Gossip: Villa interested in Barcelona's Torres
Aston Villa are interested in Barcelona forward Ferran Torres, 25, and are prepared to offer around 50m euros (£42m) for the Spain international. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish), externalAtletico Madrid are among several clubs interested in Aston Villa's Argentine midfielder Enzo Barrenechea, 23, who is on loan at Valencia. (Birmingham Mail), externalWant more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip columnFollow the gossip column on BBC Sport
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Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Unai Emery dealt fresh blow as another star hints at Aston Villa transfer exit
Missing out on the Champions League for next season is set to cost Aston Villa heavily next season, with boss Unai Emery seeing several of his players admit their futures are uncertain Youri Tielemans has admitted that his future at Aston Villa is uncertain, despite sweeping the club's awards. Tielemans joined Villa in the summer of 2023 after scoring the winner for Leicester City in that year's FA Cup final. Having taken some time to adjust to Villa's style of play, the Belgian became a key player for Unai Emery. He featured in 53 games in all competitions, scoring five goals and notching 10 assists in the process. Tielemans started every match in Villa's run to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The campaign ended in a tide of disappointment though, with Villa qualifying for the Europa League, rather than the premier continental competition. That has led to fresh concerns over Villa's compliance with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules. That means that sales could well be needed this summer to ensure Emery's men avoid receiving a points deduction. Star keeper Emi Martinez already appears to be on his way out. And Tielemans has admitted his future is also far from certain, despite having two more years to run on his contract at Villa Park. 'There's nothing definitive or ruled out about whether I'll stay or leave. But I feel good at Aston Villa; I feel a lot of confidence from the club and the manager,' he said while on international duty with Belgium. 'Of course, I was able to score five goals and provide 10 assists this season. But I was also influential in my team's play. I've been consistent and I think I've improved throughout the season." 'We're used to playing a lot of matches, recovering between games. So, I didn't feel tired in Skopje. It must be said that I spent 60 minutes on the bench [laughs]. But now I'm ready to play and represent the country this Monday." Tielemans was crowned both Supporters' and Players' Player of the Season at Villa's awards night following his impressive season. He admitted to being left 'frustrated' at the end of the season after missing out on the top five. He said: "Frustrating to end the season this way. Thank you for your support throughout the whole campaign, Home and Away you've been amazing." If Tielemans did depart, it would be another blow for Emery amid Martinez's expected exit. After the season concluded, the Villa boss admitted that major changes could be coming in the Second City this summer. "We will see about the team, the players, but of course, they are responding on the field. Of course, then we will see about everything, how we are going to try to get better for the next season," he said after the final day defeat to Manchester United. 'Frustrated today, but we are in the Europa League, we are in Europe. To be in Europe is important and being in three years in a row I think is something we are showing our consistency.'
The Guardian
7 hours ago
- The Guardian
‘We have not clicked yet': Tuchel backs England to take on world's best teams
Thomas Tuchel has said England should not have an inferiority complex in relation to the world's strongest teams but must start playing with a smile to realise their true potential. The England head coach said his side 'have not clicked yet' and, as well as criticising the attitude against Andorra on Saturday, believes the performance was too rigid and too serious. England's labours in Barcelona were put into sharper focus by the quality of Portugal and Spain in the Nations League final the following night. Tuchel, however, insists England are not inferior to those nations and will improve, beginning with the friendly against Senegal in Nottingham on Tuesday. 'The level will increase immediately once we are playing against Portugal or Spain. We will rise to the occasion. This will come,' said Tuchel. 'It will bring out the very best in us. We shall not develop a complex because there is no need for it. Spain qualified for the final four with a very lucky win over the Netherlands. Everyone is beatable. They play together in a fluidity and a rhythm which is outstanding and the highest level. 'It is one of the most difficult things to do to play Spain in a final. I struggle to say 'we' because we were not there [in the final of Euro 2024] but it was 1-1 and Spain scored in the last minute and that gave the title to Spain. We have what it takes to compete. We need to improve, for sure. We have not clicked yet.' The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich coach, like many of his predecessors, is already wrestling with the dilemma of why so many gifted individuals do not bring their club form on to the international stage. 'That's the question that needs to be answered,' said Tuchel. 'I think that even Cole [Palmer] struggled lately at Chelsea to have an impact. Phil [Foden], unfortunately, struggled over many months now to have the impact that he can have. 'It is a different strategy [with England], it's different principles of the game and to make everyone play to the same rhythm, to make everyone play to the same principles, takes obviously a little bit more time than we would like. I see the structure in the game, I see the control, I see the amount of passes, but we can do better. We can be more fluid. We can be more exciting which since a longer time I feel has been a bit of a problem. I feel it's a bit stuck, serious, I see us train with a smile but not play with a smile.' Jude Bellingham missed training on Monday to attend a family funeral but rejoined the squad later in the day. Tuchel indicated he could change goalkeepers against Senegal and would have to be careful with the minutes given to players heading to the Club World Cup. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion 'It is not so many players,' he said of the tournament. 'But I think it will have a huge impact and will give Liverpool and Arsenal a huge advantage next season to not be there. We will deal with the effect when the effect comes.'
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Robert Lewandowski accuses manager of "betraying" him as he refuses to play
Robert Lewandowski has lost the captaincy with Poland after sitting out recent games but has been left fuming with the head coach for how he's handled the saga Poland icon Robert Lewandowski claims he was "betrayed" when he lost the armband after claiming he will never play for his country whilst Michał Probierz is the head coach. The Barcelona frontman, who is his country's record goalscorer, has been left fuming by the series of events that saw him stripped of the captaincy as he lamented the manner in which he found out. Lewandowski had copped heavy criticism in the Polish media after making himself unavailable for games against Moldova and Finland this month. He cited "physical and mental tiredness" after a long season with his club as well as and a recent hamstring injury. Lewandowski was replaced by Piotr Zielinski as captain on Sunday, but claimed his situation had been agreed with Probierz. The 36-year-old also questioned how certain information became public and insists he should never have been informed about the changes over the phone. Lewandowski told SportoweFakty: "I got a surprise call from Probierz with the information that he had decided to take away the armband. I was not prepared for it at all, I was putting my children to bed. The conversation lasted a few minutes. "I didn't even have time to tell my family what had happened, because a few moments later it appeared online. I've been wearing the armband for 11 years and playing for the national team for 17. It seemed to me that such matters should be handled differently. "Everything was communicated over the phone. It really shouldn't be like this. The coach betrayed my trust. I've always given everything to the national team, it's always been the most important thing to me, but I'm very hurt by what happened." The ex-Bayern Munich maintained he was not angered by Zielinski replacing him, handing his full backing to the Inter Milan star, but believes the coach didn't back him. "It's not even about the decision regarding the armband, but the way it was communicated to me," he added. "I really don't care about the armband itself. I believe in Zieliński and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for him. I have the impression that the coach caved in to the media pressure. He broke agreements we had and that's why I'm surprised by his attitude." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
