Aston Villa's transfer to-do list will be pretty large this summer, should they be looking to Anfield to rejuvenate their squad?
With what I do, one of the questions I am often asked is: realistically, who would be your dream signing for Villa in the summer?
Right now, my answer would probably be Curtis Jones.
It is always a difficult question to answer because, firstly, I do not yet know what European competition Villa will be playing in next season and, secondly, the financial constraints make it difficult to anticipate exactly how the club might move in the market.
Roberto Olabe has arrived off the back of exceptional work at Real Sociedad in a sporting director role. At Villa, the title may differ, but he is effectively the club’s de facto sporting director — although even that comes with caveats.
We all know Unai Emery runs Aston Villa. Nothing happens on the football side without his say-so. Whenever Villa sign a player, it can be difficult to gauge exactly whose fingerprints are on the deal, but we do know Emery can pretty much veto anything.
Monchi left his role as President of Football Operations after a chaotic 2025 summer transfer window and was almost instantly replaced by Olabe. Both have strong relationships with Emery, yet both have probably had to adapt to the unique way Villa currently operate in the transfer market.
We do not yet have a big enough sample size to judge how Olabe will operate at Villa and we will probably know far more by September 2026. However, I think most Villa fans would agree there needs to be some evolution in recruitment. This squad has given everything to the club, but the summer needs to bring some churn. Otherwise, there is a danger this group grows old together fairly quickly.
In the summer of 2024, there were signs of the type of profile I would like to see more of. Onana and Maatsen arrived and, while I do not think either could be labelled resounding successes, they have delivered good moments and lowered the average age of the squad. I will let others argue about the fees.
Summer 2025, as we all know, was a difficult one. Harvey Elliott — more on him later — again felt like a move towards regenerating the attack, but he never really got a look-in and will not be spending any more time at Villa beyond May.
Jones is a fine player. Perhaps he is viewed as being on the periphery at Liverpool, but he has still played a significant amount of football this season. He has even spent time at right-back in what has been a strange campaign at Anfield in many respects.
Jones’ contract expires in the summer of 2027 and, as of yet, there does not appear to be huge noise around a renewal. In fact, the stronger messaging seems to be that he is assessing his options with his career at something of a crossroads.
The Harvey Elliott situation might make any move difficult. I cannot imagine Liverpool will be rushing into business with Aston Villa any time soon. But here lies a player who could improve Villa immediately and, in my opinion, someone who could become the long-term structural replacement for John McGinn within Emery’s system.
Jones is a different type of player to McGinn, but there are similarities. McGinn has played virtually everywhere across midfield and in the positions off the striker. For me, Jones could do something similar under Emery.
The multifunctional nature of Villa’s players has been a godsend at times. It has added huge value to the squad and occasionally covered up shortcomings and holes elsewhere.
Jones is already a high-level player with plenty of experience for someone who is only 25. He also possesses a trophy haul many elite players never achieve. For me, Jones is good enough to be an England regular, but under Thomas Tuchel he currently seems some way down the pecking order — another reason why a career refresh might appeal.
Leaving Liverpool probably feels like a backwards step for many players. For someone who has come through the academy, perhaps even more so. Liverpool are an institution and one of football’s biggest entities, but for Jones, will he ever truly be viewed in the same bracket as Gerrard or Alexander-Arnold? I am not so sure.
He is at risk of stagnating.
Villa are now shopping in the market just below the elite, if they qualify for the Champions League. Players with obvious quality who perhaps need greater responsibility, a different environment or a coach capable of elevating them further. Jones feels like he belongs in that category.
You have to think a coach of Emery’s stature could improve him. Emery loves control and Jones feels like the type of player who could thrive under that kind of structure.
He is not a chaotic footballer. He slows games down when needed and keeps possession moving. Despite Emery’s preference for control, it is fair to say certain Villa players have not always aided that approach this season.
Jones is a connector. Outside of Tielemans, Villa do not really possess another midfielder like that in the current squad. He is tactically switched on, receives the ball well under pressure and is positionally sound regardless of role.
In terms of character, this is not a player lacking belief. He has probably had to curb some of the cockier elements of his personality working alongside ultra-professionals like James Milner and Jordan Henderson, but Jones knows how good he is and he is a winner.
If he became attainable, Villa should seriously explore it.
This is exactly the kind of opportunistic signing the club should be looking at in their current position. I expect Villa to explore the free-transfer market this summer to help supplement the squad, while targeting players entering contract standoffs is another smart avenue.
Liverpool would be loath to lose another high-profile player for nothing, especially another homegrown talent. They themselves need a rebuild of sorts, so could Jones become someone they sacrifice?
Let’s just hope he does not go to Harvey Elliott for the inside scoop on Villa Park.
Up The Villa!