Aston Villa will have an exciting campaign coming up in the 2024/25 campaign. They managed to qualify for the Champions League thanks to their impressive performances last season and were generally one of the Premier League’s most exciting sides to watch last term.

Their fourth-place finish in the top flight was bettered only by Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool. They ended up finishing with 68 points, two points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, who could only finish fifth in the Europa League position.

Indeed, they overachieved on their points tally, according to Understat’s expected points table. As per that metric, the Villans should have ended the season on 55 points, which was 12 points worse than their actual total. That would have seen them finish seventh in the Premier League according to the expected points table.

However, it was a memorable campaign for the Midlands side, who recorded their best season since the 1995/96 Premier League campaign. That has ensured their Champions League qualification for next season, with their return to Europe’s elite greeted by a new-look format of the competition.

With the transfer window now open, the Villans will be hoping to recruit players who can strengthen their squad as they push for success in both domestic and continental football. They have recently been linked with one player who could enhance their attacking quality.

Villa target La Liga attacker

The player in question here is Atletico Madrid and Portugal attacker Joao Felix. It has been a troublesome few seasons in Madrid for the Portuguese, and he could well depart the club this summer.

According to reports in Spain, via TEAMtalk, Villans are 'one club in the mix' to sign Felix this summer, with Villa believed to be 'plotting' a move to sign the attacker.

However, they will not be the only side vying to sign Felix this summer. According to the report, Felix wants to stay at Barcelona, where he played last season, whether or not they can afford to pay the £50m needed for him permanently.

However, if Villa do decide to go down the permanent transfer route, then there might be a situation where they force Atleti to sell Felix, instead of loaning him back to Barca. This is strengthened by the Madrid club’s desperation to make some kind of money back on such a disappointing transfer in the long run.

Why Felix would be a good signing

Incredibly, Joao Felix’s £111m transfer from Benfica to Atleti back in 2019 is the fifth most expensive signing of all time. It would be an incredible coup for Villa, as Emery would hope to play a part in rebuilding the career of a player with so much potential.

Last season for Barcelona, Felix played 44 times, scoring ten goals and registering six assists. That included ten goal involvements in 30 La Liga games for the Spanish giants. Felix has also had a spell in England, with Chelsea, and scored just four Premier League goals in 16 outings.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig called the attacker in 2021 an “absolute nightmare for defenders”, and given his superb dribbling ability, it is not hard to see why. In fact, playing as a number 10, he could form an excellent partnership with star man Ollie Watkins.

Under Emery, we could see the England international line up alongside Felix in the Spaniard’s famed 4-2-2-2 system. The strikers in Emery’s system are instructed to run the channels relentlessly, looking to get in behind and thus vacating space for the two number 10s, which we could see Felix occupy.

With this in mind, the Portugal international could be a deadly option to play in behind Watkins, given he is such a wonderful ball carrier. In La Liga last season, the 24-year-old averaged 3.10 carries into the final third and 1.81 carries into the penalty box per 90 minutes, which places him in the top 13% and 16% of positionally similar players in Spain's top flight, as per FBref.

Progressive carries

4.03

Carries into final third

3.10

Carries into penalty box

1.81

Take-ons attempted

5.20

Take-ons completed

1.69

Given the 24-year-old’s carrying ability, which Emery likes in his number 10s, he can be a dream option to play behind Watkins. His exceptional dribbling skills, plus his eye for goal, means he can form a superb combination with the England international who was the Premier League’s leading assist-maker last season.

Emery has the chance to revive the career of one of the game's greatest wonderkids. Be it a loan or a permanent deal, perhaps Villa Park can be the place Felix gets his career back on track.

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After a relatively quiet start to the summer window, Tottenham Hotspur have burst into life over the last week or so, seeing more and more players linked with the club and, most importantly, making the statement signing of wonderkid Archie Gray from Leeds United for £30m.

However, Daniel Levy and Co don't look finished there as, while the young 18-year-old has a bright future ahead of him, Ange Postecoglou also needs players who can come in and instantly improve his squad, players like Eberechi Eze.

The Crystal Palace midfielder has been consistently linked with the club over the last month or so, and based on recent reports, the latest player touted for a move to N17 could form a brilliant partnership with him next season.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Sky Sports News, Tottenham have made signing a new, versatile forward a 'top priority' this summer, and one of the strikers they have identified as a target is LOSC Lille ace, Jonathan David.

