Latest news with #UnaiEmery
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Exclusive: Aston Villa and Newcastle United eye €20m deal that would benefit Barcelona
Under Unai Emery, Aston Villa have regularly looked to the La Liga market, and they are expected to do so again this summer. But for one of their targets, they will face significant competition. The likes of Alex Moreno and Andres Garcia have arrived at Villa Park from Spanish football during Emery's tenure, and another full-back could also be set to join the Premier League side this summer: Oscar Mingueza. Several clubs considering summer move for Oscar Mingueza Sources have told Football España that Mingueza remains on the radar of a number of clubs across Europe. Aston Villa, RB Leipzig, and AS Roma are taking concrete steps toward securing his signature, while Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United are considered as alternative options. Image via Cordon Press Aston Villa, who considered a move for the Celta Vigo defender in January, are targeting Mingueza to strengthen the right-back position in their squad, which is considered weak. Meanwhile, RB Leipzig and AS Roma appreciate the defender's versatile ability to play in either full-back position. In the cases of Nottingham Forest and Newcastle, they have evaluated Mingueza as a potential signing. However, they are believed to be considering alternative options at this stage. Celta desperate to keep him, Barcelona hoping for sale Mingueza has a €20m release clause in his Celta contract, and that figure will be enticing for those clubs interested in the Spain international. However, the Galicians – who secured Europa League qualification last weekend – are currently in the process of trying to agree a new deal with their player, with his existing deal set to expire in 2026. Celta will be desperate to keep Mingueza, but on the other hand, Barcelona will be desperate for a sale. The La Liga champions have a 50% sell-on clause for the defender as part of the deal that saw him go to Balaidos three years ago, so they would net €10m in the event of a summer sale.
The Sun
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Barcelona ‘don't want to pay for Marcus Rashford' in blow to Man Utd with two other Prem wingers on their shortlist
MANCHESTER UNITED have been dealt a blow after Barcelona reportedly declared they do NOT want to pay for Marcus Rashford. The England forward's future is in the spotlight following a half-season loan at Aston Villa. 1 Rashford scored two goals in 14 outings under Unai Emery while helping Villa reach the Champions League quarters. But their failure to qualify for next season's competition means they are unlikely to sign Rashford permanently for an already-agreed £40million. SunSport exclusively revealed the 27-year-old wants to play in the Champions League. And he has now set his sights on a move to Spanish champions Barcelona. Hansi Flick's men are indeed interested in Rashford. However, German outlet Bild claims they do not want to sign him permanently and are only willing to discuss a loan deal. It leaves United in a precarious position, with the Red Devils hoping to cash in on Rashford to fund new signings. It's believed they would give the OK to one more loan move for Rashford. But it requires Barcelona to cover the entirety of his £315,000-a-week wages while also paying a loan fee between £5m and £10m. United also want to agree an option fee for a permanent deal in the summer of 2026. Marcus Rashford sells Lamborghini supercar for £450,000 and buys incredibly rare £177,000 Audi However, Barcelona's reluctance to hand over any money for Rashford could see them look elsewhere. If they are to spend hard cash, the Catalans would reportedly prefer to sign Liverpool's Colombian star Luis Diaz. Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli is also in their sights. While Flick remains a fan of Bayern Munich's Kingsley Coman.
The Sun
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Aston Villa keen to loan out Argentina star after midfielder's stay at Bayer Leverkusen comes to an end
ASTON Villa are seeking a new loan destination for midfield schemer Emi Buendia as he returns from Bayer Leverkusen. Buendia is eager for a Premier League opportunity and his availability is likely to attract the attention of his former boss, Daniel Farke, at Leeds United. 3 3 3 However, Leeds have other priorities and Buendia may have to wait to see how committed they are to bringing him in. Leeds are allowed only two Premier League loans which could limit their options. Villa missed out on Champions League football to Chelsea and Newcastle after a defeat to Manchester United on the final day of the season. Since then, all attention has shifted to the future of goalkeeper and influential team member Emi Martinez. The Argentine has been sensational for Unai Emery 's side but fueled speculation of an exit when he broke down in tears and took a bow in front of the Holte End after Villa's final home game of the season. There had been reports suggesting a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia, but recent links indicate that Manchester United are now monitoring him. Neil Cutler, Martinez's former coach at Villa and close friend, hinted at a potential Premier League move when he said: "This summer is pivotal for Emi in terms of his career. "He's been voted the best goalkeeper in the world twice and it seems there is an opportunity for him this summer with all his options open. "Big clubs are queuing up to speak to him and he either stays at a massive club like Villa or moves to a truly world-class club. 'I don't think money is the issue for Emi, so I don't think he's ready to move to Saudi Arabia just yet. 'If he does move, it would be to a much bigger club, one of the really big hitters, like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid... or even Manchester United.' Lucas Chevalier, Espanyol's Joan Garcia, and Nice's Marcin Bulka if Martinez were to leave.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Aston Villa's player of the season: Youri Tielemans – fitter than ever, better than ever
