Aston Villa fitness boost and midfield debate
Villa are sounding out La Liga wingers Abde Ezzalzouli and Víctor Muñoz, plus Jesús Rodríguez of Como, as wide options after standout seasons for Abde at Real Betis and Muñoz at Osasuna.
Villa join the race for a £50m Crystal Palace standout labelled ‘incredible’, but Palace plan a new deal to keep him.
Villa and Brighton have made late moves to hijack a midfielder Leeds are leading for. Context: Villa’s 4-2 Liverpool win sealed Champions League before their Europa League final.
Villa boosted before Freiburg final: Tyrone Mings, Victor Lindelof and Amadou Onana expected to be fine, with Emi Buendia also okay after ice on calf. Lindelof key at midfield after Liverpool win.
Villa have moved for a £21m attacker seen as ideal alongside Ollie Watkins after the 5-2 win over Liverpool.
Harvey Elliott will return to Liverpool after a limited Villa loan, falling short of a 10-game clause. Unai Emery called the situation ‘embarrassing’, praising Elliott’s attitude despite few minutes.
Newcastle’s poor home run cited includes defeats to Aston Villa among others, with West Ham urged to exploit a tense St James’ Park.
Ross Barkley is ineligible for Villa’s Europa League final squad. After a poor cameo in the 4-2 win over Liverpool, Emery cannot select him, with Morgan Rogers and Emi Buendia preferred options.
Leeds chose Rodrigo in 2020, letting Villa sign Ollie Watkins for about £28m. Watkins has since become pivotal as Villa push for Europe, while Rodrigo and Bamford struggled with fit and injuries.
Ollie Watkins hit a second-half brace in Villa’s 5-2 win over Liverpool, moving to four Premier League braces this season and 10 overall for Villa, equalling Dwight Yorke as Emery’s side eye the Europa League final.
Tommi O’Reilly, on loan at Crewe, is monitored by Ireland after 7 goals and 11 assists in 46 games. Portsmouth and others are keen as Villa weigh a sale around £1m.
Aaron Ramsey says Unai Emery halted his agreed Arsenal deal in 2019. Fans vent at Emery, who now manages Aston Villa, though he is thriving at Villa despite his troubled Arsenal stint.
Teen winger Ben Broggio returns from Falkirk after 5 goals and 2 assists in 14 games, earning a standing ovation. With Villa short of winger output, he could be handed a chance next season.
Sporting are open to talks for Pedro Gonçalves. Villa, long-time admirers, see a fit for Emery’s flexible attack. The 27-year-old has 97 goals and 57 assists for Sporting, with an €80m clause to 2030.
Villa made winter enquiries for Toulouse left-back Dayann Methalie, a France U21 flyer with 30 games, 2 goals and 2 assists this season, as interest grows across Europe.
Ex-scout Bryan King calls Villa’s use of Victor Lindelof as holding midfielder ‘sloppy’, despite strong displays. Injuries to Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara highlight need for midfield reinforcements.