The report does not mention how much the Canadian international could cost the Lilywhites, but a separate report from The Guardian last month revealed that, due to his contract expiring next summer, he could be available for as little as £20m.

It might not be the big name fans are hoping for, but considering his form in recent seasons, the price tag, and how well he could link up with Eze in North London, this seems like a transfer too good to pass up for Daniel Levy and Co.

Why David would be a great teammate for Eze

Now, without being too obvious here, the main reason that David would be such a great teammate for Eze, and vice versa for that matter, is his output.

In just 47 appearances for Lille last season, the 24-year-old scored 26 goals and provided nine assists, which equates to a goal involvement every 1.34 games, and it wasn't a one-off either.

Over the last four campaigns, the New York-born poacher has scored 84 goals and provided 18 assists in 183 club appearances, meaning that he averaged a goal involvement every 1.79 games over a four-year period.

Appearances

48

48

40

47

Goals

13

19

26

26

Assists

5

0

4

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.37

0.39

0.75

0.74

With such an impressive level of consistent output under his belt at a relatively young age, it's easy to see why Canadian journalist Tony Marinaro described the 52-capped international as "one of the best strikers in the world."

Speaking of international football, he has been incredible in this area of the game as well. In those 52 caps, he has racked up 27 goals and 16 assists, which works out to be a frankly absurd average of a goal involvement every 1.20 games.

Now imagine how productive someone like Eze could be playing alongside the "mind-blowing" Canadian, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Not only would the Englishman's creative numbers explode thanks to the striker's proficiency in front of goal, but given the sheer number of assists the former Gent man provides, the Palace ace's goalscoring numbers would likely increase from the already impressive 11 in 31 from last season.

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Ultimately, while bringing Eze in alone would help improve Spurs' squad, signing him alongside the incredible David could help catapult the club back up to the Premier League next season.

Leeds United face Premier League competition as they look to pull off a move for a new striker this summer.

Leeds set for attacking changes

Facing another season in the Championship, Daniel Farke could be in charge of a very different looking Leeds United come the opening day of the 2024/25 season.

Leading the exodus is Crysencio Summerville, with the Championship player of the season reportedly wanted by clubs across Europe and almost certain to leave this summer as Leeds look to balance their books, with the club needing to raise a reported £100m from player sales this summer.

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Leeds chairman Paraag Marathe has already outlined the plan for the summer, explaining that: "We have the funds we need to do what we need, but there will need to be some trade-offs because of [profit and sustainability rules]".

"It is not just outs, it is ins as well, looking at scouting possibilities, but we need to make trade-offs. I can't talk about specific players right now, it is too early.

Speculation also surrounds attacking duo Wilfried Gnonto and Georginio Rutter, with the pair both having been linked with moves away from the club in a series of deals that would leave Leeds looking very threadbare in attack following the end of Jaidon Anthony's loan and his return to Bournemouth. Clearly then, fresh faces in the Leeds frontline could soon be required, and the Elland Road outfit are seemingly trying to land one.

Leeds chase £12m forward

Now, it has been reported that Leeds are one of several clubs chasing 21-year-old striker Adam Hlozek, who is set to leave Bayer Leverkusen this summer.

The striker still has three years left to run on his £30,000 a week deal with the German champions, but managed just five starts last season as Victor Boniface and Patrick Schick were Xabi Alonso's favoured options to lead the line.

He was once considered one of the most exciting prospects in world football and was even reportedly considered by Borussia Dortmund as their replacement for Erling Haaland when he joined Manchester City.

However, he has struggled at the BayArena since his arrival, with just seven goals in two seasons at Leverkusen since his move from Sparta Prague, and it has been reported that he will be free to leave this summer for just £12m.

Adam Hlozek at Bayer Leverkusen

Appearances

80

Starts

36

Goals

14

Assists

11

Minutes per goal or assist

120

This has attracted the attention of Leeds United, with German outlet Bild [via Sport Witness] explaining that both the Whites and West Ham are keen to sign him this summer, though they add that no offers have been received yet.

With Leeds still seemingly under pressure to sell players, any move may well come later in the window should they firm up their interest, though whether they can convince the title winner to swap Leverkusen for Leeds and the Championship this summer is another matter entirely.

Tottenham and chairman Daniel Levy have made an approach to sign a £15 million defender for Ange Postecoglou, with the Australian looking to add more defensive reinforcements.

