Aston Villa are now looking at signing a Tottenham star in January after reaching a pre-agreed deal for another player, according to one report today.
Aston Villa plan for January amid Premier League title race
The Midlands outfit find themselves in unprecedented territory this festive period — four points off Man City at the summit, nine consecutive wins across all competitions and a Premier League title charge nobody saw coming.
Unai Emery refuses to entertain talk of silverware publicly, but the numbers tell their own story.
Villa’s current form represents their finest run since 1919, and while they haven’t won a league title since 1981, or claimed any major silverware for three decades, here they sit, third in the table, four points clear of fourth-placed Chelsea.
The transformation has been nothing short of remarkable.
After five winless games to start the campaign and a barren run in front of goal, Villa languished in the relegation zone, but fast-forward to December, and they’ve beaten both Arsenal and Man City at home, becoming the first team to rack up 2.1 expected goals against the Gunners all season.
Behind the scenes at Villa Park, January planning is also in full swing.
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The Villans need squad depth to maintain their charge.
Emery’s recruitment team are working overtime to strengthen a squad suddenly competing at English football’s pinnacle, according to Fabrizio Romano, as they look to balance the demands of a title race with Europa League commitments that continue deep into spring.
Villa have already secured Brazilian teenager Alysson from Gremio in a deal worth £8.7m initially, rising to £10.5m with performance-related add-ons.
The 19-year-old winger represents exactly the profile Emery covets – young, hungry, adaptable. Gremio retain a 10 per cent sell-on clause, with formalities expected to be completed early in the transfer window.
That is according to journalist Graeme Bailey, who has also shared Villa’s interest in a deal for Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson.
Aston Villa looking at signing Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson
As per Bailey, writing for TEAMtalk, Villa have entered the race for Johnson ahead of January.
The Wales forward has fallen out of favour under Thomas Frank in north London, with Mohammed Kudus’ arrival in the summer relegating him to a bit-part role.
Johnson scored their Europa League-winning goal in May and bagged 18 goals in all competitions last season, finishing 2024/2025 as their top scorer.
James Maddison also called his teammate a ‘relentless’ player in the final third.
However, he’s managed just six Premier League starts this term, accumulating barely 900 minutes of action. The 24-year-old finds himself on the fringes of Frank’s plans, so a January exit is very possible.
Villa are looking at signing Johnson next month after their pre-agreed deal for Alysson, but Crystal Palace remain favourites for his signature, with sources suggesting Johnson is “receptive” to a move across London seeking regular football ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
That being said, Villa represents an altogether different proposition — European football, a genuine title challenge and the opportunity to work under one of Spain’s most tactically astute managers.
Taking this into account, we surely can’t discount Emery’s side in the race just yet.
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