Unai Emery explains Aston Villa transfer stance ahead of deadline day

The boss claimed there were few “possibilities” to further strengthen his squad for the final months of the season, following the arrivals of Tammy Abraham and Douglas Luiz.

Both players made their second debuts for the club in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Brentford, with the recalled Leon Bailey also featuring.

Villa let Donyell Malen and Evann Guessand leave on loan during a month which also saw them lose Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Youri Tielemans to injury.

And Emery has ruled out any further additions.

He said: “I think it is clear, no? We don’t have a lot of possibilities or opportunities to do something improving now. 

“We did everything we were planning and it is completely done, I think the transfer window, for us.”

Abraham controversially saw a goal ruled out in his first match following an £18.2million move from Besiktas.

Harvey Elliott also featured for the second successive match, coming off the bench to make his seventh Villa appearance of the season.

The 22-year-old Liverpool loanee now looks likely to remain at Villa for the rest of the season, barring any late change.

Elliott can make two more appearances without triggering a £35m obligation to buy in his loan deal.

Emery said: “Already we have had a decision. Tomorrow is the deadline and nothing is changing until today.”