Aston Villa edge Sunderland 4-3 as Watkins shines and Abraham wins it
Villa U18s thrash Birmingham 5-1 in the Second City derby. Ramsey, Wilson, Atkins, Boyd and Hammond score to seal a league double after December’s 6-0 win.
Southampton are confident of keeping winger Leo Scienza despite interest from Aston Villa, Leeds and others. Reports mention a £25m clause and a contract to 2029.
Villa sources dismiss a €60m move for Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde. The club say they will not sign a new left-back, with Lucas Digne first choice and Ian Maatsen as backup.
PSG leave 18-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye out to face Lyon. The youngster has drawn Aston Villa interest according to L’Equipe, while PSG shuffle their XI with Ramos up front and Beraldo in midfield.
Villa’s PL2 Round of 16 at Southampton is set for Friday, April 24, 7pm at Staplewood. Jimmy Shan’s side finished 11th after a 1-0 win at Stoke; Saints were 6th and host the one-legged tie.
Opinion piece on Villa’s 4-3 win over Sunderland, criticising a starter after Emery rotated following the 4-0 Bologna victory. Details on the player and errors are not provided.
Villa and Juventus are tracking Lens centre-back Samson Baidoo, 22. He has 17 Ligue 1 starts for the division’s second-best defence and is contracted to 2030.
Emery hails Villa’s 4-3 win over Sunderland after Watkins’ brace and Rogers, before late chaos and Abraham’s stoppage-time winner from Digne’s cross. He stresses the Premier League is the first priority and says the win helps restore confidence.
Inter try to renew Denzel Dumfries beyond 2028 as Villa and Manchester United are described as the most interested. A €25m release clause is key, with Inter offering €5m per year to keep him.
Watkins heads two, Rogers adds a third, then Hume and Isidor level before Abraham wins it 4-3 from Digne’s cross in the 94th minute. Villa move 10 points clear of sixth with five to play as their Champions League push grows.
Villa and Newcastle will scout Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sara this month. The Brazilian has six goals and five assists this season. Galatasaray will absolutely not sell below €30m, with a contract to 2029.
Villa and Newcastle join the race for Palmeiras winger Allan. English clubs face a €35m-€40m demand and tough payment terms, with Roma, Napoli, Liverpool and Chelsea also monitoring.
Villa Park witnesses a 4-3 thriller: Sunderland rally through Rigg, Hume and Isidor but are sunk late. The piece praises the atmosphere and urges Sunderland to respond, acknowledging Villa’s top-four calibre.
Villa beat Sunderland 4-3 as Watkins scores twice and Abraham nets late, leaving Emery’s side near Champions League qualification and into the Europa League semi-finals, setting up a strong season finish.
