'Hopefully we can win a trophy'published at 19:36 1 July
19:36 1 July
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New signing Ross Barkley says Aston Villa playing in the Champions League this season was "a big incentive" to him re-signing.
The 30-year-old is set for his second spell at Villa Park following the year he spent on loan in the 2020-21 season.
On his targets after a successful stint at Luton Town: "For me, and everyone else at the club and the fans, [the ambition] is to win a trophy.
"The club came so close last season and were unfortunate. With additions to the already great squad that we’ve got it’s going to be pivotal for the season. Hopefully we can.
"The club has made huge strides since I was last here.
"As an outsider looking in, it looked fantastic, and to be a part of that is fantastic.
"Playing in the Champions League is a big incentive for me and the club, so I’m looking forward to that."
'Smart business' or 'gambles'? Your thoughts on Villa's transferspublished at 15:09 1 July
15:09 1 July
Aston Villa have already completed a fair bit of transfer business this summer, with Juventus duo Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior becoming Unai Emery's latest recruits.
We wanted to know if you have been excited or concerned by Villa's transfer activity.
Here are some of your thoughts:
Mart: Totally underwhelmed, to be honest. It is becoming an absolute farce because of Financial Fair Play constraints. Obviously there will be more transfer activity but we need to boost the squad with at least two marquee signings. Surely, to be able to push on now, it needs to be more about bringing in quality and not just about having bums on the bench!
Paul: I'm not really excited to see us getting two squad players from Juventus who finished over 20 points behind the Serie A winners. Hopefully they will turn out to be OK signings, but neither of them play in areas that I thought we needed to strengthen.
Louis: Smart business from Monchi. Douglas Luiz had a new deal on the table for a while and he didn't sign it. We knew we needed to get creative with Profit and Sustainability Rules. Reaching this deal for Luiz has given us relief from PSR and we have two new players that Emery can coach into great players for the squad.
Carlos: Douglas Luiz was a complete midfielder, good on the offence and good in defence. Is he only worth half a Declan Rice? We have got two new squad players instead of cash, but is Iling-Junior better than Jaden Philogene and will Enzo be able to gel with Boubacar Kamara?
Mark: I'm really unsure on the new players we have signed so far. They clearly help the financial situation at the club but they do look like real gambles. I think it's odd to sign a left-back when we need cover at right-back. In Unai we trust, but hopefully some marquee signings will soon follow.
Barrenechea, 23, signed for Juventus in 2020, but the defensive midfielder spent last season on loan at Frosinone, where he featured 39 times, scoring one goal and offering one assist.
Iling-Junior, 20, joined the Italian club from Chelsea's academy in 2020 and has since made 45 appearances for the senior side, scoring two goals and registering four assists.
Operating predominantly on the left, Iling-Junior has also been capped at international level for the England Under-21 side.
Aston Villa have not disclosed the fees for the two players.
'Gutted' but 'financial needs dictate' - fans on Luiz salepublished at 08:19 1 July
08:19 1 July
Following Douglas Luiz's move to Juventus in a £42.35m deal, we asked you to have your say on the midfielder's departure.
Here are a selection of your comments:
Liz: It’s a 'needs must' situation with Luiz and a pity we've been forced to dilute the quality of the squad just to balance the books. Luiz did lose his form towards the end of the season and maybe he knew he was going to be a financial makeweight. Overall, it's got to be said that it's not a step in the right direction - unless we buy a better player.
Doc: Absolutely gutted! We have lost someone I think will go on to be a world class player! Profit and sustainability rules are a joke, allowing the rich clubs to ignore the rules and the smaller clubs being made to suffer! However, if the transfer pans out like it should do, we have two new young players for Unai to work his magic on, so not a complete disaster.
Simon: Blossomed under Unai. Fantastic last season. His playing style will suit the Italian league. Villa got the deal done before July which was key. They can spend now.
Dean: Gutted Luiz has left, but good it's not to a Premier League rival. Quite simply, he never signed the contract offered for whatever reason. Makes him a saleable asset, but will be a huge loss for next season.
Jason: Very good player but I suspect he's reached his ceiling. Good time to get a fee I think.
Nelly: Shame to lose him, but financial needs dictate I suppose. Possibly the best one to sell. I wouldn't like to lose any of the other front line midfielders.
Luiz leaves for Juventus - what do you think?published at 14:10 30 June
14:10 30 June
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Aston Villa have confirmed midfielder Douglas Luiz has completed a 50m euros (£42.35m) move to Italian side Juventus.
The Brazilian, 26, has signed a five-year deal with the Serie A club to end his stay at Villa Park.
How do you feel about Luiz's exit, Villa fans? Disappointed to lose one of your key players? How do you feel about the fee?
Villa have also sold Omari Kellyman to Chelsea for £19m two years after signing him from Derby for £600,000. The midfielder made six appearances for Villa.
Ian Maatsen, meanwhile, Chelsea’s defender who spent the second half of last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund, has moved to Villa for £35m.
Who else could move?
Douglas Luiz's players-plus-cash transfer from Villa to Juventus is expected to go through soon.
