Garnacho will need to raise his game

[Getty Images] Garnacho arrives at Aston Villa still with more promise than pedigree. Emery has shown faith in moving for the eight-cap Argentina international as he looks to rebuild his squad at Villa Park. With Rogers moving to Stamford Bridge for a club-record sale of £117m, the club needed to act. They have been fluid in the market, an important stance given their finances and the general nature of the window, and Garnacho - who also interested Roma - represented a good opportunity. Emery wanted a pacy winger and, with the option of an initial loan with an obligation to buy if certain clauses are met, the deal also gave Villa a degree of control over finances given they must still tread lightly with the Premier League's and Uefa's financial fair play rules. Should the move become permanent - and Garnacho has already agreed a four-year contract - then he will have achieved something other attackers have not when on loan at Villa. Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott joined previously with varying degrees of success in their temporary moves. Rashford's 17-game spell at Villa Park in 2024-25 led to an England return, while Sancho flattered to deceive and Emery left Elliott in limbo with his decision not to play him more to avoid triggering an obligation for a permanent transfer. Clearly surplus to requirements at Chelsea , Garnacho does not want to return to somewhere he is not needed. A return of one goal and four assists in 24 Premier League games for the Blues last season - or eight goals in 43 appearances in all competitions - suggests he will need to raise his game to meet the level Emery demands. Eight assists and 16 goals in 93 games at Manchester United also shows Garnacho's end product must improve at Villa. There is clearly talent there and it is now up to him to show it, and for Emery to harness it.
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