Aston Villa are monitoring Real Madrid and Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, 26, as Emiliano Martinez continues to be linked with a summer exit. (Birmingham Mail), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your views on Aston Villa's Premier League match against Fulham.
Here are some of your comments:
Villa fans
Cassie: Some of the Villa players looked tired after a long season. It was a game they needed to win,but didn't take advantage when Fulham only had 10 players on the pitch. Boubacar Kamara is an unsung hero and again he played a blinder.
Ian: A very controlled solid performance with a good early goal but missed chances made for a nervy ending to the game. I suppose with so much at stake, it is only to be expected.
Tony: A disjointed performance against a pedestrian opponent with little to really shout about apart from the points. Youri Tielemans worked tirelessly and was the pick of the bunch and Donyell Malen impressed when he came on. Ollie Watkins had another day to forget sadly. Only the points make any impression after the event.
David: Lucky to get three points. Too slow, and giving the ball away too easily. As for the substitutions, taking off Ian Maatsen and John McGinn when both were playing well, and leaving Pau Torres on when he was having a stinker... hard to work out what Unai Emery was thinking!
Fulham fans
David: As with last week against Southampton, we didn't get going until the second half. Much better then but ultimately not enough firepower up front. Has been said previously here but we still miss Aleksandar Mitrovic. Probably a season too soon for Europe so maybe it's no bad thing not to qualify.
Rob: Lacking passion, drive and imagination. A golden opportunity missed to pick up points against a Villa side low on confidence after their FA Cup defeat. Bournemouth showed how to do it against Arsenal, taking the game to them in the second half and having a right go at them. Why oh why couldn't Fulham have done the same against Villa?
Bill: Things seem to be falling apart right now. As a unit, the team look knackered and without inspiration. Silva's tactics and substitutions are often ludicrous, as twice now we've gone down to 10 men because of his decisions to use all his subs. You must hold one back in case of injuries surely?! We've fallen to 11th in 24 hours - not just disappointing but very worrying,
Robert: I thought Fulham had to beat the ref if they were to get anything out of the game.
Aston Villa and Arsenal are eyeing 25-year-old Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, with the Serie A club expected to ask for around £42m for the Serbian. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external
Highlights and analysis from Saturday's Four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Manchester City and Wolves.
If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.
Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
Image source, Getty ImagesUnai Emery spoke to BBC Sport after Aston Villa's victory against Fulham: "A very important [win], as our aim is to play in Europe.
"Europe is very important for the club and for our progress to try get another UEFA trophy. Champions League is the most difficult achievement we can have.
"Champions League is our dream - we are so motivated to be there again.
"We have to try prepare for each match - be focused and be very demanding."
On Youri Tielemans: "He is a really competitive guy. His commitment with every day work is fantastic.
"Today, we can feel he's completely playing and performing like we want.
"His commitment is the most important thing for us."
Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesThey may be out of the FA Cup and the Champions League, but a run of seven wins in nine Premier League games has left Aston Villa right in the mix for an immediate return to Europe's top table next season.
Midfielder Youri Tielemans was Villa's driving force against Fulham, pulling the strings in midfield after giving them an early lead with a powerful header from John McGinn's corner.
The Belgium international nearly fashioned a second before half-time with a perfectly weighted pass into Ollie Watkins, but Leno was off his line quickly to prevent the forward from doubling Villa's advantage.
Leno then did well to get the faintest of touches to a ferocious Tielemans drive on the stroke of half-time – but referee Robert Jones failed to spot the German's intervention and awarded a Fulham goal-kick.
Watkins will be frustrated not to have got the goal which would have made him Villa's outright Premier League leading scorer, failing to make proper contact with Matty Cash's low cross early in the second half before being denied by Leno in another one-v-one.
But the three points were what mattered for Unai Emery's team, who are now level on points with Nottingham Forest in sixth and Chelsea in fifth - the Premier League's final Champions League spot.
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa are unbeaten in their last 17 home games in the Premier League (W10 D7), their joint-longest run in the competition along with between March and December 2023 (W16 D1).
Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?
Have your say on Villa's performance
What did you make of Fulham's display?
Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies.
Five matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.
Aston Villa v Fulham (12:30)
Everton v Ipswich Town - BBC Radio 5 Live
Leicester City v Southampton
Arsenal v Bournemouth (17:30) - BBC Radio 5 Live
Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated
It would be easy to say the wheels have come off at Aston Villa, wouldn't it?
In the past couple of weeks, they have gone out of the Champions League and FA Cup, and losing their last Premier League game has left them playing catch-up in the top-five race.
I don't think Unai Emery's side will crumble from here, though, even if Marcus Rashford's season-ending injury is a big blow.
Villa need to win this, and they also need a big performance from Ollie Watkins. If he starts banging the goals in again then that would be a huge boost for their run-in.
Fulham are a nightmare to predict, as I've mentioned in previous weeks, and they are certainly capable of getting something here.
