I’ve always thought Villa are in the Big Six
Former Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock has told NewBettingOffers.co.uk that with a Champions League spot secured and under the tutelage of the ‘phenomenal’ Unai Emery, Villa are a ‘Big Six’ team capable of pulling big talent this summer.
Read more on what he had to say below.
Aston Villa has become an attractive team for players this season
Warnock was piling on the praise for his former club Aston Villa and Unai Emery, claiming that following their performance this season, they enter the transfer market this summer as a ‘desirable’ team having consolidated their status as a ‘Top Eight’ team.
As a former Aston Villa player, I would have always said that a club of Villa’s stature, history and the support they’ve got as a club, they are in the Big Six. I’d say though that there is now more of a Big Eight, including Villa, Newcastle, Chelsea and Spurs.
I think when we look at Villa as a club, their ownership and where they could potentially get to with the Champions League revenue coming in and Unai Emery as manager, they can now go into the transfer market as a desirable team that players will want to join.
Tactically, Emery is phenomenal and I’ve watched him at work first-hand – I wish I’d worked with him as a player. His level of detail and the way he’s changed the way footballers think and work is absolutely fascinating.
If you’re a player and you get something instantly and think to yourself, ‘yeah, I get that now’, they’ll buy into it. On the other hand, if you’re told that something will work for you in a year or two, it’s too late and too far away – Emery gives you instant results on the training pitch as well as on match day. It’s incredible how he tactically understands the game and allows the players to as well.
Unai Emery is a “perfect match” for Villa and has the capacity to drastically improve inbound transfers
Warnock then commented on how big a pull having Champions League football is for Villa – but was quick to praise Emery on how he has helped players including Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby become Champions League calibre themselves.
Having Champions League football for the players is huge. There will be players at other clubs who probably aren’t expecting to play Champions League football, and could be a £30-40m player who Emery feels he can improve and add value to.
I think that’s the great thing about having someone like Emery, he can identify those players and make them better straight away. There were a lot of transfers in the summer like Pau Torres and you’re thinking whether he’ll make Villa better but when you watch him play how Emery wants him to, he’s improved him and made him better in a short space of time. I know he worked with him at Villarreal but it’s so different coming from the Spanish League to the Premier League.
I look at Moussa Diaby and I think he’s going to be unbelievable next season. He’s just fatigued this season with far too many games and the injuries that they’ve got. There will be players who get the phone call from Emery now and will be so excited to work with him.
That’s what Villa needed, that big manager, and the fact he signed an extension shows how happy he is at the club and what they’re trying to do as a club. They’re a perfect match.
It wouldn’t surprise me if “main man” Watkins stays at Villa, but £70 million could turn Villa’s head
There’s been plenty of talk about star man Ollie Watkins being snapped up by bigger clubs this summer, and although Warnock felt that under Emery there is still big opportunity, an offer of £70m+ could change things.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Ollie Watkins signed a new contract at Villa soon, it really wouldn’t. If Villa were clever, they’d get it done before the Euros and I think they will. From Watkins’ point of view, he’s got to look back and think about what else it is he wants, he’s got Champions League football next season.
Is he going to play at Liverpool or Arsenal and get a regular spot in the starting eleven? Possibly, he could do. But, he knows he’s the main go-to guy at Villa. He knows he’s got a manager that will improve him and also will pick him if he has five bad games.
That’s why having a manager who believes in you and trusts you is so important. I think there will be clubs that try and turn his head, but I think he’s in a place at Villa where he’s very happy.
If you’re talking about £70 million for Ivan Toney, you’ve got to be thinking close to £90 million for Watkins. The way he plays the game and from what he’s done this season I think anywhere between £70-90 million would turn their heads.
