The transfer would be one of the biggest surprises in MLS, as Aaronson was a finalist for Eredivisie young player of the year last season
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Aston Villa are trundling toward the conclusion of a stunning campaign under Unai Emery, bogged down by injuries and the toil of a return to European competition and a fight for Champions League football.
That prized pursuit, despite the recent blip, remains on course thanks to top four-chasing rivals Tottenham Hotspur's dramatic decline, losing four on the bounce to stay seven points behind the Villans.
The Premier League high-fliers will journey to Greece to face Olympiakos in the second leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final tie on Thursday trailing 4-2 in the aggregate.
Regardless of that outcome, Villa have been in stunning showing this season, but must now build to ensure that a position among England and Europe's elite is secured and cemented. Transfer activity must be on the mark.
Aston Villa looking at La Liga star
According to Football Transfers, Aston Villa are targetting Villarreal star Alex Baena this summer following the attacker's fine form in Spain.
The 22-year-old previously played under Emery with the Yellow Submarine and Football Transfers' report compares his style of play to that of Jack Grealish – who made quite the impression as Villa captain before transferring to Manchester City for £100m in 2021.
The caveat is that he'd cost around €60m (£52m), but Villa have recently sent scouts to observe Baena in action and an official approach may well materialise in the coming months.
Why Aston Villa are interested in Alex Baena
Emery can be credited with sculpting the maiden stage of Baena's career, unleashing him from the early stage of his career and providing him with a Europa League title, won against Manchester United, with the Spaniard having chalked up ten goals and eight assists from 37 appearances under his countryman.
Making his international debut and netting his first goal for Spain last September, Baena is on the fast rise to stardom and given that clubs such as Liverpool have been in pursuit recently, Villa Park might be wise to welcome the dynamic attacking midfielder ASAP – having been hailed as a "beautiful technician" by journalist Josh Bunting.
This season, he has only scored five times from 46 appearances in all competitions, but this is not where Baena's strengths are at their sharpest, most notable.
His constant supply of assists make for a brilliant tool and it's no wonder Emery has a vested interest in a reunion, with the principal left winger racking up 16 assists.
Matches played
31
Matches started
30
Goals
2
Assists
12
Pass completion
79%
Big chances created
15
Key passes per game
2.5
Ball recoveries per game
3.5
Duels won per game
3.8
As per FBref, Baena ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 14% for shot-creating actions and the top 16% for progressive passes per 90, showcasing his creative ability that could mirror that of Grealish, who has been hailed as a "magnificent all-round player" by journalist Henry Winter.
A peculiarly-framed winger at 6 foot 4, Baena too boasts all-round versatility and while he isn't the quickest of players, his agile feet and deceptive twisting gait allow him to saunter through the half-spaces and wreak havoc with playmaking prowess – sound like anyone?
Aston Villa "close" to securing deal for £137k-per-week ace this summer
Aston Villa are reportedly closing in on a summer signing.
ByJosh Barker May 5, 2024
Grealish, of course, dazzled in claret and blue prior to departing for the Etihad – chalking up 73 goals and assists in 213 games for the club – with it undoubtedly big shoes to fill if Baena is looking to emulate the Englishman in the Midlands.
The seeds have been sown at Villa Park and Emery's outfit are hardly short of ambition, but this statement signing must now be made to ensure that a place among Europe's elite can be contested for once again next year, and again, and again.
da 888casino： Fabrizio Romano has provided a Manchester United manager update regarding Erik ten Hag and his Old Trafford future, while also commenting on the ongoing speculation surrounding former Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Man Utd manager rumours
da betcris： The Red Devils are currently gearing up for an FA Cup final against rivals Manchester City at Wembley, in what could prove to be Ten Hag’s final game in charge. There has been plenty of noise over the Dutchman’s future, with previous reports even suggesting Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have already decided to sack Ten Hag this summer.
Man Utd have "started" talks to bring "elite" manager to club
He could be just what is needed for Sir Jim Ratcliffe this summer.
