In: Santi Comesana (Rayo Vallecano), Denis Suarez (Celta Vigo), Adria Atimira (Andorra), Fabio Blanco (Barca Atletic), Ramon Terrats (Girona), Ilias Akhomach (Barcelona), Ben Brereton Diaz (Blackburn Rovers), Alexander Sorloth (RB Leipzig), Matteo Gabbia (loan, Milan)
Loan returns:
Out: Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham), Manu Morlanes (Real Mallorca), Boulaye Dia (Salernitana), Fer Nino (Burgos), Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea), Arnaut Danjuma (loan, Everton), Ivan Martin (Girona), Johan Mojica (loan, Osasuna), Vicente Iborra (Levante), Samu Chukwueze (Milan), Pau Torres (Aston Villa)
Summary so far: It is really quite difficult not to admire some of the deals that the Yellow Submarine have already carried out this summer. The hugely promising Terrats has been signed permanently, Suarez is back several seasons later, and Comesana is another solid pick-up. Their midfield has lost Lo Celso and Morlanes, but gotten arguably more creative, and definitely deeper. Dani Parejo and Etienne Capoue are now in their mid-thirties, but they have another very good year or two squeezed out of them by this new-found competition and ability to rest. That transition is underway.
Further forward, Brereton Diaz has shown he can score goals at Blackburn, and brings movement and athleticism to a forward line that will be hoping that Gerard Moreno can finally shake off his fitness issues. While the English-Chilean striker does not have the ceiling that Jackson does, it’s worth noting that before April, most would have called him an upgrade on Jackson.
As much as we like the deals that Villarreal have done, it’s hard not to feel that perhaps their squad might be better, but their starting XI has been weakened at the time of writing. Gabbia has very large, Pau Torres-shaped shoes to step into. Chukwueze is an element of chaos that Ilias may be some day but right now Quique Setien does not have anyone who can cause a full-back quite so many headaches.
Alexander Sorloth is a signing we like – with the caveat that in theory, he isn’t necessarily clinical. What he does bring is a reference point, hard-work, and a handful for defenders. The space he will create could be golden for the likes of Gerard Moreno, Alex Baena and Brereton Diaz.
Key Need: In spite of that business, there is plenty of work ahead for Quique Setien and company. With Pau Torres gone to Aston Villa, the most pressing need may be the central defensive position. Torres has been questioned against the very top forwards, but 90% of the games Villarreal play are not against those forwards, and Torres has excelled in general, becoming the constant piece in the backline last year.
Replacing him is obviously the priority. Jorge Cuenca may give that a good go – the 23-year-old is imposing physically and smooth on the ball, although not as much as Torres. But even if he were to step up dramatically, Aissa Mandi showed he’s not error-free in Setien’s system, and they would be mad not to be thinking about at least providing 37-year-old Raul Albiol with competition. Perhaps the Yellow Submarine have sufficient faith in Gabbia, Cuenca and Mandi alongside him, but none of these defenders have shown they can be the bedrock of a top four defence just yet.
A central defender with leadership qualities, and capable of directing traffic would be a terrific addition to this team, as they pursue that illusive fourth spot.
Beneath the Surface: Currently Villarreal have six forwards including Ilias, who is slated to begin the campaign with Villarreal B, but the other five are not settled options.
Diaz is new and Yeremy Pino has come off a season of learning rather than visible progress. Moreno is dogged by injuries, and Jose Luis Morales is 35. Villarreal should be tempted by a winger that can reliably get past his defender, and while Quique Setien likes a full-back that gets to the byline, Juan Foyth and Kiko Femenia are not those players, thus someone to stretch the defence.
At the time of writing, Villarreal sit atop the profit board in La Liga, having made a net gain of €98m. No doubt the club will find ways to reinvest it, but if should permit for yet further work. The word is that 21-year-old goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen will be trusted, but that too is a risk. He has not looked altogether sure when put into action, and Pepe Reina is many things, but not the bedrock of a top four defence.
