The countdown is on for Saturday August 6 when Aston Villa visit Bournemouth in their new Premier League campaign.
Boss Steven Gerrard looks set to have a new-look side ready for the curtain raiser after being very active early on in the transfer window. Boubacar Kamara signed as a free transfer from Marseille just after the end of last season and has since been joined by Sevilla centre-back Diego Carlos, while Philippe Coutinho and Robin Olsen have made their loan moves permanent.
Gerrard is now also keen to add a left-sided defender to his squad after selling Matt Targett to Newcastle United for £15m while the club have been linked with midfielders and strikers too. Mirror Sport takes a look at the latest Villa transfer news and rumours.
Buendia out, Gallagher in?
Aston Villa could sell Emiliano Buendia to raise funds and create space for Chelsea and England midfielder Conor Gallagher, according to Noel Whelan. Speaking to Football Insider, the ex-Premier League striker claimed Gallagher would be a good buy for £30million. It is claimed Villa still want to bring in another midfielder despite signing Boubacar Kamara on a free transfer from Marseille at the beginning of the window.
Whelan said: "He would be a good buy, he’s forced his way into the England reckoning and is a very tender age still but has a wise head on his shoulders. I can only see him getting better and £30million would be about right for what he can give you as a player in a squad. If he does come into Aston Villa there’s got to be a sale on the cards. Whether that be Buendia or somebody else. Gallagher is quite an attacking player as well.” Gallagher spent the 2021-22 season on loan at Crystal Palace where his form earned him his England debut. He now has four caps to his name but is yet to make his senior competitive debut for Chelsea.
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Villa set Luiz fee
Aston Villa are reportedly holding out for £30million for Brazilian playmaker Douglas Luiz who has made it clear he wants to quit according to fresh claims. Luiz could be heading for the Villa Park exit with Serie A duo AC Milan and Roma keeping tabs on his situation. The 24-year-old is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract with Villa and a new deal is yet to be agreed. Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness) claims Luiz has ‘practically broken up’ with Villa and wants to seal a move this summer. They reckon if Luiz won’t sign a new deal, Villa will cash in this summer rather than risk losing him for free next year.
Davis future on hold
Nottingham Forest have secured the £17.5million signing of Taiwo Awoniyi to cast doubt over a possible permanent transfer for Aston Villa striker Keinan Davis. Davis, 24, enjoyed a successful loan spell at Forest in the Championship last season and helped them secure promotion to the top flight of English football for the first time in 23 years. He recorded five goals and two assists in the second half of the campaign under Steve Cooper. But Mirror Sport understands Villa boss Gerrard wants Davis back at in pre-season to assess the striker as the club finalise their plans for the new season.
