An injury to Amadou Onana has altered Aston Villa's summer transfer strategy, causing the club to accelerate its plans to sign a new midfielder. The club has completed extensive background work on Villarreal’s Pape Gueye, who is highly regarded within Villa’s recruitment department. Aston Villa faces competition for Gueye from Everton, and it was reported in April 2026 that Manchester United was prepared to trigger a €45 million release clause.