Dean Smith
Aston Villa set to break transfer record with Emi Buendia signing
Aston Villa are set to break their transfer record for the third consecutive summer window after agreeing a £30,000,000 initial fee with Norwich City for Emi Buendia. The transfer will include a number of add-ons and a sell-on fee should the Argentina international move on from Villa Park in the future. It is thought that the deal offered by Aston Villa was too good to refuse, with the deal set to potentially rise to £40,000,000 in the future. It marks a huge profit for Norwich City, who signed Buendia for £1,500,000 from Spanish side Getafe. It is thought that Emi Buendia has agreed personal terms today whilst away with the Argentina national team, while also completing his medical. When the transfer is set to be officially announced remains to be seen, but it is a sign of Aston Villa’s c...
Manchester City willing to break £100 million barrier to sign Aston Villa skipper
Manchester City are willing to break the £100m barriers to sign Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish. The Daily Mail says Grealish has long been admired by Pep Guardiola and City’s manager wants the 25-year-old at the hub of what he hopes he will become the second great team of his reign in Manchester. Villa rewarded Grealish last September with a lucrative new contract and the club captain still has four years to run on his deal. His importance to Dean Smith’s side is huge and, as such, they would not entertain selling their local hero for anything less than a new British transfer record. City have not had the most expensive player in the Premier League since they signed Robinho for £32.5m at the start of the Abu Dhabi era in September 2008 but there is recognition that recruiting Grealish w...
Big Sam backs Semi Ajayi to bounce back from error vs Aston Villa
Boss Sam Allardyce has backed Semi Ajayi to quickly bounce back from the mistake he made in the derby against Villa. The Baggies were 90 seconds away from beating Dean Smith’s side on Sunday but were ultimately held to a point after Kienan Davis fired in to level the scores at 2-2 in stoppage time. Villa’s first goal arrived after Ajayi – who had been recalled to the side at the expense of Dara O’Shea – gave away a needless penalty for a foul on Ross Barkley. Davis’ equaliser meanwhile arrived after Bartley – who has been in outstanding form in recent months – got caught in two minds when it came to clearing a cross. But while Allardyce was left frustrated by those individual errors, he refused to criticise his two centre-backs. And he has backed them and the rest of Albion’s squad to resp...
AFCON: Aston Villa congratulate Bertrand Traore, Burkina Faso on qualification
Premier League side Aston Villa have congratulated Bertrand Traore and Burkina Faso after qualifying for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations. Despite playing a 0-0 draw against Uganda on Wednesday evening at St. Mary’s Stadium-Kitende, Entebbe, Kamou Malo’s men booked a place in Cameroon with a game to spare. That will be the 13th time the West African country would reach the finals since their maiden appearance at Ghana 1978 – where they finished in eight position. The Villa Park giants have taken to social media to celebrate their winger and his country on their recent success. “Congratulations to Bertrand Traore and Burkina Faso, who qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations 2021 with a goalless draw against Uganda on Wednesday!” a tweet from the club read. Burkina Faso – who currently lead Gr...
‘Well said’: Gary Lineker reacts to what Aston Villa man said after the match
Former great England striker turned popular football pundit Gary Lineker has suggested that he loved playing games, and that majority of the players don’t want to be rested. Aston Villa drew 1-1 against Chelsea in the Premier League on Monday night, where Dean Smith once again picked a strong side. Contrary to Chelsea’s approach, where Frank Lampard rotated the squad, Villa boss named a strong starting line-up. It was a fair result in the end, although both the sides failed to create enough clear-cut chances. With this result, Villa have finished the month without being defeated, and find themselves fifth in the Premier League table, with two games in hand. Smith has suggested after the game that he doesn’t feel the need to rotate as none of his players have complained about exhaustion. Li...
Manchester United in buoyant mood ahead of clash with Chelsea
Manchester United will approach Saturday’s home English Premier League (EPL) clash with Chelsea in buoyant mood rather than in trepidation. This is after a week which has gone some way to banishing the gloom that was descending on Old Trafford. After going into this month’s international break with a 6-1 home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur, they have emerged from it with a couple of victories which have kick-started their campaign. Last weekend’s 4-1 win at Newcastle United was followed by a 2-1 victory away to Paris St-Germain (PSG) in the UEFA Champions League. For now at least, the critics have been silenced. Chelsea’s visit, however, presents a test of Manchester United’s upswing as they seek their first home league points of the season. This is in the wake of defeats by Crystal Palce and...
‘Unbelievable signing’: Many Villa fans react after hearing who Smith wants next
Aston Villa fans have taken to social networking site Twitter to express their reaction to reports linking the club with a move for Sergio Romero from Manchester United. The 33-year-old is entering the final year of his contract at Old Trafford, and he is available in the market due to United’s present goalkeeping situation. Romero has been a back-up to David de Gea at United, and the Argentine goalkeeper is expected to further drop down the pecking order at the club behind Dean Henderson. Dean Smith is keen to land another keeper before the new Premier League season gets underway and has earmarked Romero as an ideal candidate. Many Villa fans feel that Romero would be a very good signing for the club. Here are some of the selected tweets: Sergio Romero’s last 61 club games: 39 clean sheet...
Smith wants to bring £20m int’l at Villa…he would be a superb signing – SL View
Aston Villa are looking to bolster their defensive areas and are keen to sign Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid in the summer transfer window. According to reports from The Telegraph, Villa are looking to sign the 29-year-old full-back who has been a key part of Diego Simeone’s defence on the right-hand side. Last season, Villa conceded 67 goals in the Premier League, the second-highest total in the league, and needless to say Smith wants to add quality and depth in that region. Villa are looking to sign the England international either or loan or on a permanent deal to challenge Frederic Guilbert and Ahmed Elmohamady for a starting spot. According to reports from The Sun, Atletico are willing to sell Trippier for a fee of £20million, and Villa should grab the opportunity...
‘Ridiculous’, ‘Pointless’ – Some Villa fans react to latest reports regarding Dean Smith’s future
Aston Villa manager Dean Smith could face the sack soon if reports are to be believed. As per Football Insider, the club chiefs were in talks last night regarding Dean Smith’s future. Aston Villa have failed to win any of their four games since the restart of the Premier League and they are 19th in the league table. The Villa chiefs are looking to sack Dean Smith in a desperate attempt to beat the drop. it will be interesting to see what they decided. If Smith goes, they will have to bring someone in with a long term vision. They cannot afford to make an appointment with the remaining six Premier League games in mind. John Terry could be an option but he is unproven at this level and it would be a major gamble. Aston Villa still have a chance of surviving in the Premier League but they wil...
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 ...
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 ...