Spurs targeting another new centre-back this summer

So far this summer, Spurs have agreed two major signings, with Timo Werner extending his stay in north London until the end of next season and English sensation Archie Gray joining for a reported £40 million from Leeds United.

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Gray, who can slot into both midfield and at right-back, is a very astute addition for Postecoglou with both versatility and bags of potential. Werner, who racked up two goals and three assists on loan at Spurs last term, is set to play a role yet again next campaign as the Lilywhites look to evolve further.

Reports have claimed that Tottenham want to finally replace Harry Kane with a prolific new striker, and could add another wide player to their ranks as well. Crystal Palace winger Eberechi Eze is a transfer target for Postecoglou, while it is also believed Wolves star Pedro Neto is back under consideration at Spurs.

However, while the north Londoners are keen to add more attacking talent, Postecoglou admitted earlier this year that Tottenham are likely to attempt the signing of another centre-back – despite Radu Dragusin's arrival for £25 million in January.

"If you’re saying, ‘Is it an area we can strengthen?’, yes it’s an area we will probably look at,” said Postecoglou on signing another centre-back this summer.

“With all these things, it’s about trying to strengthen the group as much as anything else. If you think about when I first arrived, we had maybe six or seven centre-backs at the club. So it’s not just numbers. It’s more about the ability of those players to play the football we want and to fit into what we’re trying to build here.

“I think it is an area of the park we will look to strengthen, but I think we’ll look to strengthen all areas of the park come the end of the season. That is planning that’s already underway, and other people are in charge of it at the moment.”

Tottenham have been looking at signing Bologna star Riccardo Calafiori for months now, as per various reports, but now London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea are in talks over the Italian who impressed at Euro 2024 (Fabrizio Romano).

Match

Match Rating (via WhoScored)

Bologna 3-0 Salernitana

8.09

Empoli 1-0 Bologna

7.76

Bologna 1-0 Lazio

7.65

Roma 1-3 Bologna

7.55

Bologna 4-0 Lecce

7.49

The competition for Calafiori's services could be too intense for Levy and co – potentially motivating them to move for star Championship defender Jacob Greaves.

Tottenham make approach to sign Greaves from Hull City

As per The Boot Room, Tottenham have made an approach to sign Greaves from Hull City, but it is Ipswich Town who are the more advanced.

Kieran McKenna's side have submitted a formal bid for the 23-year-old, who really impressed for the Tigers as their star defender statistically according to WhoScored.

Greaves was a mainstay under former boss Liam Rosenior last term, starting 43 Championship matches whilst making more clearances and winning more aerial duels on average than anyone in their squad.

The homegrown ace could be an astute option to provide more back up to Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, especially considering City could let him go for around £15 million.

Wayne and Coleen Rooney have been sent a “tricky” long-distance relationships warning, with the Plymouth boss living 260 miles from his family.

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Article continues below

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• Ex-England captain based in Devon
• Family live in Cheshire mansion
• Making long-term relationship work

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After taking the managerial reins at Home Park in the summer of 2024, ex-England captain Rooney was left with little choice but to base himself in Devon. He has fully committed to a role that sees him trying to rebuild his coaching reputation following a disastrous 83-day stint alongside NFL legend Tom Brady at Birmingham.

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  THE GOSSIP

  Plymouth have delivered a mixed bag on the results front, but are battling bravely for their manager. Coleen, meanwhile, is paying twice-weekly visits to see her husband while remaining in regular contact via video calls.

• WHAT RELATIONSHIP EXPERT SAID

  The Rooneys have been together for 22 years, surviving plenty of tests along the way, and relationship expert Jesper Jensen has told of why their marriage stands every chance of surviving enforced separation. He has said: “Balancing family life while being apart can be tricky, especially when both are busy with their own responsibilities. Coleen and Wayne will have to make time for regular communication and emotional connection to keep their relationship strong. With four kids, the logistics can get complicated, but if they stick to each other and the family, they can manage the distance challenges.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Jensen added, with professional athletes accustomed to spending time away from their loved ones: “They can keep in touch despite Wayne's busy career. Coleen's organisational skills and them making time for each other even when they are busy will help them cope. Long distance relationships can work if both partners stay connected and put the relationship first, which Coleen and Wayne seem to be doing.”

Newcastle United have been handed the chance to sign one of their transfer targets for next to nothing this summer as his current club look to get rid ahead of the new season, it has been reported.