ByBen Browning May 21, 2024
Ratcliffe also refused to publicly back Ten Hag in the media recently, instead looking back at the previous regime behind the scenes.
"This is not about the manager, if you look at Manchester United in the last 11 years, it's not doing terribly, none of the managers have done terribly well. There's been some really good coaches that have come to Manchester United so you know the conclusion from that has to be that the environment for the coach has not been a successful one because none of them have been successful.
"And, you know, Erik's working in that same environment, so our focus is on how do we change that environment and the structure that provides the environment for the coach.”
In regards to a possible successor, Pochettino’s name has emerged in the media after he and Chelsea decided to go their separate ways this week. talkSPORT have claimed that the Argentine would be “keen” on a move to Old Trafford, whereas The Sun have stated that the Red Devils are lining up a move for the 52-year-old, who was previously linked with a move prior to Ten Hag's arrival in 2022.
Fabrizio Romano shares new Man Utd manager update
Talking to CaughtOffside in a story shared in the last 24 hours, Romano said that currently, there is nothing in the Pochettino to United rumours, with the Argentine “open for a new chapter and he feels absolutely ready for any opportunity”. Interestingly, the transfer expert also confirmed that Ten Hag is “not sure of staying at the club” beyond the summer.
The FA Cup final against City could well be make or break for Ten Hag. Defeat and United would end the season finishing bottom of their Champions League group stage, an eighth-place finish in the Premier League and no silverware in either domestic cup competitions, potentially paving the way for someone like Pochettino or Thomas Tuchel to come in ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
After a disappointing campaign, Erik ten Hag's future at Manchester United has been thrown into doubt, particularly after the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe. And now, following links with England boss Gareth Southgate, another top manager has been name-dropped.
It seems as though not even a dramatic FA Cup last-eight victory over Liverpool can mask Ten Hag's failure at Old Trafford this season, which could see him become part of Ratcliffe's clear-out this summer. Some of the Dutchman's failures were laid bare despite the victory over Liverpool, with the gap between United's defensive line and frontline highlighting exactly why they sit outside of the Premier League's top four.
With that said, reports suggested earlier this week that Ratcliffe has made Southgate his number one choice to replace Ten Hag this summer in what would be a shock move. Southgate, of course, has enjoyed relative success with England but has seen his side fall at the final few hurdles on one too many ocasions. Now, Euro 2024 could be his final shot at international glory before United potentially come calling.
Man United and Sir Jim Ratcliffe planning to move for “important player”
The update comes courtesy of journalist Fabrizio Romano.
By
Henry Jackson
Mar 10, 2024
If it's not Southgate, however, then it could be Roberto De Zerbi. According to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, De Zerbi is a top target to replace Ten Hag at Manchester United and has leapfrogged Graham Potter on their shortlist. This comes as little surprise, given the success that the former Sassuolo boss has had at Brighton & Hove Albion, transforming the Seagulls into a Europa League club.
The thought of De Zerbi is certainly more enticing than Southgate, who has earned critics for his less exciting style of football when in charge of England. But, it remains to be seen whether the Italian is keen to leave Sussex just yet.
There are not many more exciting managers in the Premier League than De Zerbi. His transformative impact at Brighton has come whilst working on a budget created by selling his best players and then finding cheaper solutions in arguably the most impressive model in English football. And whilst injuries have caught up to his side this season, resulting in a slight dip, the conclusion about De Zerbi remains the same; the Italian is a top manager.
Southgate, meanwhile, wouldn't be an upgrade on Ten Hag. He would be a safe option who may level things out at Old Trafford, but ultimately not the man to take the Red Devils back to the top. What's more, if England fail to win the Euros this summer with Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Trent Alexander-Arnold to choose from – just to name a few – then Southgate's critics will be louder than ever.
Of course, before De Zerbi, Southgate or another name can enter the hot seat, Ten Hag must be displaced and that's still not a certainty in itself after the victory over Liverpool.
