Unai Emery is desperate to put his mark on Aston Villa this month

You only need to pick up a newspaper, visit a website or check social media to see how things have changed since Unai Emery took charge at Aston Villa.

In recent transfer windows, the club have taken great delight in announcing signings that only a handful of people had any idea were happening.

Remember Danny Ings in summer 2021, or Diego Carlos 12 months later? Nearly £60million spent and nobody outside Bodymoor Heath – apart from the selling clubs and the players’ families and representatives – had a clue beforehand. It was like a reverse magic trick: now you don’t see it, now you do.

Besides the under-the-radar capture of Jhon Duran from Chicago Fire, who was identified before Emery arrived, this window has been nothing like that. The £12million capture of Alex Moreno was trailed long before the left-back joined from Real Betis. Emery just wants to get the right players in. Whether his interest is made public prior to the deal being done is a secondary matter.

Villa have, at different times, considered Gerard Deulofeu, Matteo Guendouzi, Nico Williams and Luiz Henrique. With Ings joining West Ham earlier in January, do not be surprised if another attacking player arrives before the end of the month.

If the transfer policy this month has looked a little haphazard, that is because Emery is desperate to improve the squad. The Basque coach believes his team have an outside chance of qualifying for European competition this season and is determined to waste no time. Above all, he wants a wide attacker who can play in different positions across the front line.

Left-back (pictured) Alex Moreno and Jhon Duran are Villa’s only two signings so far this month

Emery has been given a level of control none of his predecessors have been allowed since billionaires Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens took over a club on the brink of extinction in 2018. The former Paris St Germain and Arsenal boss was effectively hand-picked by Sawiris after Steven Gerrard was sacked and has been given carte blanche to shape the club as he wishes.

Before Emery, there was a clear hierarchy at Villa. Chief executive Christian Purslow, sporting director (first Jesus Garcia Pitarch, now Johan Lange), head coach (Dean Smith and then Gerrard). All three would have to be in agreement before a transfer would be concluded.

Purslow has helped rebuild the club off the field and is pressing ahead with an ambitious redevelopment of Villa Park and the surrounding area.

Emery is desperate to strengthen and Villa have been linked with several players like Gerard Deulofeu (L) and Matteo Guendouzi (R)

Under Lange, Villa have revamped their loan arrangements so youngsters Cameron Archer, Tim Iroegbunam and Jaden Philogene are enjoying productive loan spells in the Championship, along with Aaron Ramsey before injury cut short his stint at Norwich. The Dane has also overseen the introduction of a modern scouting and analysis system, while helping to improve player care and academy recruitment.

Yet make no mistake, the first team is Emery’s show now. He will take the big decisions and if he recommends appointments at senior level, Sawiris is likely to back him. His role feels a throwback to the days of the old-school manager in the style of Sir Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger.

While Emery does not have the formidable power base that Ferguson built during his 27 years at Manchester United, he has the final say on virtually every first-team matter.

Villa owners Nassef Sawiris (R) and Wes Edens (L) hand-picked Emery as manager and he has been given carte blanche to shape the club as he wishes as they aim to reach greater heights

Emery thinks Europe is still possible and he will push for players in the final days of the window

We are likely to see evidence of this in the coming months. Villa bought one full-back, Lucas Digne, for £25m a year ago and gave another, Matty Cash, a bumper five-year deal last April. Emery is not thought to be convinced by either player, which is why he has signed Moreno and may look for a right-back in the summer, with Ashley Young turning 38 in July.

Emery and his right-hand man Damia Vidagany were at the City Ground on Wednesday to take in Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final. As Villa do not play either side until April, interest among supporters inevitably spiked.

They are likely to remain on tenterhooks for the remaining days of January as Emery continues to make his mark. After all, the 51-year-old has the keys to the castle now.