Newcastle setting up to spend

It has been a tough start to the summer for Eddie Howe's side, with the Premier League's FFP rules forcing them to do more business than they would have liked.

A need to comply with the regulations before the June 30th deadline saw the Magpies sell highly-rated pair Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest and Brighton respectively.

So far, they have only been able to recruit with limited funds too, despite the wealth of the PIF behind the Magpies. As a result, their only signings to date have been Lloyd Kelly and John Ruddy, who arrived on free transfers, and Odysseas Vlachodimos, who moved to St James' Park as part of the deal that took Anderson to Forest.

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Now though, they could be set to spend. As per The Telegraph, the Magpies have been handed a budget of £100m before further sales, with The Athletic claiming that the club are looking for "a right-winger and a centre-back, while a forward may also be signed" as well as potentially another goalkeeper and a midfielder.

With £100m not likely to stretch across five positions at the level of player the Tyneside outfit are likely to want to target, they are going to have to take some shortcuts if they want to land as many new faces as planned. Now, they may have been offered one.

Juve offer Newcastle chance to pounce

That comes courtesy of Italian giants Juventus, who are keen to trim their own squad down in a bid to rejig their midfield under Thiago Motta. As per Gazzetta dello Sport [Via Sport Witness], one of those players free to leave is Brazilian Arthur Melo, who spent last season on loan with Fiorentina and is not in Motta's plans moving forward.

Arthur Melo's Juventus career

Appearances

63

Starts

35

Goals

1

Assists

1

Yellow Cards

8

Newcastle have previously been credited with an interest in the Brazilian this summer as they look to bolster their midfield, and though the report claims that there is "nothing concrete" with the Magpies at present, they also add that Juve would "be willing to sell Arthur for next to nothing just to get rid".

With the Brazilian still having two years left to run on his £105,000 a week contract in Turin, both Newcastle and Everton may then be "tempted" to scoop up a bargain for a player they've been linked with for some time.

Arthur has been in English football before, but it was an ill-fated loan spell with Liverpool which lasted just 13 minutes due to injury, and he never actually made his Premier League debut or played in England (his cameo was in an away fixture in Naples).

However, with his pedigree including several of Europe's top clubs, he could be worth taking a risk on were he to be available cheaply, and he could provide some much needed cover for compatriot Bruno Guimaraes in Eddie Howe's engine room.

حسم التعادل الإيجابي مواجهة تشيلسي وكريستال بالاس بهدف لكل منهما، في إطار منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وواجه تشيلسي نظيره كريستال بالاس ضمن منافسات الجولة العشرين من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “بريميرليج”، على ملعب “سيلهوريست بارك”. 

طالع.. ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي بعد ثنائية إيرلينج هالاند أمام وست هام

أحرز كول بالمر الهدف الأول لفريقه تشيلسي عند الدقيقة الرابعة عشر من الشوط الأول، بعدما تلقى تمريرة حاسمة من جادون سانشو.

وشهد الشوط الأول سيطرة كلية للضيوف على مجريات اللقاء، وسط تراجع تام من لاعبي كريستال بالاس.

في الشوط الثاني، ظهر كريستال بالاس بوجه مغاير تماماً عن شوط المباراة الأول، ونجح في تهديد مرمى تشيلسي في عدة محاولات.

ونجح جون فيليب ماتيتا في تسجيل هدف التعادل لـ كريستال بالاس بحلول الدقيقة 82، من صناعة إيزي.

ليفشل تشيلسي في تحقيق الفوز للمباراة الرابعة توالياً، بعد أن خسر في مواجهتين وتعادل في مثلهما.

وبهذه النتيجة، ارتفع رصيد تشيلسي إلى النقطة 36 في المركز الرابع بترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي، بينما ارتقى رصيد كريستال بالاس عند النقطة 21 في المركز الخامس عشر. أهداف مباراة تشيلسي وكريستال بالاس اليوم في الدوري الإنجليزي

Minister Rajshahi and Fortune Barishal to battle out for the remaining playoff spot

