Inside Aston Villa’s transfer window: One of the wildest in Premier League history

The Europa League victory was the zenith of the first Unai Emery era, but also the end. The mountain had been climbed in Istanbul. The peak starting back at them in the form of a trophy. For a core group of players, there was no point further past. “A whole generation made us proud,” one senior figure — who, like all others in this article, spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect their positions — told The Athletic last month after another key player was sold. “We are ready with excitement (that) a new generation is coming.” This was…