The England international's Old Trafford career has yet to take off, and it remains to be seen if he's mentally strong enough to silence his critics
Mason Mount and Manchester United felt like an awkward match right from the very beginning. The decision to invest £60 million ($75m) in a once-beloved Chelsea academy graduate coming off statistically his worst-ever season for the Blues raised more than a few eyebrows. It wasn't clear how he would slot into Erik ten Hag's line up either, and the Dutchman's vague attempt to explain his vision for the midfielder did little to ease concerns.
"When you're playing in midfield, you have to attack, but you also you have to defend," the United boss said after Mount's unveiling. "I'm sure he will bring dynamism into our game and that was one of our analysis conclusions we made after last season. We need [to be] more dynamic in the midfield department."
Suffice it to say, Mount did not have that desired impact. In fact, United's midfield became a laughing stock. The combination of a half-hearted high press and deep defensive line left a gaping hole in the middle of the pitch, which opposing teams were able to exploit with ease.
The Red Devils plummeted to eighth in the Premier League – their worst-ever finish – and not even the joy of an unlikely run to FA Cup glory could paper over the cracks. Mount was made one of the scapegoats, because United really should have spent that £60m on a top-class holding midfielder instead.
But he was not directly to blame for the unmitigated disaster that was United's 2023-24 campaign, as rotten luck led to Mount being reduced to little more than a spectator. Now, with preparations for the new season well underway, the 25-year-old is back in top physical condition, and he will get another chance. It will just be a question of whether Mount can prove he does fit into a team that still doesn't seem to require his services.
(C)GettyImagesPoor first impression
Mount made United's starting XI for their Premier League opener at home to Wolves last August, in a 4-1-4-1 system that just did not work. Ten Hag's men limped to a 1-0 victory, but could easily have lost had Wolves been more clinical, and Mount was completely ineffective before being substituted in the 68th minute.
United then slipped to a 2-0 loss away at Tottenham in their second game, with Mount once again unable to impose himself. You only get one chance to make a first impression, and the England international had certainly blown his.
To make matters worse, Mount picked up an unspecified injury against Spurs that saw him miss the Red Devils' next five fixtures in all competitions. He returned in time for a third-round Carabao Cup tie against Crystal Palace on September 24, and notched his first assist as United ran out comfortable 3-0 winners, but the Eagles would get their revenge at Old Trafford just four days later.
Mount was little more than a passenger during a dismal 1-0 defeat that confirmed United's worst start to a Premier League season in 34 years. Ten Hag did, however, see his team bounce back with a smash-and-grab victory against Brentford the following week, in spite of Mount's alarming lack of quality on the ball, which led to calls for him to be dropped.
"His creativity is nowhere to be seen," former United striker Louis Saha said to . "I didn’t see any positive runs from him against Brentford. His timing is off, too, and he can’t make chances by playing like this. I think Mount can be a lot better, but I’d say the fee was too much. I think Chelsea were playing a game with the fee."
AdvertisementGettyUnable to build bond with fans
Ten Hag recognised that Mount was failing to perform at the required level, and demoted him to the bench for United's subsequent Premier League matches against Sheffield United, Manchester City and Luton Town, though Mount saw 50 minutes of action in the 1-0 win over the Hatters on December 11, after coming on for the injured Christian Eriksen, producing an industrious performance that hinted he might just turn a corner.
But then disaster struck. Mount was initially ruled out for a month with a calf problem, but would not play again for United until March. The Red Devils enjoyed a brief upturn in form while Mount was on the sidelines, and his struggles to build up a bond with the fans were made worse when it was reported that he had not moved to Old Trafford 'for football reasons'.
His eventual return to full fitness felt inconsequential as a result; he hadn't been missed and no one outside the club seemed to care about his situation. Still, Mount was eased back into the fold with a 15-minute cameo in United's thrilling 4-3 FA Cup quarter-final win over Liverpool, before being introduced as an 80th-minute substitute against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Deep into stoppage-time, Mount almost got his breakthrough moment. The former Chelsea man scored his first Premier League goal since December 2022, finishing calmly after being played in by Casemiro, and the away support went wild – thinking he'd sealed all three points for the Red Devils. Unfortunately, Kristoffer Ajer netted a deserved equaliser for Brentford moments later, denying Mount his hero status.
