Aston Villa have been notably affected by this summer’s World Cup tournament.

The Premier League side are expected to receive a financial boost from FIFA following the competition’s conclusion.

The Villans had several players representing their nations across the Atlantic, with Ollie Watkins still in contention for glory with England, while others such as John McGinn exited earlier at the group stage.

However, one of the Midlands club’s key players endured a far more difficult experience during the tournament.

Villa midfielder Amadou Onana was forced off the field in the first half of Belgium’s Round of 16 victory over the United States, having partnered fellow Villa star Youri Tielemans in the centre of midfield.

He was later seen on crutches with a knee brace, and it was subsequently confirmed that he had suffered an ACL injury.

This setback means Onana is expected to miss the majority, if not the entirety, of the upcoming season, prompting manager Unai Emery to consider alternative options in midfield.

Fortunately for the club, FIFA’s Club Benefits Programme will help cover the financial impact, paying Onana’s salary up to a maximum of £4.68 million while he recovers.

According to transfer specialist David Ornstein, this development is likely to push Villa back into the transfer market in search of reinforcements.

Villa already dealt with a similar situation last season when Boubacar Kamara suffered an ACL injury. Although Kamara is nearing a return during pre-season, he will need to be gradually reintroduced to competitive action.

Ornstein further reported that midfield was not previously seen as a priority area for strengthening, but Onana’s injury has forced a rethink.

Last season, Onana made 38 appearances for Aston Villa, including 12 outings in the Europa League. After finishing fourth in the Premier League, Villa will now face the additional challenge of a demanding Champions League campaign.

In FourFourTwo’s view, given Onana’s importance as a central figure in Villa’s midfield, the club may have to allocate a significant portion of their summer transfer budget to addressing this position.