It came as little surprise that Youri Tielemans swept up at Aston Villa's end-of-season awards. His form has been unerring, a still point in a campaign of contrasting emotions. Fifty-two starts in 55 matches — 4,511 minutes — for a 28-year-old central midfielder demonstrated a unique robustness, made more impressive given criticism of his athleticism, physicality and mobility at previous club Leicester City. During his debut campaign at Villa he was frequently sluggish when opportunities to play arose, making just 17 Premier League starts. Advertisement This season, however, he came narrowly close to being Villa's sole Premier League ever-present, until injury earlier this month curtailed things. Regardless, he became the first Villa player to start more than 50 games in a single season since Alan Wright and Mark Bosnich in 1995-1996. Memories can often be short in football and it was only in August when many were pondering where Tielemans actually fitted into Unai Emery's starting XI. Boubacar Kamara was close to returning after an ACL injury and was expected to be partnered by new £50million club-record signing Amadou Onana. A similar scenario a transpired a year earlier, when Douglas Luiz had forged a midfield partnership with Kamara that had left Tielemans making do with either a substitute role or competing for one of the two No 10 spots further up the pitch. Speak to close observers and the Belgium international is a player and character who requires rhythm; he needs regular games and a lot of them to feel fully attuned. Even if he did develop his work between the lines as a No 10 last season, he did not necessarily have the confidence or speed of thought to influence matches. This time has been different. He seized the small window of opportunity as Kamara was weeks away from recovering fitness and ensured he became undroppable and indispensable in Emery's mind. He started the season how he finished it: the gravitational centre of Villa's build-up play. He has grown in presence and authority in the changing room. On the pitch, he directs play and takes up positions to help progress Villa up the field. No player has made more forward passes than Tielemans. Indeed, no player has made more passes, tackles, or accrued more minutes. He became the first player in the Premier League this season to create more than 50 chances and make over 200 passes into the final third. Only Morgan Rogers, possibly the only team-mate to rival Tielemans for player of the season, is ahead in assists. Advertisement More impressively, he has rarely lost a midfield battle, despite being up against ostensibly bigger and more athletic opponents. He is fitter than ever, more intense in his pressing and counter-pressing and such has been the improvement Emery frequently instructs him to lock on and pressurise the opponent's deepest midfielder, knowing Tielemans now has the physique and fitness to make longer sprints and cover larger areas. Tielemans is, in many ways, a throwback. Football has become an increasingly athletic sport, where recruitment can be based as much on physical ability as technical. Those who are technically gifted and would have thrived in previous eras can be left behind if they are not seen to have the ability to eat up ground. An inherently end-to-end game, exceptionally so with Villa a transition-based attacking team, does not exactly suit a player like Tielemans once was. Even though Villa signed him aged 26, scouts and recruitment specialists, who spoke to The Athletic on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, insist there was a perception his best years were behind him. While still young, he had already been a professional for a decade and it was felt, or was beginning feel, like there were too many matches in his legs and it was taking a toll on his performances. It is why the clubs he was previously linked to — Arsenal and Manchester United — were not in the running when his contract at Leicester expired. Villa pounced, emboldened by Emery's affection and the club's recruitment team looking beyond perception and running critical numbers on his data. The feedback suggested he was part of a failing team that was proving detrimental to his own development, rather than any physical decline. He joined as a free agent in June 2023 with a hefty signing-on fee. If he was to leave, Villa would certainly make a sizeable profit that the PSR accounting books would be deeply thankful for. Advertisement Through patience and perseverance, Tielemans has transformed into what was expected of him as a precocious teenager at Anderlecht. He's one of the best central midfielders around, possessing a rare capacity to control the game through the tempo he sets on the ball and ensuring his endurance is up to such levels that no one can hold it against him. He thinks quicker than most, he sees developing pictures ahead of him quicker and is malleable enough to make the same impact either as a deep-lying playmaker, box-to-box midfielder or a No 10. Even when Villa won just six times in 21 fixtures between September and February, owing to a general flatlining of performance, Tielemans was a cut above. Central midfield is one of the most demanding positions, and especially so under Emery. They must have the courage to take the ball in tight areas while playing at maximum intensity. There has to be equal composure and ferocity. Tielemans has mastered the balance, being brave in wanting the ball whatever the situation or stadium while never willingly giving ground to an opponent. This has made him Villa's most important player, a leader and, undoubtedly, player of the season. (Top photo by Mike Hewitt via Getty Images)
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Aston Villa set to sign Feyenoord striker Zepiqueno Redmond, 18, on free transfer
ASTON VILLA are set to sign young Feyenoord striker Zepiqueno Redmond on a free transfer. With Unai Emery hopeful the 18-year-old Dutch youth international will become as successful as Jhon Duran - the last teenage striker he signed. 2 Duran cost Villa £14.5million when Emery signed him from Chicago Fire in January, 2023. And Villa made a cool £50million profit when they sold him to Saudi giants Al-Nassr two years later. Redmond's contract with Feyenoord expires at the end of June and Villa have beaten off interest from several clubs in the Premier League and across Europe. But the kid who can play as a striker or on the wing is poised to join Villa on a four-year deal. Emery has been looking to add a young forward to Villa's ranks since Duran was sold in January. Redmond has made nine senior appearances for Feyenoord and made his first team debut in November during a 4-1 win over Almere City in the Eredivisie. He went on to feature in the club's next two league matches and scored both of his side's goals in a 2-1 victory over MVV Maastricht in the KNVB Cup on December 17. Two months later, he made his Champions League debut, starting in a league phase clash against AC Milan at the San Siro, which ended in a 1-1 draw. 2 He also featured in the round of 16 second leg against Inter, coming on for the final 15 minutes in Milan. Redmond has played for the Netherlands at Under-16, Under-17 and has been a regular for the Under-19s over the past year.
