Unai Emery – CaughtOffside

Video: “Players that get coaches sacked” – Steve Nicol warns Emery over £50m capture

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 10:45:28 +0000

Former professional player, Steve Nicol, certainly hasn’t held back with regards to his thoughts on Joao Felix, as rumours continue that Unai Emery would like to sign him for Aston Villa.

There’s little doubt that when he’s in the mood, the Portuguese is up there with the very top talents in Europe.

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He’s shown as much in flashes for Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Barcelona, but there’s the rub.

A player of his evident quality should be showing that game in and game out and Felix, even now, just drifts in and out of games.

That’s perhaps why Nicol has said he’s one of those “players that get coaches sacked.”

Emery can’t say he hasn’t been warned.

Pictures from ESPN

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Sensational La Liga ace being eyed by Unai Emery for Aston Villa

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 10:17:21 +0000

With a Champions League campaign to look forward to in 2024/25, Aston Villa manager, Unai Emery, knows that he’ll need a deep enough squad to cope with those European commitments on top of a domestic season.

He only needs to remind himself of what happened to Newcastle United last season once injuries started to bite, ostensibly as a result of those extra games.

Player fitness and health will have to be micro-managed throughout the campaign, and even if it means that certain stars miss high-profile games, if it’s for the greater good, they need to accept Emery’s decision.

Aston Villa want to sign Joao Felix

Longevity right across the campaign and not just the first half is key for Villa, and it’s perhaps with that in mind that the manager is looking to execute a stunning transfer deal.

According to The Guardian (subscription required), now that a deal has been agreed to take Moussa Diaby to the Saudi Pro League, Emery is weighing up the chances of trying to land Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix.

Joao Felix could be joining Aston Villa

Felix, 24, had been expected to head back to Barcelona next season, though the Catalan club’s pursuit of Nico Williams would seem to rule any move for Felix out.

Atletico Madrid are believed not to want him either, so unless there are any more favourable offers, it could potentially leave the way clear for the Villains.

With Champions League football coming to Villa Park next season, and Emery building an excellent squad, there’s no reason why Joao Felix wouldn’t be tempted by the possibilities.

Though the player can blow hot and cold and is often termed an ‘enigma’ for that reason, when he’s on his game, there are few better players.

Villa have enough work horses in the team to allow for a bit of inventiveness and flair, and it will surely be one of the signings of the summer if it happens.

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Video: “Sharon, have you seen my Preds?” – Aston Villa produce epic kit reveal starring Ozzy Osbourne

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 08:17:48 +0000

Aston Villa have taken things up a notch in terms of kit reveal videos, after having rock god, Ozzy Osbourne, appear in theirs for the 2024/25 home kit debut.

Villa legends Paul McGrath and Gabby Agbonlahor make an appearance as do Unai Emery and some of his current staff, but it’s Osbourne that steals the show.

The video is set to the sound of Black Sabbath’s epic track, Paranoid, which adds an extra layer of cool to the footage.

Instant classic.

UP THE VILLA! ? pic.twitter.com/cDJTFniFM6

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) July 23, 2024

Pictures from Aston Villa Football Club

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Aston Villa transfer news: £100m duo highlighted as ‘more realistic’ targets than Nico Williams

CJ — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 21:28:49 +0000

Aston Villa have a ‘more realistic’ chance of signing Crysencio Summerville or Morgan Gibbs-White than Nico Williams this summer, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

The Midlands club are a more attractive prospect in this summer’s transfer market than in previous years after finishing fourth in the Premier League and qualifying for the Champions League.

Villa emerged as a shock name linked to the signing of Athletic Club star Williams, who stood out as one of the players of the tournament as Spain went all the way at Euro 2024 — named Man of the Match for the 2-1 win over England in the final and named in the UEFA Team of the Tournament after notching two goals and an assist.

Unai Emery may well be on the lookout for a high-quality winger with France international Moussa Diaby heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.

Aston Villa to be priced out of Williams deal

However, according to Jacobs, Villa are yet to enter the race for Williams, with Barcelona and Chelsea more prominent suitors for the winger’s signature.

But even they face a battle to get a deal over the line, with high wage demands putting both clubs off.