Villa had medicals booked in for Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea this week, while Luiz's was scheduled for Las Vegas on Thursday as he is away with Brazil for the Copa America.
Which Premier League teams have the most players still at Euro 2024?published at 13:29 28 June
13:29 28 June
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Managers will always outwardly support their players on the international stage, but you can be sure one or two will privately be hoping for an early exit from Euro 2024 for a few of their star men.
International tournament summers disrupt pre-season for managers.
Various players from different nations return to their clubs at different times, sometimes with injuries, holidays get postponed and rescheduled. As a general rule, the best players are more likely to play for the best nations and therefore go further in international tournaments.
The Euro 2024 final will take place on 14 July. Over half of Premier League clubs already have a pre-season fixture scheduled within 10 days of that.
Of English clubs, unsurprisingly, Premier League champions Manchester City have comfortably the most players in the Euro 2024 knockouts. The best represented Premier League side at the start of the competition have a full line-up of 11 stars still in Germany.
They are followed by the rest of last season's top three - Arsenal and Liverpool - who have eight and seven respectively. Manchester United also have seven while Brentford - aided by their healthy Danish contingent - have six and Crystal Palace five.
Championship play-off winners Southampton's three representatives were all eliminated at the group stage, while fellow newly promoted side Ipswich have not seen their summer impacted at all by players at Euro 2024.
Of the Championship-winning Leicester squad, goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and defenders Wout Faes and Jannik Vestergaard remain in Germany - as does Turkey's Yunus Akgun, who spent last season on loan with the Foxes.
This data was provided by Opta and counts the clubs where players finished at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Gossip: Villa reject Spurs' Ramsey proposalpublished at 07:13 28 June
07:13 28 June
Tottenham have had a £20m bid for midfielder Jacob Ramsey - which included 28-year-old Argentina international Giovani lo Celso moving in the opposite direction - rejected by Aston Villa. (Times - subscription required), external
'Get him in, Unai!' Your suggestions for Euros signingspublished at 16:50 27 June
16:50 27 June
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We asked for your views on which Euros player would be a good fit for Aston Villa.
Here are a few of your suggestions:
Luke: Chakvetadze from Georgia has caught my eye. All-action, full of energy and fight.
Tomos: Would absolutely love Villa to sign Christoph Baumgartner. He looks modern but also a throwback in his style and skill. Get him in Unai!
Liam: If Villa sell Duran, we should look at bring in Georges Mikautadze as a back-up to Watkins. Last season he got 13 goals and four assists in Ligue 1 and is the current top scorer in the Euros after the group stages. I feel like he's under the radar and would be a great back-up.
Martin: I'd love Sabitzer. He's been incredible so far. You look at United and him leaving is the reason they've been so poor. He got United into the Champions league, he's got Dortmund to the Champions League final, and now Austria have won the group of death. A fantastic midfielder.
Lyndon: If we ever sell Martinez, then the Georgia keeper Mamardashvili looks very capable.
Which Euros star should Villa sign?published at 16:33 26 June
16:33 26 June
As the Euros group stage comes to a close, how's your scouting report gone?
Who has caught your eye as a perfect signing for Villa?
And how would they fit into Unai Emery's starting XI?
Manchester United have held talks with Juventus about signing Adrien Rabiot, but face competition from Villa and Arsenal for the 29-year-old France midfielder. (Teamtalk), external
McNulty Q&A: Does Watkins deserve to start over Kane?published at 15:03 25 June
15:03 25 June
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BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering readers' questions on all things England before their final Euro 2024 group match against Slovenia on Tuesday.
Patrick and James asked: Would you think about Ollie Watkins over Harry Kane?
Phil answered: I actually thought Watkins was a bright spark when he came on against Denmark, running in behind and seeing a shot saved by Kasper Schmeichel, but I would not pick him ahead of Kane.
On a similar topic, Lee asked: While Kane is our best striker, he's also a great passer, receives the ball well under pressure and can turn a defender. Do you think he could play a roaming 10 role behind Watkins?
Phil: While I agree with the qualities you mention, I don't think Kane should be in a number 10 role behind Watkins, who I thought actually did well when he came on against Denmark.
Kane, although he seems to be pressing less these days, is England's main goal threat and another reshuffle would make things even more complicated than they already are in that area of the team.
Iling-Junior and Barrenechea set for Villa medicals as part of Luiz dealpublished at 13:49 25 June
13:49 25 June
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport Football News Reporter
Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea are due to have their medicals with Aston Villa as the deal to take Douglas Luiz to Juventus edges closer.
The pair are part of the players-plus-cash deal which will take Luiz to Italy, with Juventus also reportedly paying 25m euros (£18.5m).
England Under-21 wing-back Iling-Junior was due for his medical on Tuesday, with midfielder Barrenechea pencilled in for his checks on Wednesday.
Midfielder Luiz, on Brazil duty at the Copa America, is also set to have his medical in the United States this week.
Luiz, 26, has been with Villa since a £15m move from Manchester City in 2019, scoring 22 goals in 204 games.