Mohammad Isam10-Dec-2020

Beximco Dhaka’s 20-run win against Gemcon Khulna sealed their place in the Bangabandhu T20 Cup playoffs. They are now equal on eight points with Khulna with one game in hand, leaving Minister Rajshahi and Fortune Barishal to battle out for the remaining playoff spot.Dhaka gained control of this contest when Khulna’s chase slipped from 78 for 2 to 95 for 6 in the space of 12 balls. Among these four wickets were the set pair of Mahmudullah and Jahurul Islam who made a 36-ball 53 with two sixes and four fours. A short burst from Shamim Hossain, who struck two sixes and as many fours in his 9-ball 24, had to be put out in the 16th over, in which Shuvagata Hom, their last recognised batsman, was also dismissed.Robiul Islam Robi’s maiden five-wicket haul came in three spells; he has already taken a four-wicket haul in the tournament. Rubel Hossain and Muktar Ali took two wickets each.But it was Dhaka’s batting, and two overs in particular, that sucked the life out of Khulna. Mohammad Naim hammered Shakib Al Hasan for four sixes in a 26-run second over of the match. Naim swung Shakib twice over long-on and twice over midwicket in an audacious charge.After the left-hander fell for a 17-ball 36, Sabbir Rahman and Al-Amin added 64 runs for the second wicket. Sabbir went on to make his first fifty of the tournament before Dhaka’s second big over handed them the momentum as Akbar Ali blasted left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam for four sixes in the 15th over. The first was a flat one over long-off, followed by two over long-on and a slog sweep that ensured Dhaka had a formidable total.BCB

Gazi Group Chittagong’s seven-wicket win against Fortune Barishal has turned the last two matches of the league phase of the Bangabandhu T20 Cup into potential knockout clashes. Barishal and Minister Rajshahi, both now on four points from seven games, have one game each left, with Barishal having a slight advantage of knowing what they must do as they play the evening game on Saturday.Barishal squandered a golden opportunity on Thursday after their openers Saif Hassan (46) and Tamim Iqbal (43) added 87 in 10.5 overs. Mosaddek Hossain dismissed both batsmen, leaving the inexperienced Barishal line-up with too much to do. Parvez Hossain Emon, who made a 42-ball century in the last game, made only 14 while Afif Hossain was unbeaten on 28 off 16 balls.Chattogram, who rested Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam and Liton Das, gave away only 62 runs in the last nine overs.Soumya Sarkar and Shykat Ali then launched the chase with a 79-run opening stand although both survived dropped catches on 10 and 31 respectively. Sarkar top-scored with 62 off 37 balls with seven fours and three sixes while Shykat scored 39 off 33.On Saturday, Barishal take on a rampant Beximco Dhaka side that has won their last four games, while Rajshahi must beat Chattogram to have any shot at the playoffs, which begins on Monday.

With a third match in a week, and Emma Hayes promising rotation among the players, how will the USWNT line up vs Argentina?

Two games down, one to go. The U.S. women's national team's post-Olympic victory tour lands in Louisville on Wednesday for one more friendly. Having twice defeated Iceland by identical 3-1 scorelines, the USWNT will meet Argentina to close out October, with Emma Hayes still unbeaten in 12 matches as coach.

Despite much of this camp being used to honor this summer's Olympic gold medal triumph, it seems as if Hayes and the U.S. have already moved on. In two matches over the past week, the lineups and strategy have been defined by new stars breaking in, not just the familiar ones that reached the mountaintop in Paris.

On Wednesday, more of those new faces will get opportunities to prove themselves as the ongoing generational shift moves forward. Of course, some familiar faces will be in play, too, as they look to keep things moving on the road to the 2027 World Cup.

With a third match in a week, and Hayes promising rotation among the players, how will the USWNT line up? What will Hayes be looking for? And what can the USWNT still accomplish in this camp? GOAL takes a look at what to watch for as the USWNT play Argentina.

IMAGNSecond impressions

Aside from Lynn Williams stealing the show, Sunday's win over Iceland felt it was about the debutants. Emma Sears and Emily Sams made huge impressions in their first games, offering instant proof that they could very well have a place in this team going forward.

Sears, Sams and Hal Hershfelt have all made their USWNT debuts this camp, and each could have a part to play in this third and final friendly. So, too, could Yazmeen Ryan, although the fact that she's played in both games so far indicates she's less likely to feature than the other three debutants from this camp so far.

Right now, Hayes is working to introduce new players to the fold and, with plenty of evidence that it's working. Sears scored and assisted on her debut while Sams put in an incredible defensive shift to instantly put her name among the centerbacks. How will they follow up those performances? How can a player such as Hershfelt, an alternate during the Olympics, push the current group of midfielders if she gets a start? It's one of the more intriguing storylines to watch.