“Aston Villa have not to date entered the race for Nico Williams,” Jacobs told GIVEMESPORT. Barcelona still remain the club to watch. Chelsea haven’t entirely walked away but won’t rekindle interest unless the overall package drops. They made the decision before Euro 2024 and nothing has changed since.

“Barcelona are hoping Williams either drops his wage or accepts personal terms in a structure that suits Barca given their precarious financial situation. This could involve deferred wages, for example.”

Rather than breaking the bank for Williams, Jacobs believes Villa may be better off pursuing the likes of Summerville of Leeds United or Nottingham Forest’s Gibbs-White — valued at £40m and £60m, respectively.

“Villa would be handed a healthy budget if Diaby is sold on their terms, but Williams’ wages are the real issue for potential suitors,” Jacobs added. “I think there is a more realistic chance Villa look at players like Leeds United’s Crysencio Summerville or Morgan Gibbs-White at Nottingham Forest.”

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Aston Villa’s reason for holding out on £50m+ fee for Moussa Diaby revealed

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 06:54:39 +0000

Just a year after signing for Aston Villa, Moussa Diaby will shortly be confirmed as having made a move to the Saudi Pro League.

A switch to Al Ittihad is reportedly almost done and dusted and, bizarre as it seems, brings into sharp focus the threat that remains for Premier League clubs from a league that’s only rated as the 68th best in the world (TeamForm).

The same rating places the Premier League at the very top, so the only reason that players can be tempted to move to Saudi remains financial.

Aston Villa want £50m+ for Moussa Diaby… and with good reason

No amount of banging the drum by Cristiano Ronaldo and others is going to change that.

Diaby has made his bed and will shortly have to lie in it, but Villa, to their credit, have stuck to their guns in terms of a transfer fee.

As Football Insider note, more than £50m is required for Diaby to move on, though there’s also a big reason why the Villains value their player as such, given they paid £43m to Bayer Leverkusen for his services.

Aston Villa’s Moussa Diaby is set to sign for Saudi Pro League outfit Al Ittihad

The same outlet suggest that, in fact, Villa still owe the Bundesliga champions around half of that fee, and will therefore have to square off that debt once the player is sold.

Diaby’s apparent insistence at leaving the club, particularly given that Villa will be involved in their first Champions League campaign in four decades, will almost certainly have left a sour taste.

However, in director of football operations, Monchi, Villa have one of the shrewdest operators in the transfer market.

It would surprise no one if he’s lined up as big a name as Diaby once the Frenchman bids goodbye to the club for the final time.

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Aston Villa have named their price for Moussa Diaby with Al Ittihad ready to pounce

Jason Pettigrove — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 08:38:05 +0000

It’s only been a year since Moussa Diaby joined Aston Villa, however, the Frenchman appears likely to be on the move once again.

Al Ittihad are rumoured to be circling and given that the Saudi Pro League are understood to have almost endless reserves of cash available for the right players, it’s not likely to be too much longer before another Premier League star is persuaded to swap the cold English climate for the sunnier climbs of the Middle East.

Moussa Diaby set for Saudi Pro League switch

Indeed, talkSPORT note that the two clubs are in advanced talks for Diaby’s transfer, however, Al Ittihad will have to pay through the nose if they want to ensure the move goes through.

The outlet suggest that Villa will only do business for £60m, which is markedly more than the £43m that the Midlands-based outfit paid for him 12 months ago.

Moussa Diaby is set to move from Aston Villa to the Saudi Pro League

That’s unlikely to be an issue for the Saudi’s, and therefore it will surely only be a matter of time before any deal is rubber stamped.

Whilst Diaby’s sale would inevitably weaken the Villains, the sale price does give them the option to go out and acquire a player of equal talent.

Given Monchi’s record in the transfer market, Unai Emery and the Villa supporters can be assured that the profit from the Diaby deal will be well spent.

With a Champions League campaign ahead as well as a tough domestic season, the quicker a deal can be completed the better for Villa, as it will allow them to build up the squad well ahead of the first match of the 2024/25 season.

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Unai Emery and 6ft 1in forward not working well together at Aston Villa

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 10:43:50 +0000

If there’s one thing that Unai Emery would seem to demand of any team he manages, it’s that of the total commitment to the cause that he himself displays.

The Spaniard is renowned for being meticulous in his preparation, but if he is to succeed, then all of his players need to buy into his way or working.

One player that is understood not to be working too well with Emery at present is exciting Colombian striker, Jhon Duran.

