Aston Villa
Teammate says reported Tottenham and Everton target has ‘tough decision’ to make
Aston Villa central midfielder Conor Hourihane has told Sky Sports that his teammate Jack Grealish has a tough decision to make, amid reported interest from Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Manchester United. According to The Daily Star, Tottenham and Everton are interested in signing Grealish from Premier League rivals Villa in the summer transfer window. It has been reported that Spurs and the Merseyside outfit are prepared to pay over £50 million to sign the 24-year-old, who can operate as an attacking midfielder or as a winger. The Manchester Evening News has reported of interest in Grealish from United. Republic of Ireland international central midfielder Hourihane has raved about his Villa teammate Grealish, and has admitted that the summer will be tough for the 24-year-old in regard t...
Report: PSG want Aston Villa loanee this summer
According to L’Equipe (via GFFN), Paris Saint-Germain are interested in signing AC Milan goalkeeper Pepe Reina this summer. The 37-year-old is currently on loan at Aston Villa till the end of the season and could find himself in the French capital next season. Dean Smith’s side brought Reina in during the January transfer window following a long-term injury that initially ruled Tom Heaton out of the season, but a permanent move isn’t on the cards and the goalie has since revealed he wants to return to Milan at the end of his loan deal at Villa Park. The Spaniard told fans during an Instagram Q&A last month that: “After the loan to Aston Villa I have to go back. The idea is to see out the last year of the contract that I have left.” Reina hasn’t particularly done enough to warrant ...
Tyrone Mings shares what he thinks about Project Restart
Aston Villa centre-back Tyrone Mings has shared what he thinks about the Premier League resuming when a fan asked him about Project Restart on Twitter. English top-flight clubs are set to meet this week to establish whether it is possible to resume and complete the current season with a cure and vaccine yet to be found for the coronavirus pandemic. Finishing the campaign at neutral venues is on the cards, but Villa have opposed it, with CEO Christian Purslow claiming his side will be giving up a huge advantage in the relegation race by not playing at Villa Park. It remains to be seen what the Premier League’s final decision will be, but Mings has expressed his concerns about the players’ safety, reacting thus to project restart: Let’s see what else they come out with. If you believe everyt...
Another Premier League player tests positive for novel coronavirus
A third first-team player from Brighton & Hove Albion tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, the Premier League club’s chief executive Paul Barber has confirmed. Two Brighton players had contracted the novel coronavirus in March and April and the latest positive result could cast doubts on the Premier League’s plans to resume the season that has been suspended due to the pandemic. Clubs are due to meet on Monday to further discuss “Project Restart” which envisages a return to play in June once given the green light from government, with the remaining 92 matches held behind closed doors at neutral venues. “It is a concern. Unfortunately we’ve had a third player test positive yesterday,” Barber told Sky Sports on Sunday. “So despite all of the measures that we’ve been taking over the ...
Report: Aston Villa linked with 24-yr-old who has impressed for Rangers this season
Aston Villa have been linked with a move for the Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara. The 24-year-old defensive midfielder has done well for the Scottish side this season and it will be interesting to see if the likes of Villa come in for him. As per France Football, the likes of Brighton are thought to be keen on the player as well. Rangers signed the player last summer and they will not want to get rid of him just yet. His suitors will have to pay a sizeable fee in order to sign him this summer. Aston Villa could use a defensive midfielder like him but Smith’s transfer plans could depend on their relegation battle. If Aston Villa fail to survive, it could really restrict their resources in the transfer market. Also, Kamara might not be keen on moving to the Championship. It will be interestin...
Manchester United favourites to sign £70m-rated playmaker whom Solskjaer admires: report
According to The Sun, Manchester United are prepared to step up their interest in signing Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish after monitoring his progress over the past 18 months. The 24-year-old has been one of the Villains’ top-performing players on their Premier League comeback and he has contributed seven goals and six assists from 26 top-flight outings. While he has preferred to play in an attacking midfield role for most of his career, Grealish has regularly featured on the left wing this term and that has brought the best out of him. As per The Sun, the Red Devils have been keeping a close eye on his development over the past few years and they are prepared to make a formal move for his signature in the near future. It is added that manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remains a keen admirer...