He would go on to start just one game across April and May – which just so happened to be the most humiliating of all United's 14 league defeats, a 4-0 hammering at Crystal Palace – as he was once again hampered by injuries. He finished the campaign with just two goal contributions to his name from 20 appearances across all competitions.
Getty Images'Multifunctional'
Mount's first 12 months at United were a massive disappointment, albeit not all that surprising. Chelsea would never have sold him to a direct rival if they didn't believe he'd already reached his ceiling, and regular injuries were also a theme of his final year at Stamford Bridge.
But the Red Devils' failure to do their proper due diligence is not Mount's fault. He's still under contract at Old Trafford until 2028, and is one of the few players in Ten Hag's squad who is not at risk of being sold this summer.
It has been reported that Mount is still being treated like a new signing, with Ten Hag in no doubt he can make a vital contribution going forward. "You can't judge his season, because he was injured. Don't judge him. But when he is fit he will be a very good player for us and we can use him, versatile," the United manager said last week. "You need certain types in the squad, team players, multifunctional players. Definitely, he is one of the players who can play in several positions, he will help the team."
At his peak, Mount was undoubtedly one of Chelsea's best players. He was vital to their Champions League success in 2020-21, and racked up 29 goal involvements the following season, which led John Terry to suggest he could be a future captain for club and country.
No one could have predicted how far Mount would fall in the space of two short years. But Ten Hag is ultimately spot on with his assessment; it is too early to judge him and he is versatile enough to be an asset for United in the upcoming campaign – provided his fitness troubles do not persist.
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Getty ImagesPositive signs
If United's first three pre-season games are anything to go by, Mount has that fire in his belly again. His high-energy display was the only real positive to come out of a 1-0 loss to Rosenborg, and he linked up well with Amad Diallo during the Red Devils' 2-0 win over Rangers.
Mount was rewarded with a seat on the plane for United's tour of the United States, which they opened with a 2-1 loss to Arsenal in a glamour friendly at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. It's always difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from friendlies, but it was more than just another fitness exercise for Mount as he carried United's attacking threat with his relentless pressing off the ball and ingenuity on it.
He created two chances, posted an impressive 88 percent pass completion rate and won five of his seven ground duels, helping United go toe-to-toe with the Gunners before Ten Hag rung the changes at the break. Many fans and pundits feel Mount is at his best in the No.10 position, and it was easy to see why on Saturday, as he looked far more comfortable in the centre and gave United a real sense of urgency in the transition.
It was a tantalising glimpse of the Mount who became one of England's most promising young talents. Mikel Arteta may also have been left wondering what might have been, given Mount was reportedly one of Arsenal's top targets before United swooped in to steal his signature.
There has never really been any question marks over Mount's ability, though. The main issue Mount is facing at United is that he is in direct competition for minutes with the man who has carried the entire squad on his back for the last four years.
Allrounder says coronavirus outbreak “makes you realise what you love” and would play a Test “tomorrow”
ESPNcricinfo staff18-Apr-2020
Moeen Ali wheels away in celebration•Getty Images
Moeen Ali, the England allrounder, has indicated that he is ready to return from his self-imposed Test exile as soon as the coronavirus outbreak allows.Ali has not played a Test since being dropped during last summer’s Ashes. He subsequently lost his Test central contract – receiving a white-ball only deal – and opted out of the tours to New Zealand and South Africa, saying he needed a break from the longest format.Instead, Ali spent his winter taking part in T20 leagues such as the PSL, and was set to return to the IPL before the Covid-19 pandemic struck. With the English season currently on hold, Ali said that he had taken time to reevaluate things and would be open to playing “a Test match tomorrow” if the situation allowed.”I think I’d probably be ready now, to be honest,” he told the . “Clearly I would have to be playing well and win a spot back on merit but in terms of being available – and obviously I’m speaking hypothetically – if there was a Test match tomorrow and I got the call, I’d say ‘yes’. We’re all missing cricket right now and the coronavirus makes you realise what you love. It could take out the whole summer and that would be a big thing.”ALSO READ: Tom Curran admits enforced break is a ‘shock to the system’ after non-stop winterEngland had been due to play West Indies and Pakistan in Test series this summer, but there is no certainty about how much cricket may be possible once government rules on social distancing are relaxed. The start of the season has been postponed until May 28, with an expectation that could slip further.Having written previously in his newspaper column that he felt his “bad days in Test cricket get amplified or singled out more than other players”, Ali said that he would be looking to start afresh when the game does resume.”This current break has made me realise that when you find yourself surrounded by a few negative comments, somehow it’s all you can focus on,” he said. “You have to be mentally stronger and filter more of it out.”With so much happening in the world right now, this has been time to reflect. You realise you don’t know how long you are on earth and so what people might say about you really doesn’t matter. If that’s someone in the media talking about your cricket, they’re just doing their job and there is no point getting affected.”It’s almost been a case of forgiving anyone who has ever said anything I didn’t like and now looking to start afresh when we get back playing. I may have felt like a scapegoat at times in the past but I’m over it now. It’s time to move on.”
