Express and Star journalist Luke Hatfield believes that Aston Villa were signing both Emi Buendia and Leon Bailey regardless of whether the club kept Jack Grealish or not this summer. 

Villa signed Buendia for fellow Premier League side Norwich City for a fee that according to Sky Sports could rise to £38m. Last season’s Championship Player of the Season penned a five-year deal at Villa Park and has started the new Premier League campaign featuring in all three of his new club's matches, getting himself on the score-sheet against Brentford.

Leon Bailey put pen to paper on a deal that will run until 2025 with Aston Villa, with the club paying Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen £25m. The winger featured in his new club's opening game of the season against Watford and provided an assist for John McGinn’s goal.

Hatfield believes that even if Jack Grealish had stayed with Aston Villa, both Buendia and Bailey would have been signed by the club, telling Transfer Tavern: “Buendia and Bailey, I think they were going to come in regardless.”

Villa had a good summer in terms of incomings to the football club as alongside Buendia and Bailey, the club also signed Danny Ings, Ashley Young and Axel Tuanzebe. Since their opening day defeat to Watford, Villa have collected four points from a possible six, with a victory against Newcastle United and then a draw against Premier League newcomers Brentford.