to reignite his development elsewhere.
Villa's Transfer Window Dynamics
This departure follows other significant moves, such as Donyell Malen's transfer to AS Roma, which disappointed many supporters. In contrast, Guessand's exit is likely to be more positively received by the fanbase, given his limited contributions.
Emery compared the situation to Malen's, explaining, "It's something similar like with Malen. Three parts of this chapter – club, team, player. I was happy with him and didn't want him to leave, but accepting something - a good deal for the club - and him the chance to play maybe (he can) get another way to show his development."
Reuniting with Former Players
In a bid to maintain Aston Villa's impressive form this season, Emery has welcomed back three former players. Leon Bailey has returned after Roma cut short his loan, while Douglas Luiz is back on loan from Juventus, just 19 months after his £42 million move to Turin.
Additionally, Tammy Abraham has been signed permanently from Besiktas for approximately £18.25 million. Abraham, who previously scored 25 goals in 37 Championship games during Villa's 2018/19 promotion campaign, is expected to make a significant impact.
Emery values the familiarity these players bring, noting that Abraham understands what it means to play for Villa, and Bailey and Luiz are accustomed to his passionate coaching style.
Looking Ahead for Both Clubs
As Guessand prepares to join Crystal Palace, this transfer highlights the fluid nature of the January window and the strategic decisions clubs must make to balance squad needs and financial considerations. For Villa, it allows a reshuffling of attacking options, while Palace gains a player with potential to thrive in a new environment.
