Aston Villa’s transformation under Unai Emery since November 2022 has been one of the most impressive turnarounds in recent Premier League history.
The Spaniard inherited a side hovering just above the relegation zone but has since turned Villa into consistent contenders at the top end of English football.
Emery’s side have now finished in the top seven in each of the last four Premier League campaigns, qualifying for the Champions League in two of those seasons.
The Europa League triumph at the end of May was the crowning achievement of a remarkable 2025/26 season, ending the club’s 30-year wait for a major trophy.
That success has raised expectations significantly, with supporters now demanding that Villa compete for silverware on a regular basis going forward.
Villa have been active in the transfer market, with Como winger Martin Baturina emerging on their shortlist and a bid already submitted for the Croatian international in recent weeks.
Lille winger Matias Fernandez-Pardo is another target, with Sky Sports reporting that Villa have already entered talks with the French club over a potential deal this summer.
The report indicates that a move could be accelerated in the coming months, with the 21-year-old currently away representing Belgium at the World Cup.
However, any agreement will not come cheap, with Lille reportedly demanding €70m, equivalent to around £60m, before they consider selling the young attacker.
John McGinn has been a vital presence in Emery’s squad, often deployed on the left side of attack and scoring twice in the 4-0 Europa League semi-final win over Nottingham Forest.
The Scottish international has made 331 appearances for the club since his £2.5m arrival from Hibernian in 2018, scoring 40 goals and providing 48 assists along the way.
McGinn also marked the World Cup with a notable contribution, scoring Scotland’s first goal in a generation against Haiti last week on the international stage.
Despite his importance to the club, the 31-year-old could find his starting position under threat if Fernandez-Pardo arrives at Villa Park next season.
The Belgian winger, dubbed “explosive” by talent scout Antonio Mango, posted attacking statistics during 2025/26 that compare favourably with those produced by McGinn at Villa Park.
Fernandez-Pardo’s 44% shot on target accuracy rate and tally of 1.2 shots on target per 90 minutes are both higher than the figures the Scotsman managed throughout the campaign.
The Lille star also created a staggering 1.4 chances per 90 during 2025/26 and registered an impressive 22% cross success rate across the season.
Both figures surpass those recorded by McGinn, suggesting Fernandez-Pardo could offer Emery a more rounded and dynamic option in wide attacking areas.
He also outscored McGinn in league goals during the 2025/26 campaign, further underlining the Belgian’s quality and readiness to step up at the highest level.
Spending £60m would represent a club-record outlay for Villa, but his age and ability suggest the investment could deliver returns across many seasons to come.
If the deal is completed, McGinn may find himself further down the pecking order in 2026/27 as Emery continues building a squad capable of sustained trophy challenges.