Three times in the last four years, Aston Villa have broken their transfer record. First, when Dean Smith was manager, they shelled out £33m to sign Ollie Watkins from his former club Brentford and then, 12 months later, they agreed to pay £38m to land Emi Buendia from Norwich.
Last summer, under Unai Emery, NSWE blew both of those transfers out of the water by parting with up to £52m to recruit Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen, having previously signed Leon Bailey from the same side.
|
Aston Villa record transfers |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Player |
Signed from |
Year |
Fee* |
|
1 |
Moussa Diaby |
Bayer Leverkusen |
2023 |
£52m |
|
2 |
Emi Buendia |
Norwich City |
2021 |
£38m |
|
3 |
Ollie Watkins |
Brentford |
2020 |
£33m |
|
4 |
Pau Torres |
Villarreal |
2023 |
£32m |
|
5 |
Leon Bailey |
Bayer Leverkusen |
2021 |
£30m |
*With potential add-ons included
Could they eclipse it again this year? Well, on the one hand, they could potentially have some Champions League money on the way, even if they end up losing out to Spurs in the race for the Premier League top four. As part of the new competition format, the two-best performing nations in this year's tournaments will be entitled to an extra spot, and England is only a fraction behind second-place Germany in the current standings.
On the other hand, though, there's a sense that Villa may have to sell a first-team player before the end of June in order to comply with the league's Profit and Sustainability Rules. Those circumstances may not be especially conducive to a historic outlay.
Undeterred, NSWE are now eyeing up a deal for Lucas Paqueta, according to West Ham outlet Claret and Hugh. The Brazilian would like to move to reigning champions Manchester City, but Villa have joined Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester United in making it clear that they will try to sign him if that deal doesn't materialise. Significantly, the 26-year-old's contract includes an £80m release clause.
Paqueta is currently under investigation for alleged breaches of betting rules, which he denies, and is apparently considering legal action against the FA if he doesn't receive a verdict by April. Any move, of course, will hinge upon whether he avoids a ban.
Signing Paqueta could be a huge statement, and not just because of the record-shattering transfer fee. Villa and West Ham are two clubs of a similar status, each playing in European competition and trying to pierce the big-six bubble, so it may say a great deal about the former's trajectory if they can poach a player from the latter.
Dubbed a "magician" by former Premier League midfielder Robbie Mustoe, Paqueta can play as a left winger, number 10 and number eight. He's capable of playing the final ball – he ranks second in the West Ham squad (among those with at least 1,000 minutes played) for expected assists per 90 (0.17) and key passes per 90 (1.55) – but he can also launch dangerous attacks from deeper positions too. Nobody in the Irons ranks averages more progressive passes or passes into the final third than Paqueta (6.9 and 4.76).
Aston Villa eyeing Tielemans repeat to land "gifted athlete" for Emery
Two other Premier League clubs are also in the running.
