No good relationship between Chelsea, Villa – Emery

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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has dismissed suggestions of a good relationship between Chelsea and his club despite a series of transfers between the two Premier League sides.

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Emiliano Martinez completed his move from Villa to Chelsea on Sunday, becoming the eighth player to move between the clubs in the past four years.

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The Argentina goalkeeper’s transfer came just days after Nicolas Jackson moved in the opposite direction, joining Villa from Chelsea.

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No two Premier League clubs have exchanged more players on permanent or loan deals during that period.

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However, Emery insisted the frequent transfer activity should not be viewed as evidence of a close relationship between the clubs.

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As reported by BBC Sport on Monday, Emery was quoted as saying, “Good relations?” Emery said. “They want to kill us and we want to kill them!

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“We have good players and we can sign one player off them, it’s not a good relationship, it’s a deal for money and a deal for players.

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“I am happy for Emiliano Martinez and Morgan Rogers and I know I am not happy for Chelsea.”

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The series of deals began after Chelsea’s owners, BlueCo, took control of the club in 2022, with Carney Chukwuemeka moving from Villa to Chelsea for £20m that summer.

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Since then, Ian Maatsen joined Villa for £37.5m, while Omari Kellyman moved to Chelsea for £19m. Axel Disasi also joined Villa on a loan deal worth £5m.

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Four more deals have taken place this summer.

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Morgan Rogers completed a £117m move to Chelsea, while Alejandro Garnacho joined Villa on loan with a conditional obligation to buy in a deal worth around £43m.

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Jackson then moved to Villa for £65m before Martinez followed him to Chelsea.

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Chelsea have paid Villa £163.5m for players since 2022, while Villa have spent £102.5m on Chelsea players, including Disasi’s loan fee.

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That figure could rise to £150.5m if certain conditions are met for Garnacho’s move to become permanent, with Chelsea believing those criteria are easily reachable.

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