AdvertisementUSA TODAY SportsThe debuts keep coming

There still are some uncapped players on the roster – will they get their chance against Argentina?

Both Eva Gaetino and Alyssa Malonson were scratched for the last game, leaving both still in search of their debuts. Gaetino has been in camp before, having been called up earlier this year, but this is her first crack at a potential appearance. Malonson, meanwhile, is a newcomer who, at 25, has earned this chance with her play in the NWSL.

Goalkeeper Mandy Haught is another uncapped player left in the squad, although the presence of Casey Murphy and Alyssa Naeher makes her an unlikely starter. There's nothing better than seeing a player realize their dreams. Will we see more that on Wednesday?

Getty ImagesAnother shot for Moultrie

Olivia Moultrie is one of the players in the team that looks destined to be a difference-maker. It's seemed that way since she was 13 years old and now Moultrie is on the cusp of a USWNT breakout.

She provided glimpses earlier this year, scoring twice against the Dominican Republic in the Gold Cup. On Sunday against Iceland, though, Moultrie's game didn't quite shine. She wasn't really able to impact the game, which is something she has the potential to do at the highest of levels.

It's hard to remember that Moultrie is still just 19 and, considering that, she's way ahead of schedule. She's already a veteran. That is what happens when you break through so young.

The USWNT will give Moultrie grace and time as she pushes on for a role, and it seems inevitable that she seizes one. Perhaps we'll look back at this match against Argentina as one that kickstarted her USWNT ascendency.

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Getty ImagesRecognizing Rose

On Wednesday, the USWNT will honor another one of its stars. Mal Swanson, Emily Sonnett and Kelly O'Hara have been acknowledged for their achievements in this camp, and now it's Rose Lavelle's turn.

The midfielder hit her 100th cap on June 4 and will be honored pregame for reaching that illustrious mark. She's one of five players in the squad to have hit the century mark of appearances, having been joined by Sonnett just this camp.

When healthy, Lavelle is a game-changing midfielder, one can do so many things that so few others can. At 29, she still has so much to offer the USWNT, despite already having a World Cup and a Gold Medal on her resume. There's more to come from Lavelle, but it'll be nice to see her achievements recognized before she takes the field for another opportunity to run the show.

Aston Villa have won the race to sign an in-demand teenager, with a transfer already completed as we kick off the summer window.

Aston Villa transfer rumours

It looks set to be a busy few months for Villa, NSWE and Monchi ahead of the 2024/25 season which includes Champions League football for Unai Emery and his side.

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Right now, there has been plenty of focus on outgoings, with the futures of Douglas Luiz and Jhon Duran up in the air. The Brazilian midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to Juventus, whereas Colombian forward Duran is attracting interest from Chelsea.

Villa also seem to be willing to cash in on centre-back Diego Carlos, with a marque arrival yet to materialise. That doesn’t mean Villa aren’t working hard behind the scenes, with a number of senior names mooted to be of interest to the Midlands club.

For example, recent reports have suggested that Villa have been in contact over a move to sign Everton midfielder Amadou Onana, whereas former loanee Ross Barkley appears to be on course to become the first official first-team arrival of the window, joining on a permanent deal this time around.

We say first-team as Villa have already added to their academy ranks, beating a number of clubs to a teenage defender.

Aston Villa sign teenage defender ahead of Chelsea

Aston Villa have won the race to sign Ethan Amundsen-Day, a Norwegian youth international defender. The 19-year-old has agreed a move to Villa Park after leaving FC Copenhagen, where his contract was expiring.

Premier League rivals Brentford Chelsea, Everton and Wolves were also keen on Amundsen-Day, as were La Liga side Sevilla, Ligue 1 outfit Lens and Italian clubs Atalanta and Monza, according to TBR.

To start with, Amundsen-Day will join Villa’s academy setup, looking to progress into the first-team picture. A move has now been officially announced by Villa, with academy boss Mark Harrison saying:

“We are delighted that Ethan is joining us. He is a player who has a great mentality and is technically very efficient. He will add more depth to our squads in preparation for the different competitions we will compete in at Under-21 level and we look forward to working with him over the next few seasons.”

Interestingly, as per The Birmingham World, Amundsen-Day has followed a similar path to Manchester City star Erling Haaland due to the fact they were both born in Leeds but grew up in Norway, and are now on the books of Champions League clubs in England – Villa will be hoping their new defender can also go on and become a superstar in years to come.