Jhon Duran set to leave Aston Villa

According to Ben Jacobs, speaking to Give Me Sport, there’s every chance that the player could leave in this window.

“Villa have been very firm on their asking price, and that might be because they wanted to invest some of the Duran money into a player in a different position – for example, Amadou Onana,” he said.

“But one thing is clear that as much as Villa thinking Duran is a top footballer, they are prepared to let him go, because they don’t necessarily think that he is on the same page as Unai Emery with his pathway at the football club.

“He’s looking for more imminent and instant game time, and Unai Emery wants a slightly slower pathway progression, so the player is keen on going elsewhere.”

Both Chelsea and West Ham United are rumoured to be interested in signing the player this summer, and if he’s unable to rectify his way of working with the manager, then it would seem that Duran will be sent packing from Villa Park.

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West Ham confirm chase for exciting £35m-rated Premier League striker

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 11:17:54 +0000

It’s an exciting time for West Ham fans as they continue to see their club heavily involved in the transfer market.

Unlike last year, when it took until the week of the first game of the season before the club signed anyone, Tim Steidten appears to have been working overtime in order to construct deals for players that will make Julen Lopetegui’s squad stronger.

Jhon Duran set to be West Ham’s new striker

Under David Moyes, the Hammers struggled up front with the ageing Michail Antonio and misfiring Danny Ings, and so their need for a new marksman is obvious.

To that end, Fabrizio Romano noted a few days ago that the East Londoners have made more than one offer for Aston Villa’s exciting striker, Jhon Duran.

??? West Ham have already submitted more than one bid for Jhon Durán to Aston Villa.

Understand last proposal currently worth around £35m plus 10% sell-on clause.

Negotiations underway, personal terms already agreed with Durán. ?? pic.twitter.com/hFlBslREUP

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 9, 2024

It’s thought that the Colombian is happy to leave Villa Park for the chance of regular football and to be able to make his mark elsewhere.

Hammers News also note say that West Ham’s top spokesman has confirmed the approach for Duran to them.

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Aston Villa make official offer as they try again for Fulham reject

Mark Brus — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 11:24:26 +0000

Aston Villa have reportedly made an official offer to Napoli for the transfer of former Fulham midfielder Andre Zambo Anguissa.

The 28-year-old was a target for Villa in the past, and they’re now ready to swoop for him again in what could be a smart move for Unai Emery as he looks to strengthen the squad that qualified for the Champions League last season.

Villa have sold Douglas Luiz to Juventus, so could do with someone like Anguissa coming in to replace Luiz in that area of the pitch.

The Cameroon international is said to be untouchable at Napoli, so they won’t want to let him go without a fight.

Tottenham could swap player Unai Emery knows well for Jacob Ramsey

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 05:49:06 +0000

Just over a week into the transfer window and the plans of various clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, are beginning to take shape.

Ever since his introduction into English football a year ago, Ange Postecoglou has appeared to have a clear idea of exactly what he wants in order to turn the Lilywhites into a real force domestically and, ideally, in the Champions League.

Tottenham offering Lo Celso and cash for Ramsey

Missing out on qualifying for the latter would surely have irked the Australian, particularly given that for long periods the North Londoners were comfortably inside the Premier League’s top four.

That will provide motivation for both manager and his players for the forthcoming campaign, and with pre-season having already begun for those players not selected for their countries for various competitions this summer, there’s no time to lose.

Giovani Lo Celso could leave Tottenham to join Aston Villa.

There’s also the small matter of player outgoings for two reasons; to give the manager more money to play with during the transfer window, and to rid the squad of what might be considered ‘dead wood.’

According to WhoScored, Giovani Lo Celso only managed 701 minutes under Postecoglou last season, and not once did he manage to complete 90 minutes.

Sky Sports note that the Argentinian is being offered to Aston Villa – who got into the UCL at Spurs’ expense – as a makeweight in Tottenham’s attempts to land highly-rated Jacob Ramsey.

Lo Celso is well known to Villa manager, Unai Emery, of course having played for him at Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain, though the outlet suggest the Villains aren’t keen to part with their midfielder at this point.

Regardless of whether Spurs can eventually construct a deal that satisfies both Villa and Ramsey himself, it would seem that Lo Celso’s career in North London is over.

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