'Let's all calm down a bit' - making sense of Villa's Garnacho transfer

Aston Villa have confirmed the signing of Alejandro Garnacho, with the winger becoming the club's third arrival of the summer.

The 22-year-old joins on an initial season-long loan, with a conditional obligation to buy, after spending just one year at Chelsea following his move from Manchester United.

Unai Emery was the driving force behind Villa's pursuit of Garnacho, viewing the Argentina international as a player capable of adding pace and another dimension to Villa's attack.

On Claret & Blue, Mat Kendrick, John Townley and Dan Rolinson have given their verdicts on the transfer, discussing the potential upside, the risks involved and why Emery believes Garnacho can rediscover his best form at Villa Park.

Listen, whatever I said previously, I'm very much a Garnacho man now - I'm all in! Honestly, it wouldn't have been my first choice. He's only 22, which is mad really because it feels like he's been around forever. I actually thought he was older. I think he made his Manchester United debut when he was 17, so he's been in the spotlight for a long time. There's no doubt he's got ability.

Our Chelsea writer’s assessment was: "Talented, but super frustrating to watch last season. His work rate was questioned by Enzo Maresca when he first joined, although that improved. His biggest weakness is probably being wasteful in front of goal. As for his professionalism and attitude, people at Chelsea have told me there were no issues whatsoever and that he handled himself excellently."

Because that's the biggest concern, isn't it? At Manchester United he was viewed as a bit of a disruptive character, and he eventually fell out with Rúben Amorim - although, to be fair, plenty of people did.

You’d think the obligation would be based on individual performances, wouldn't you? Because we've spoken before about Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho. If those obligations had been triggered simply because Villa finished in the top four or won the Europa League, then we'd have been lumbered with them.

I'm trying to look at this through the lens of what we've discussed on previous podcasts about what I think Aston Villa are becoming: a more aggressive, high-intensity, fast-paced team. A side that's going to get in opponents' faces a lot more. In that sense, Garnacho probably fits the profile. He's obviously got pace to burn.

I can still picture that game at Old Trafford around Christmas. A lot of football has been played since then, and admittedly not all of it has been at a particularly high level, but I remember him causing Diego Carlos all sorts of problems. I think Matty Cash played that night as well. Garnacho was excellent.

Now, I wouldn't have signed him purely based on that performance, but it showed the level of player he can be and the potential he has. The thing I find interesting, Danny, is how Emery seems to treat wingers differently from other positions.

The other day we were talking about centre-backs. If Villa sign a young, up-and-coming centre-half, the expectation is that he'll be here for four or five years and become embedded in the team. We said something similar about the Gomes deal - that you'd want him to develop over several seasons.

But wingers almost seem more disposable, certainly in the way Emery recruits them. Morgan Rogers came in and established himself, but we've also seen Marcus Rashford arrive, make an impact for a short spell and then move on. Jadon Sancho has come in on loan, and now we're talking about Garnacho in a very similar situation.

It almost feels as though Emery doesn't like making long-term commitments with wide players. Whether that's because wingers are naturally more inconsistent, I don't know, but he seems to prefer bringing them in, seeing what they can produce over a relatively short period, and then making a decision.

This Garnacho deal feels like it fits exactly into that category. Does that reduce the risk? Maybe. I'm not entirely sure, but it certainly seems to be the recruitment model Villa are following in those positions.

I've had a lot of messages from friends questioning this signing. To be honest, I'm not saying it would be a brilliant signing or the best piece of business we'll do this summer. Equally, though, I'm not saying it'll be a disaster or that we shouldn't do it.

I think we should, and I'm glad we're trying to sign Garnacho because I genuinely believe he offers something we don't currently have. Even if we did already have those qualities, I think Garnacho's upside is worth the risk.

We've seen Unai Emery get the very best out of players he inherited from Steven Gerrard, and many who originally came through under Dean Smith. We've been on a journey as a club, and I don't think Garnacho's journey has been anywhere near as stable as that of many players in our squad.

One of the key reasons for Villa's success has been the culture at the club. We talk about it a lot, but I know it's also something the key people within the footballing structure constantly emphasise. They believe it's one of our biggest strengths. Villa Park is another advantage, but because we can't simply outspend the traditional "Big Six", we have to find other ways to compete. Creating harmony in the dressing room and building a strong culture has been fundamental to that.

I don't think Garnacho has experienced that in his career. At Manchester United, and even during his time at Chelsea, things have been pretty unstable. Look at the number of managers he's worked under. There hasn't been any consistent structure or environment around him.

I also think we're often too quick to criticise young players, especially those moving countries at such a young age. Imagine being a teenager, breaking into Manchester United's first team, and immediately having enormous expectations placed on you. As a winger, you're constantly being compared to some of the club's greatest wide players.

