Aston Villa's Right-Back Upgrade: Aaron Wan-Bissaka Targeted

Unai Emery has made his mind up. If Aston Villa are going to live comfortably among Europe’s elite, the right flank needs upgrading.

The Villa manager has flagged right-back as a priority position this summer, with the club pushing to add serious competition for current starter Matty Cash. According to The Athletic, Aaron Wan-Bissaka has moved to the top of their shortlist – and on paper, he looks like a classic Emery defender: aggressive in duels, secure in one‑v‑one situations, and tactically disciplined enough to shift shape without fuss.

Villa reset at right-back

Villa’s interest in Wan-Bissaka follows a frustrating start to the window in that area. Early moves for other targets stalled, including a proposed deal for Flamengo’s Emerson Royal, the former Tottenham Hotspur full-back. That transfer never got close to completion, forcing Villa’s recruitment team to reassess and turn back toward the Premier League market.

The motivation is clear. Emery is building a squad designed not just to survive the demands of Champions League football, but to compete in it, on top of defending their Europa League crown and backing up last season’s fourth-place Premier League finish. Depth is no longer a luxury at Villa Park; it’s a requirement.

Wan-Bissaka’s West Ham crossroads

West Ham United’s relegation has changed the landscape. Dropping into the Championship for the first time since the 2011-12 season has left the club vulnerable to interest in several first-team players, and Wan-Bissaka is among those the Hammers are understood to be willing to let go for the right price.

The 28-year-old featured 27 times in all competitions last season, registering three assists, but his influence faded when it mattered most. He started just two of West Ham’s final seven matches, with Kyle Walker-Peters increasingly preferred on the right. For a defender once regarded as one of the Premier League’s most reliable one-on-one stoppers, that represented a sharp and uncomfortable shift.

Any deal will not be straightforward. Wan-Bissaka is tied to West Ham until 2031, having signed a seven-year contract when he arrived from Manchester United in a £15 million move. That long-term security underpins a high valuation, but it also underlines how dramatically his situation could change if Villa and West Ham find common ground.

International stature, club uncertainty

While West Ham struggled and Wan-Bissaka’s minutes shrank, his international stock held firm. For DR Congo, he remains a cornerstone. He started all four of their matches at this summer’s World Cup, producing a string of eye-catching displays that drew scouts from across Europe.

Those performances served as a reminder of the defender who once locked down the right side at Old Trafford. Across five seasons with Manchester United, Wan-Bissaka made 190 appearances and built a reputation as one of Europe’s most tenacious one-on-one defenders. He played his part in a trophy-winning era too, helping United lift the EFL Cup in 2022-23 and the FA Cup in 2023-24.

Now comes the next decision. Stay and fight for minutes in the Championship with a long contract at West Ham, or jump back into the Champions League spotlight under a coach who values exactly what he does best?

Villa have made their move. The question is whether West Ham – and Wan-Bissaka – are ready to let this one go.