Juventus' USA international Weston McKennie was initially part of the deal, but his wages became a problem and Villa were not able to find a resolution so turned to Barrenechea.
Forward Matias Soule was also discussed as part of the swap but Juve's 40m euros (£34m) asking price for the 23-year-old Argentine made that impossible.
Iling-Junior, 20, came through the Chelsea academy and joined Juventus in 2022. He helped them win the Copa Italia last season as they finished third in Serie A.
Barrenechea was on loan at Frosinone, who were relegated from the top flight.
Defender Ian Maatsen is also due to join Villa for £37.5m from Chelsea as they continue to prepare for the Champions League next season.
Omari Kellyman, 19, is poised to move to Stamford Bridge for £19m - just two years after being bought from Derby County for £600,000 - on a six-year deal, while Tim Iroegbunam joined Everton this week for £9m.
Gossip: Villa compete with Chelsea for Beierpublished at 07:45 25 June
How Villa aim to stay ahead of the game with academy recruitmentpublished at 15:10 24 June
15:10 24 June
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport Football News Reporter
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Aston Villa are not a selling club but have aimed to protect their future by planning for it.
The club posted a £119m loss for the year ending 31 May 2023, but they feel their academy recruitment has put them ahead of the game when it comes to navigating profit and sustainability rules (PSR).
The drive for signing young talent has come from the top, in owners Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris.
The inner-city academy, just 600 yards from Villa Park, was completed last year and is another signal of intent.
Ultimately, Villa feel they are plotting their way through PSR better than other Premier League clubs because of their successful academy system and recruitment.
Chelsea and Manchester City have, of course, been heavily active and successful in this area but a few - like Arsenal and Tottenham - have fallen behind.
Image source, Getty Images
Lamare Bogarde, who could leave this summer even if a potential move to Nottingham Forest is currently unlikely, and Ben Chrisene, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Blackburn Rovers, were brought in from Feyenoord and Exeter City respectively four years ago.
While Bogarde is regarded as a talented player, he may struggle for first-team football given Villa's trajectory into the Champions League and he represents a sellable asset.
However, Poland Under-21 goalkeeper Oliwier Zych, signed from Zaglebie Lubin in 2020, is not one they are looking to cash in on.
He spent last season on loan at Puszcza Niepolomice, helping the newly promoted side finish 12th in the Polish top flight, and Villa have high hopes for the 19-year-old.
Last summer, the club earned about £55m from the sales of Aaron Ramsey, Finn Azaz, Cameron Archer and Carney Chukwuemeka, enabling them to sign Moussa Diaby and Pau Torres.
This year, the sales of Tim Iroegbunam to Everton for about £9m and Kellyman will help fund the signing of Maatsen.
Why Premier League's 'swap weekend' could be another PSR loopholepublished at 14:42 24 June
Lesser-known academy products Tim Iroegbunam and Lewis Dobbin were exchanged in separate deals between Everton and Villa for a reported £9m each. Then BBC Sport reported Villa were close to selling another academy youngster - teenager Omari Kellyman - to Chelsea for a reported £19m.
Next, there was confirmation that going the other way is Chelsea's homegrown Dutch defender Ian Maatsen for £37.5m, in another separate transaction.
Everton meanwhile, were also said to be interested in Newcastle United's highly rated Gambian teenager Yankuba Minteh. At the same time, Newcastle were closing in on a deal to sign striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin from Everton.
But it wasn't 1 September, it was a normal Saturday in June. And one thing all four of these busy clubs have in common? Concerns over their Premier League 'Profit and Sustainability' (PSR) position as they approach the 30 June accounting deadline.
This flurry of transfer activity immediately drew scepticism, but has also annoyed some rival clubs.
And BBC Sport knows of at least one club that is so concerned it intends to raise the matter with the Premier League.
No-one is breaking the rules, but questions have been raised over valuations, the use of young players, and whether this has highlighted a loophole in the league's PSR system which can be used to limit losses.
'Could be a good player' or 'who is he'? Your thoughts on Dobbin signingpublished at 11:49 24 June
11:49 24 June
We asked for your views on Aston Villa signing Lewis Dobbin from Everton.
Here are some of your answers:
Cassie: Trying to balance the books and squad has to be done. He can develop into a good player, and can learn from Ollie Watkins. Villa need an energetic squad for domestic and European games - he fits that profile.
Ollie: If Dobbin can't even claim a regular place at Goodison there must be a reason. Everton are not over-blessed with prolific strikers and he hasn't unseated any of them, so why do Villa think he'll succeed at Villa Park?
Harry: Dobbin will provide an attacking sense of directness and with a few loans to improve his physicality and game sense could be a good player.
Ned: Not much to say really other than, 'who?'
Stephen: It’s all about balancing the finances these days and if selling top academy players for £15m- £20m is the way round it then so be it. We have replaced good prospects with good prospects. Maatesen and Dobbin look good signings to me - now we need some quality and experience to go with them. In Unai we trust. He knows what he wants and needs.
Steve: In a word, concerned. We seem to be more interested in quantity over quality.
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