By
David Comerford
Feb 16, 2024
With a penchant for dazzling tricks, the former Lyon man also places second for successful take-ons with 29, only behind Mohammed Kudus (60). However, he embraces the dirty side of the game too, having won the fourth-most tackles (53) and made the seventh-most fouls (50) in the division. That, clearly, is a midfield combination that appeals a great deal to Emery, but Villa could face some mighty competition for this particular transfer.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has enjoyed an excellent time in the Midlands since taking over in October 2022, with particular success coming in the transfer market.
During his regime so far, the likes of Pau Torres, Moussa Diaby and Youri Tielemans have all joined the club, despite bigger teams showing interest, while he has managed to ship out some unwanted players, either permanently or on a temporary basis.
One such name is that of Morgan Sanson, who joined French side OGC Nice on a season-long loan deal last summer after an underwhelming spell in England.
Morgan Sanson’s Aston Villa statistics
The midfielder joined the club from Marseille in January 2021 for a transfer fee in the region of £16m as Dean Smith needed some fresh legs in his side and the Frenchman looked like he could turn out to be a shrewd investment.
During the first half of the season for the French giants, Sanson had scored twice and grabbed three assists, and it looked as though Smith had signed a player who could offer a serious attacking threat from the heart of the midfield.
He only played nine times during his first six months at Villa, however, which yielded zero goal contributions, but with a solid pre-season behind him, the 2021/22 season looked to be his time to shine.
It wasn’t to be. Throughout the whole campaign, Sanson played just 12 times, while he ranked in a lowly 19th spot for accurate passes per game (12) among his teammates in the league, along with finishing 17th for key passes per game (0.1) and ninth for tackles per game (1.2), proving that he failed to showcase his true talents.
The 29-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Strasbourg, before joining Nice in the summer, and it is clear he has rinsed the club dry during his time at Villa Park so far.
Morgan Sanson total cost at Aston Villa
Not only did the Midlands side shell out £16m for the player in 2021, but he has since earned £4.7m in wages after making the move to the Premier League.
This combined total of £20.7m is a massive figure for someone who has failed to make a lasting impression at the club and the quicker they move him on permanently, the better.
Not only that, but Sanson has played just 23 times for the club, scoring once, which means he has cost Villa a grand total of £900k per game, a complete waste of money.
Emery appears to have a much better understanding of the transfer market than previous Villa managers, and this should see the club avoid signing players such as Sanson in the future.
Wage Burners
Football FanCast's Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.
His contract expires at the end of next season and this summer represents the most logical time for the Spaniard to sell him on and try and recoup some of the £16m that was spent in January 2021.
Depending on who is interested, they will likely have to take a massive loss on the midfielder, who has rinsed the club dry over the previous 36 months.
Chelsea are close to signing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for £30m ($38m), with the Leicester star set to undergo a medical on Sunday.
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Leicester must raise fundsChelsea targeting Dewsbury-HallClose to securing deal for midfielderWHAT HAPPENED?
Per Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are closing in on a deal to secure Dewsbury-Hall's signature. Leicester need to sell players by the end of Sunday as they look to comply with Profit and Sustainability regulations, and the midfielder is now poised to undergo a medical in west London as he closes in on a reunion with former boss Enzo Maresca.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Dewsbury-Hall is set to sign a deal until 2026, and he is set to sign his contract on Sunday. Leicester have rushed the deal through to comply with Profit and Sustainability regulations.
DID YOU KNOW?
Dewsbury-Hall has also been linked with Brighton but it appears that Chelsea have beaten the Seagulls to the punch. There was some suggestion a player could be involved in a swap deal but that does not appear to be the case. Instead, Fabrizio Romano notes that Blues youngster Michael Golding will be joining Leicester in a entirely separate deal.
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GettyWHAT NEXT?
The deal is moving quickly as Leicester bid to avoid punishment from the Premier League when it comes to PSR. The switch will see Dewsbury-Hall link back up with Enzo Maresca, with whom he won the Championship with last season.
Douglas Luiz appears to be making the most of an early-season break after holidaying with Vinicius Jr following their Brazil squad snubs.
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