For different reasons, Garnacho hasn't fulfilled his potential at United. A lot of that has been down to factors outside his control. That doesn't mean he's blameless - he hasn't always helped himself - but young footballers need support. We've seen plenty of talented players fail to reach their potential simply because they weren't in the right environment for their development.

At Villa, I think he'd have everything he needs to become the player people believed he could be. I don't like saying anyone is "destined" to become something because you have to earn your potential, but Villa can provide the platform for him to get back to where he wants to be.

For me, it's a great opportunity for both player and club. The upside is significant. The key issue is the loan obligation. We don't yet know the exact conditions or triggers, but they need to be structured in a way that protects Villa.

If the obligation was something like, "Villa qualify for the Champions League, therefore Garnacho must be signed permanently," that would make no sense. What if he has a poor season? We've already discussed similar scenarios with players like Harvey Elliott. You don't want to be forced into a permanent transfer because of a team achievement rather than the player's own contribution.

The obligation should be based on Garnacho's performances or appearances - something linked to him rather than the club's overall success. If he scores 10 goals, for example, then he's probably justified the fee.

If it's appearance-based and, halfway through the season, Villa decide he isn't the right fit, then the club has control. That's obviously not ideal - you want to sign players intending to play them - but it's preferable to being forced into a permanent deal regardless of how things have gone.

I've seen people ask what the difference is between this and the Elliott situation. The answer is control. If Villa control the trigger, they retain flexibility.

This also feels different because it's a player Emery has wanted for some time. Villa were linked with Garnacho last summer, and I remember saying then that I thought he'd be a good signing. I actually think his difficult spell at Chelsea has strengthened people's negative opinions of him, but again, I don't think Chelsea was the right environment for him either.

He needs a different level of support, and I think Emery would see him as a project worth investing in. The upside is huge. When he's confident, Garnacho is a very good player. That's true of many wingers, but he also possesses qualities that Villa don't currently have in the squad.

It's not simply about signing someone because they're quick - I genuinely think he's good enough to play at Champions League level. Even over the last couple of years, despite everything going on around him at Manchester United and Chelsea, he's still produced performances that show his quality.

I thought he was excellent at Villa Park when United beat Villa 4–1. Matty Cash really struggled against him, and Cash actually had a very good season. If you asked Cash who gave him the toughest game last year, I'd imagine Garnacho would be right up there.

He was also outstanding in the Boxing Day game in 2023. He came off the bench and changed the match for United. Emery knows exactly what Garnacho can offer, but more importantly, he'll know how to get the best out of him.

From there, it's up to Garnacho. If he embraces the opportunity, buys into the culture, and commits himself, Villa could be the perfect place for him to rediscover his talent.

I don't know. I think there is a lot of risk attached to it. Someone in the comments just said, "Let's all calm down a little bit," and I think that's fair. Listen, he could be brilliant for us. He could transform our attack. Equally, he could be dreadful. These things work both ways.

My view has always been the same: once they're wearing the shirt, and if Unai Emery wants them, then I'll support them. I stand by that. Someone earlier said, "Well, we've got a choice - we can boo him." What does that achieve? I don't see the point. Why would you boo one of your own players before they've even kicked a ball?

Now, if I were drawing up a big whiteboard with my own transfer targets, Garnacho might be on it, but he certainly wouldn't be near the top. Then again, I don't know anywhere near as much about football as the people making these decisions at Aston Villa.

So the question is: does this signing mean Villa have missed out on all their primary targets and this is what's left? That would feel different.

If, however, this deal is followed up by signing someone like Mohammed Kudus or Morgan Gibbs-White, then suddenly it makes a lot more sense. Maybe instead of spending £30 million each on two players, you've managed to bring in a £60 million player because you've structured this one as a loan. In that context, it becomes much more palatable.

That's why I'm not going to judge this on 21 July. If it happens, the real question is: where are we by Christmas?

If Garnacho has been excellent, then brilliant. If he's struggled, that's a completely different conversation. Likewise, the details of the loan matter. If the obligation is triggered after 20 appearances, for example, then that's another factor to consider.

Could we end up in the same situation we discussed with Harvey Elliott? You start the season thinking it's going to work, then five games in you've changed your mind and suddenly he's sitting on the bench because you don't want to trigger the obligation. You've effectively wasted a loan spot.

Villa have to get this one right. One of the sticking points for me - and this is difficult because I don't know him personally - is the perception around his character. You're only going off what you see on social media, what you read, and what you hear from people claiming to know what's gone on behind the scenes in dressing rooms. It's impossible to know how much of that is actually true.

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