I don't think Villa can keep a clean sheet - which probably means they will stop Fulham scoring - but I have a feeling things will click for them in front of goal.
Also, they are at home too so, if they need them, their fans can help to get them over the line.
Sutton's prediction: 3-1
Alex Fletcher
BBC Sport journalist
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Fulham at Villa Park (kick-off 12:30 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Emery said he is "hopeful" on-loan Marcus Rashford could return before the end of the season.
On his relationship with Ollie Watkins: "He is a fantastic guy and his commitment is [always] with Aston Villa, myself and his team-mates. I am so grateful to work with him."
Emery believes "every match" is a must win and has called on his team to be "consistent" in the final four games of the season.
On home advantage: "Villa Park is very important. Tomorrow we will need the supporters to be with us. This year, through the different competitions, they have been there."
On Fulham: We have to respect them and adapt to them. When I arrived here two years ago they were competing to be in Europe and they are a team that can get to the same heights as Nottingham Forest. They are a contender to be in the top six."
Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
Image source, Getty ImagesVilla Park will host England's 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Andorra in September.
It will be the first time in 20 years Aston Villa's ground has hosted an England men's match, since a goalless draw against the Netherlands in 2005.
England manager Thomas Tuchel said: "We are excited to play at Villa Park - another stadium full of history.
"I know from my own visits to the stadium this season that it is capable of creating an outstanding atmosphere and is located close to St George's Park, which is a positive for our preparation.
"We hope to be able to generate another special atmosphere and create a memorable occasion for all fans."
The game will take place on Saturday, 6 September at 17:00 BST.
Aston Villa are considering a move for Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, 33, who will leave Manchester City at the end of the season. (Football Insider), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your views on the one thing no-one at Aston Villa is talking about, but should be.
Here are some of your comments:
Brian: Ollie Watkins is the best centre-forward bar none in the country. Marcus Rashford has helped as a quick fix and everyone has enjoyed the honeymoon. Once that is over Rashford will revert to old form, lose interest, sulk and throw his toys out of the pram. Stick with Watkins.
Prit: Having just got into positive goal-difference territory at the business end of the season is quite frankly unacceptable. With the exception of Ezri Konsa, Emi Martinez and the defence have all made really poor errors that have cost us points and knocked us out of cups. Unai Emery needs to get back to a consistent defence next season and make us hard to beat.
Rob: There is absolutely nothing wrong with Aston Villa other than being on the end of a poor result on Saturday. The social media fans or those who reappeared when we got promoted to the Premier League need to calm down. The long-term supporters can live with being in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, semi-finals of the FA Cup and having another chance at achieving Champions League qualification. People need to remember relegation and three years in the Championship. Yes, Saturday was disappointing but this is another season of progress competing deep into three competitions.
Taylor: We're so used at Villa to having poor managers, we don't know how to deal with having a good one. So many supporters have gone to the other extreme - 'in Unai we trust' and so on. Deification one week and then emotional collapse the next. But Emery is not infallible, and he has made some glaring mistakes recently. Emery is good but not a god, and Villa fans should move on from the rollercoaster reactions.
Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesIt remains as true now as it did before Saturday at Wembley that Aston Villa are in a far healthier position than could have been envisaged three or four years ago. It is also still entirely possible that this season will end with a great result – a Champions League place – as well as great memories of special days and nights.
As urgently as Unai Emery and his players will be working towards their four remaining games though, the club will also be steeling for a summer that could take a number of routes.
It is no surprise that some of their stars are linked with moves away - but that need not be a major concern at this point.
Why not? Firstly, it always happens anyway. Whether speculation arises from a genuine enquiry, an enthusiastic agent, a viral tweet or – perish the thought – a journalist's comment piece, good players from good teams are always on the radar of clubs with money to spend. Seeing Villa's players 'linked' with other top clubs indicates only one thing for certain: that they are good players.
Equally, while only Villa themselves know for certain exactly how their numbers stand, there is a general sense the club still has to be mindful of PSR limits, although this season's Champions League takings will help. It logically follows that if a really substantial offer came in for almost any player, it would be worth weighing up.
And why would that not be concerning? Nobody wants to lose a top player - but over recent years Villa have an impressive strike rate of recycling transfer money to find new stars – Morgan Rogers the best current example – and attracting players already considered in the top bracket, like Marco Asensio or Marcus Rashford. When new arrivals have not necessarily met all expectations, like Moussa Diaby, they have been moved on, and money recouped.
Wherever Villa finish, this could be a summer with a lot of moving parts. Clearly if they book a return to the Champions League, it will help in terms of spending power and in making Villa an attractive club to join or remain with.
But even if they fall short, there is good reason to think Monchi and his team will prepare another well-equipped squad for Emery by August.
Live commentary of Aston Villa v Fulham on BBC Radio WM (DAB/Freeview), Saturday 12:30 BST.
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