---
title: "Aston Villa: Unai Emery a fan of Gerard Deulofeu"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-unai-emery-fan-gerard-deulofeu-avfc-villans-unai-emery/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Cameron Winstanley"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2023-01-23T19:40:48Z"
modified: "2023-01-23T19:40:48Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Unai Emery a fan of Gerard Deulofeu

**[Aston Villa](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/) manager Unai Emery is a huge fan of Gerard Deulofeu amid a potential swoop for the winger, according to Fabrizio Romano.**

### **The Lowdown: Emery and Deulofeu**

The pair previously worked together at Sevilla during the 2014/15 season, which saw a 76-point haul leave Sevilla just a point outside of finishing in the Champions League places.

It was the Spanish side’s highest points total ever in the top flight before it was surpassed in the 2020/21 campaign by a point (via [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-sevilla/platzierungen/verein/368)), with Deulofeu racking up [13](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/gerard-deulofeu/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/129476/plus/0?saison=2014&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) goal involvements in all competitions during his year in Seville.

Following [32](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/gerard-deulofeu/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/129476/plus/0?saison=&verein=410&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) goal contributions in 68 games for Udinese, the former [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) ace is a player hot on the market again.

### **The Latest: Romano update**

Sky Sports Italy (via [Football Italia](https://football-italia.net/udinese-release-deulofeu-updates-amid-roma-and-aston-villa-transfer-links/)) recently reported that Villa had been in contact with the 28-year-old’s agent amid Udinese director Pieropaolo Marino confirming many European clubs have approached Deulofeu.

Speaking to [GiveMeSport](https://www.givemesport.com/88107196-aston-villa-gerard-deulofeu-unai-emery-premier-league-transfer-rumours-villa-park), Romano confirmed Villa’s interest in the Spaniard amid revealing they’re set to end the window in a busy fashion.

He said: “They really appreciate Deulofeu, another player appreciated by the coach Unai Emery, but at the moment, Udinese really want to keep Deulofeu until the end of the season. So not an easy one, but I’m sure that Villa also will be busy with two or three more signings.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”418895″\]

### **The Verdict: Interesting target**

The idea of Deulofeu returning to England – where he has previously played [127](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/gerard-deulofeu/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/129476/plus/0?saison=&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=GB1&pos=&trainer_id=) times in the Premier League, registering 44 goal contributions – is an exciting one, with [Simon Peach](https://twitter.com/SimonPeach/status/1114939256567422978) dubbing his FA Cup semi-final performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2019 as “incredible”.

He’s certainly a player of huge quality when he’s on his game, with him in the top 5% for assists amongst forwards in top European competitions over the past year, as well as the top 1% for progressive passes and shot-creating actions (via [FBref](https://fbref.com/en/players/39583cfd/Gerard-Deulofeu)).

While Philippe Coutinho’s career appears to be on the rocks with no [goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/philippe-coutinho/leistungsdaten/spieler/80444) or assists all season for Villa and the [£15m](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/12789892/danny-ings-west-ham-agree-deal-for-striker-from-aston-villa-for-15m-transfer-fee) exit of Danny Ings to West Ham United, Deulofeu’s stats suggest he could burden the creative and goalscoring void in the West Midlands.