During several meetings between senior figures and representatives of Aston Villa’s younger players earlier this summer, the club made it clear how they viewed their respective standings.In short, there were only two academy players Villa were insistent on keeping permanently: midfielder George Hemmings, 19, and winger Bradley Burrowes, 18. Everyone else would be available to move. Permanent departures would not be ruled out provided Villa could retain control mechanisms, such as matching rights and buy-back clauses. The issue would be whether EFL clubs could reach the salaries of Villa’s young talent and have the scope to buy them permanently. If not, a loan was the next best option.They spoke about a model akin to what happened to Jadon Philogene. Villa sold the winger in the summer of 2023 to Hull City for £5million and inserted a buy-back clause and matching rights in the deal. Philogene scored 12 goals in 32 games as Hull finished seventh in the Championship. Promoted Ipswich Town wanted to sign him and pressed ahead with an £18m transfer.Bradley Burrowes has a chance to impress on tour (Photo: Michael Steele/Getty Images)Villa matched the offer, with the total fee being discounted by 30 per cent, given the sell-on clause they had installed initially — the resulting figure worked out at £12.6m. Within a week of Ipswich’s bid, Philogene had rejoined Villa on a five-year contract. Six months later, in January 2025, Ipswich were back at the table. Villa agreed a fee worth £20m plus £3m in add-ons to sell the academy graduate.Some intermediaries were surprised by how transparent and honest Villa’s senior figures have been about their plans this summer — and their initial assessments have proven accurate.Defender Sil Swinkels, 22, left for Sheffield Wednesday. Yeimar Mosquera, 21, joined Vitoria SC, a club Villa had previously been close partners with through its ownership’s multi-club network, yet spoke at the start of July about a closer working relationship this summer and beyond. Mohamed Kone, 19, joined another sister club, FC Annecy, permanently.Others are expected to follow, be it on loan or permanently. Defender Josh Feeney, 21, is to leave, as is striker Rory Wilson, 20, and Tommi O’Reilly, 22, who decided against a move to Sheffield Wednesday and prefers Notts County. Swinkels, who has left for Sheffield Wednesday, during his time at Chesterfield (Photo: Mark Sutton/Getty Images)As for Unai Emery’s favourite academy duo, Burrowes and Hemmings have been given ample opportunity to impress. Emery is enthralled by Burrowes’ pace and directness, and he travelled on Villa’s pre-season tour of Asia last week, alongside Hemmings, who is considered internally and among wider circles, including scouts, fellow youth staff and agents, as Villa’s academy jewel.While both could leave on loan later in the window, they have an opportunity to prove themselves. Other youngsters on the tour include 19-year-old defenders TJ Carroll and Triston Rowe, who is providing left-back cover with Ian Maatsen the only specialist in the position. There is also Luka Lynch, who is viewed as having recovered well from injury issues in recent years and, similarly to Hemmings now, excelled within the under-21s in more forward positions.