Report: Aston Villa and Wolves can sign 26-yr-old target for just £13m this summer
Aston Villa and Wolves remain interested in the Galatasaray defender Christian Luyindama. As per Milliyet (via Sportwitness), the two Premier League clubs will have to pay around €15m (£13m roughly) to sign the 26-year-old defender this summer. It will be interesting to see if Villa or Wolves make an approach for the player in the coming weeks. Luyindama has done well in Turkey and he could be a solid addition for the two clubs. Aston Villa are in desperate need of quality defenders and Luyindama could partner Mings at the back next season. It remains to be seen whether Dean Smith’s side can beat the drop first. They will struggle to attract top players without the lure of Premier League football. Luyindama might be tempted to move to England if a good offer comes his way. However, playing...
Will Premier League with no fans be worth the wait?
The Premier League is adamant that it can overcome huge logistical challenges to get players back on the pitch during the coronavirus crisis but has long since accepted there will be no fans in the stadiums. English Football Association chairman Greg Clarke became the latest senior figure to admit this week that social-distancing guidelines make it impossible for supporters to congregate in stadiums “any time soon”. The drive behind the Premier League’s “Project Restart” is the attempt to avoid having to pay back millions in TV revenue. Clubs could reportedly miss out on £762 million ($946 million) for failing to complete this season alone. According to UEFA’s latest European Club Footballing Landscape report, just 13 percent of the Premier League’s revenue comes from gate receipts. Englan...
Nine Premier League clubs to allow stars miss project restart
Up to nine Premier League clubs will let their players skip Project Restart over fears they could infect their families with coronavirus. England’s top division is looking at a return date of June 12 as they attempt to conclude this season. But The Sun have reported that nearly half of the league’s teams have conceded forcing players back into action while the virus is active will be impossible. A source told the publication: “If someone has a partner who’s pregnant, or close family who has cancer, how can we force them to play in those circumstances?” It is understood that teams from across the table are concerned with player safety and one team has told stars they do not have to play. One club who will be without key players should football return is Aston Villa, with manager Dean Smith ...
‘I’m against it’ – Villa CEO doesn’t want to give up ‘advantage’ in relegation race
Aston Villa are currently 19th in the Premier League table with a game in hand, and Dean Smith’s side will fancy their survival chances with just two points separating them from safety. With 10 games still to play, Villa can definitely escape relegation, and CEO Christian Purslow is hoping football can resume when it’s safe and fair to do so. The Premier League has come up with a plan for clubs to play at neutral grounds as they look to resume the campaign, but the Villa chief isn’t a fan of the idea as he reckons his side will be giving up a huge advantage in the relegation race. “Neutral ground is just one component in a whole package of measures. Personally I’m against it. We’re a club that pride ourselves on our home form, I think two-thirds of our wins this season have come at home. W...
‘It’s a great club’ – 25-yr-old summer target heaps praise on Aston Villa
Aston Villa have been linked with a move for the Atalanta keeper Pierluigi Gollini in the recent weeks. The player has now heaped praise on Villa and has labelled them as a great club. He said (quotes via Birmingham Mail): “It’s a great club. Things did not go as I hoped. Then came Atalanta. At the beginning I didn’t play much (but) I always believed in my choice.” Gollini played for Aston Villa during 2016-18 but he failed to make his mark on the first team back then. Since then, the 25-year-old has progressed rapidly and he has been outstanding for Atalanta this season. It will be interesting to see if Villa try and bring him back to the club. The fact that he admires the club will come as a boost to the Premier League if they are truly keen on signing him once again. Atalanta will not w...
Villa set for major survival boost, some fans react: ‘Very positive news’, ‘We’re staying up’
Aston Villa are set to receive a major boost in their quest for Premier League safety. Dean Smith will be allowed to register his key players Tom Heaton and Wesley once the duo return from their respective injuries. Both players were omitted from Villa’s 25-man squad since they were ruled out for the season. However, the season has now been delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the two players can now recover in time for the remaining games. As per Sun, Premier League are set to agree on new rules regarding de-registering players. Both Heaton and Wesley could make a big difference to Dean Smith’s side. Heaton is a quality goalkeeper and Wesley will give Aston Villa a much needed presence upfront. Aston Villa will have to win most of their remaining games in order to stay up this sea...