Top 20 Betting Offers
|
18+ New customers only. Place a £10+ bet at min odds 1/1 (2.0) within 14 days of sign-up. Get £30 in Free Bets, valid for 7 days on selected bets only. Free stake not returned with winnings. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org |
|||||
|
New UK Customers sign up with code B20G20. Deposit and bet £20 or more at min odds of 1/2 (1.5). Receive a £20 free bet. Full Terms Apply. 18+ begambleaware |
|||||
|
New players. Choose bonus at signup. Wager bonus 10x. Any withdrawals void bonus. Valid 30 days. Deposit used 1st. Odds, bet & payment limits. T&Cs apply. 18+. |
|||||
|
New cust. Deposit £10+ in 7 days & bet on sports. Min odds apply. Reward = 4 x £10 Free Bets (2 x £10 Bet Builders & 2 x £10 Sports bet). Valid 7 days. Free bets not valid on e-sports & non UK/IE horse racing. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org. |
|||||
|
18+ New customers only. Opt in and bet up to £40 (min. £20) via mobile or app on any football (odds 1/1+) within 7 days of registration. Get up to £40 in free bets on selected markets, which expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply, see below. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly |
|||||
|
New customers only. Applies to the 1st deposit using code WELCOME7. Min deposit £20. Min qualifying bet £20 at odds 1/1 (2.0). Cash‑out not permitted. Bonus Bets issued as 1×£7 BB (any sport excl. Virtuals), followed by 1×£7 BB (Horse Racing, SP/EW excluded) and 1×£7 BB (Football ACCA, min 4 selections, min odds 4.0). Bonus Bet stake not returned. Bonus Bets valid 5 days from credit. Max winnings £500 / £500 / £100 per Bonus Bet. One per customer. General T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org | 18+ |
|||||
|
New customers online only. Bet a min £/€10 at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater across sports or racing within 7 days of registration to qualify. Receive £/€20 Tote Credit, £/€10 Free Sports Bet within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool or sports bet added to bet slip. Voided/non-runner bets will not qualify; subsequent bet will be qualifying bet. 7-day expiry. 18+. One per customer. Selected customers only. Full T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org. Full T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
T&Cs apply. 18+ New customers only. You must place a single win-only bet of £10 or more with odds of evens (2.00) or greater to qualify. Money back as £10 in free bets. Free bet is credited the day after the qualifying bet has settled. Must use code B10G10 when creating an account. |
|||||
|
18+, UK only. Deposit and place a £10 cash bet at single or accumulated odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater and we will give you £10 in free bets. Free bets credited as 4 x £5 Void or 'Draw No Bet' wagers do not qualify for this promotion. Available once per customer. Free bets will be credited at bet settlement and will expire 7 days after being credited. Full T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 6 x £5 free bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days, stake not returned). Restrictions + T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
New customers only. Min £20 bet at odds 2.00+. Max reward: One £10 Free Bet and two £5 Combo Free Bets. £10 Free Bet min odds 1/1 (2.00). £5 Combo Free Bets min odds 2/1 (3.0). Free Bets expire 7 days after credit. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply. |
|||||
|
*New members only. £10+ bet on sports (ex. Virtuals) 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days; £20 use on sportsbook, £10 on Bet Builder. Stake not returned. T&Cs + deposit exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org. 18+ |
|||||
|
New members only. £10+ bet on sports (ex. virtuals) at 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accepted in 7 days, valid 7 days; £20 use on sportsbook, £10 on Bet Builder. Stake not returned. T&Cs + deposit exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org. 18+ |
|||||
|
18+ | GambleAware.org. New GB customers only. Opt in. Deposit & Stake £10 on slots to get 100 x £0.20 Free Spins on Sweet Bonanza with 10x wagering on free spins. Debit card or instant bank transfer only. Claim within 7 days. Spins expire within 48 hours. Geographical restrictions and T&Cs apply. #AD |
|||||
|
Place a £10 fixed odds Outright winner cash bet on a nation to win the World Cup. Once the bet is placed, receive 1 x free £10 fixed odds bet, 1 x free £10 football Total Goals spread bet and 1 x free £10 football Supremacy spread bet. Then receive a further free £10 fixed odds bet for every match your chosen nation wins during the World Cup, to a maximum of 7 wins. Offer expires at 9pm on Tues 23rd June 2026. 18+ www.gambleaware.org. |
|||||
|
18+| GambleAware.org. New GB customers only. Opt in. Deposit and Bet £10+ on sports at min odds of 2.0+ (1/1) for £30 in Free Bets within 7 days. Debit cards or instant bank transfers only. Free bets expire within 7 days of issue. Geographical restrictions and T&C’s apply.#AD |
|||||
|
New sportsbook customers only. Place £10 first bet at min odds 1/2 to get £20 Free Bet. Stake not returned. Free Bet valid 7 days, min odds 1/2. Settled bets only. One welcome offer per customer (not with 50% Net Loss Refund). 18+. Full T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
#AD | Welcome bonus for new players only | Maximum bonus is 100% up to £100 | Min. deposit is £10 | No max cash out | Wagering is 40x bonus | Maximum bet with an active bonus is £5 | Eligibility is restricted for suspected abuse | Skrill & Neteller deposits excluded for welcome bonus | Cashback when offered, applies to deposits where no bonus is included | Cashback is cash with no restrictions | T&C's apply |Free bet: Min odds: 2.0 - Free bet value will be deducted from free bet winnings | 18+ | BeGambleAware.org | Gambling is addictive, please gamble responsibly! |
|||||
|
New customers only. Min £20 bet at odds 2.00+. Max reward: One £10 Free Bet and two £5 Combo Free Bets. £10 Free Bet min odds 1/1 (2.00). £5 Combo Free Bets min odds 2/1 (3.0). Free Bets expire 7 days after credit. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. |
