In January 2019, Dean Smith brought in defender Tyrone Mings on a loan deal, marking the start of a significant period of recruitment for the club.

Aston Villa's experienced players have been instrumental in the team's recent success, but questions remain about the long-term sustainability of this approach.

A notable aspect of Villa's recent lineups is the presence of players signed during Dean Smith's tenure, with seven players from his era featuring in the draw against Bournemouth and seven starters in the win over Brighton having made their debuts under his management.

The club can almost field an entire team of players signed by Smith, who departed over four years ago, highlighting his lasting impact on the squad.

Despite not having won a trophy in three decades, Aston Villa hosts Newcastle in the FA Cup on Saturday, seeking to end this drought.

Under Unai Emery's guidance, Villa has been performing above expectations, but the team faces challenges in bridging the financial gap with its Champions League rivals.

The club's reliance on the same core players year after year raises concerns about how to refresh the squad, particularly given the constraints of profit and sustainability regulations.

Unai Emery re-acquired Douglas Luiz and Ross Barkley, who initially joined the club during Dean Smith's tenure.

Following Douglas Luiz's return to the club in January, Villa is just one player short of being able to field a team composed entirely of players signed by Smith, with the exception of a left-back.

The addition of Lucas Digne, who joined under Steven Gerrard, would complete a team without any initial input from Unai Emery, although the Spaniard has since re-signed Luiz and Barkley.

Dean Smith's influence on the club persists, despite his departure in November 2021 after a three-year tenure.

One of Smith's earliest signings was Tyrone Mings, who arrived on loan from Bournemouth in January 2019 and has since become the longest-serving player from that era, recently reaching 200 appearances for the club.

The summer following Villa's promotion to the Premier League saw the arrival of Ezri Konsa and Luiz, among others, including Matty Cash, Emi Martinez, and Ollie Watkins, all of whom were signed under Smith's management.

The core of the squad consists of players like Mings, Konsa, Watkins, and John McGinn, who were signed from lower leagues, often with an element of risk involved.

Notable signings from this period include McGinn, who joined from Hibernian for £3.5m, and Konsa, who arrived from Brentford for £12m, while Matty Cash was signed from Nottingham Forest for £16m.

Although Unai Emery has elevated the team's performance, the club faces significant challenges in replacing key players like Konsa, given the current market rates and the relatively low fees paid for these players initially.

Succession planning is a major concern for the club, particularly with limited financial resources available.

The average age of Villa's starting lineup is 28 years and 84 days, the second-oldest in the Premier League, prompting internal recognition of the need to address this issue.

In an effort to start this process, Villa recently signed 19-year-old Brazilian winger Alysson from Gremio for £10m and 17-year-old Brian Madjo from Metz for a similar fee.

While the club would have preferred to sign these players at a later stage, they opted to secure them for a lower fee, reducing the risk involved.

Neither Alysson nor Madjo is expected to make an immediate impact, although Alysson made his debut recently, with the January window seen as an opportunity to strike a balance between addressing the age issue and solving first-team problems.

The arrival of striker Tammy Abraham and the return of Luiz on loan from Juventus were necessitated by the season-ending injury to Boubacar Kamara.

With Villa committed to spending £18.25m on Abraham, the club had no remaining balance to cover Kamara's position, making Luiz's return a practical solution.

Luiz's loan deal was attractive due to his availability, familiarity with Emery's demands, and relatively low cost, given that his loan at Nottingham Forest had been cancelled.

BBC Radio WM: Tune in to Friday's Football Phone-In for more discussion.

This video is currently unavailable for playback.

A late own goal secured Aston Villa's win over Brighton in their recent match.

Villa operates in a transfer market similar to that of Newcastle, Tottenham, Wolves, and Nottingham Forest, rather than competing with the top-tier clubs.

According to Deloitte's 2024-25 football finance report, Villa generated £450m in revenue, ranking 14th, but trails Tottenham by over £200m.

The ongoing upgrade of Villa Park, which will increase the stadium's capacity to around 50,000, is expected to take 18 months to complete, but even then, matchday revenue will remain lower than that of many Premier League rivals.

Unai Emery's achievements with the club are notable, considering the limited financial resources at his disposal.

Qualifying for the Champions League would provide a significant boost, but it does not entirely resolve the club's financial challenges.

When top-tier signings become available, Villa is unlikely to be a major contender due to its financial constraints.

The recent signing of midfielder Conor Gallagher by Tottenham highlights the financial pecking order, with Spurs able to pay the £35m fee demanded by Atletico Madrid.

Emery's side had been in talks to sign Gallagher, but once Tottenham entered the fray, the competition became insurmountable, and the player opted to join the London club.

Although Tottenham did not directly poach Gallagher from Villa, the transfer serves as a reminder of the financial gulf between the two clubs.

The Midlands side must be prudent with its finances, acknowledging that it cannot absorb the cost of a failed signing, unlike clubs like Manchester City or Tottenham.

The example of Evann Guessand, who failed to score in the league after a £26m move from Nice, underscores the risks involved in big-money transfers, and Villa's need to manage its resources carefully.

Villa's struggles to comply with Premier League financial regulations are well-documented, having sold Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle for £40m to balance the books, and the club is expected to need to make further sales to remain compliant.

The pressure to generate revenue through player sales will continue to be a challenge for Villa, as it seeks to navigate the complexities of the transfer market and maintain a competitive squad.

Despite Emery's impressive performance with the available resources, Villa's progress is hindered by financial constraints, emphasizing the need for a long-term financial solution to support the manager's efforts.