Hello and welcome to Thursday's Alive coverage of Aston Villa from BirminghamLive.

Villa recorded their third win in every bit many games throughout pre-flavour with a 1-0 win over Brisbane Roar, equally Cameron Archer's effort with merely over x minutes to go proved to be the deciding factor.

The lucifer is the second of 3 games Villa will play as part of their Commonwealth of australia bout and we will bring yous the all-time of the action as our Villa reporter Ashley Preece continues to cover the bout Down Under.

Nosotros volition also exist keeping you upwardly to speed with all the latest Villa transfer news with Steven Gerrard's men nonetheless active in the summer window.

Carney Chukwuemeka remains in Birmingham having been left out of the squad that travelled to Australia considering of his contract situation. The latest reports surrounding his future have suggested that PSG have now joined the race to sign the young midfielder. Elsewhere, rumours regarding the club signing a new striker go on to swirl with La Liga goal car Raúl de Tomás the latest to exist linked with a motion to Villa Park.

Keep up to engagement with all the latest transfer news on the weblog below...

Fundamental Events

Brian Dick

Saint in waiting

Bordeaux have reached an "agreement in principle" with Southampton for young striker Sékou Mara. That'south according to Sky Sports who cite 'reports in France' every bit saying the nineteen-year-old is set to come up to England for a medical and to sign his contract with the Saints and complete a bargain said to be worth €13m.

SSN reckon Newcastle and Borussia Monchengladbach also held talks over signing Mara but that Bordeaux have moved forwards with Southampton, who have offered the market rate. Yesterday it was claimed that Aston Villa were one of three Premier League teams interested in signing the French republic international

Mara enjoyed a breakthrough season in Ligue 1 terminal term, scoring half-dozen goals despite still existence a teenager while playing primarily equally a substitute and the fact Bordeaux were relegated.

More here

Brian Dick

Calvin explains

Calvin Bassey, who for and then long was linked with a reunion with Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa, yesterday completed his move from Rangers to Ajax. Subsequently months of speculation the left-sided defender finally put pen to paper on a £22.6m transfer that sees him get an Ajax player for the adjacent 5 years.

The Nigeria international left Ibrox after Gerrard plucked him from Leicester Urban center for only grooming bounty. He went on to flourish under Gerrard earlier the Liverpudlian moved to Villa Park.

A reunion had seemed on the cards, with Bassey also linked with Arsenal and West Ham, just earlier this week he opted to motility to the Eredivisie champions – and he explained why he turned downward a move to the Premier League.

"As a kid you lot ever dream almost playing for the biggest clubs in the world, playing in the Champions League and winning things," Bassey said. "That's what Ajax is about. They play in the Champions League and they win trophies. They have got a history. The players who have come in and out of this club who take gone on to be amazing players and careers at Ajax or elsewhere just shows that something is right here."

More than here

Brian Dick

Carney merits

Carney Chukwuemeka has no involvement in discussing a new contract right at present amid interest from Barcelona, co-ordinate to Sky Sports.

The 18-yr-old is out of contract next summertime and is able to talk to foreign clubs from Jan, subsequently which Villa take chances losing him for a nominal fee.

Boss Steven Gerrard has not taken Chukwuemeka on bout to Australia, with domestic clubs claimed to exist interested in him.

SSN reckon Borussia Dortmund enquired about him but say that interest has now cooled.

Patrick Rowe

Erling Haaland references Aston Villa transfer fee as Jack Grealish joke made

Manchester Metropolis striker Erling Haaland has referenced the £100 1000000 fee Aston Villa received for Jack Grealish whilst talking about the pressure he may feel going into his first flavor in English football.

Grealish, 26, secured a £100 one thousand thousand transfer to bring together Pep Guardiola'south squad last summertime, just failed to alive upward to the lofty cost tag, as he went on to record just three goals and iii assists across 26 Premier League appearances.

Man City accept gone on to add farther firepower to their embarrassment of riches ahead of the new season, after securing the £l meg signing of Norwegian striker Haaland from Borussia Dortmund. The 22-yr-old striker is fresh from 30 goal involvements within the Bundesliga terminal season and volition become the new focal bespeak of an already intimidating attack for Guardiola.

READ More than HERE.

Primal Event

Keinan Davis ruled out of Human Utd friendly

Keinan Davis has been ruled out of Aston Villa's terminal match of their pre-season bout of Australia due to an ongoing hamstring injury. More than HERE.

Patrick Rowe

'I believe' - former Aston Villa boss makes Jack Grealish claim post-obit £100m Man City struggles

Quondam Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood has outlined what Jack Grealish will have to practise to become a regular at Manchester Metropolis following a tough first yr at the Etihad Stadium.

Grealish, 26, completed a £100 million transfer to join Pep Guardiola's side concluding summer and went on to secure his first Premier League championship on the final day of the 2021/22 season. However, despite the successes of the City team every bit a whole, Grealish struggled to recapture the stellar form he had exhibited and so frequently in claret and blue, claiming just three goals in 26 appearances for City in the top flight.

Despite his struggles, his former boss Tim Sherwood has backed the England international to become a 'regular' under Guardiola next season as long equally he adjusts parts of his current fashion of play. Speaking on behalf of 888sport, he said: "Jack volition say himself that he can improve. He is no shrinking violet and the bigger the force per unit area, the more he stands upward.

READ MORE Hither.

Primal Result

Gerrard on Douglas Luiz contract opinion

Douglas Luiz looks on during the pre-flavor friendly between Walsall and Aston Villa at Poundland Bescot Stadium

Steven Gerrard has revealed that Aston Villa are nevertheless to receive a transfer offer for Douglas Luiz. The Brazilian has xi months remaining on his Villa Park contract and appears happy with the electric current land of play.

More Here.

Patrick Rowe

'Key' - Aston Villa striker transfer could hitting stumbling block

Aston Villa striker Wesley has travelled to Valencia to complete a loan deal to join Spanish side Levante, with the medical examinations of the player 'cardinal', according to reports.

Wesley, 25, will cut his loan spell brusque at Internacional S.C due to a lack of game time, as the Brazilian looks set to secure a motility back to Europe. Wesley signed for Villa in 2019 for a fee in the region of £22 million, merely a severe knee injury suffered in the New Year's Twenty-four hour period game against Burnley in 2020 severely impacted his progress in claret and blue, leading to the thespian pursuing a loan move to Internacional last January.

Wesley made 19 appearances at the Brazilian social club and recorded two goals, before falling out of favour following the club's engagement of Mano Menezes as director in April.

READ MORE HERE.

KEY Upshot

Erik ten Hag handed double Human being Utd injury boost for Aston Villa disharmonism

Aston Villa will take on Manchester United this weekend, with Erik ten Hag set to receive an injury boost for the fixture in the course of Raphael Varane.

Steven Gerrard's side have recorded 3 wins in as many games after registering victories against Walsall, Leeds United and well-nigh recently Brisbane Roar. Cameron Archer has been the star of the testify and so far, with two goals in his two appearances beyond the summer.

Villa will now depart Townsville where they faced A-League side Brisbane Roar and move on to Perth, where they will test themselves confronting a rejuvenated United side at the Optus Stadium on Saturday. The Red Devils are undefeated so far under their new dominate, with impressive wins recorded against Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Melbourne Victory throughout pre-season.

READ MORE Here.

Patrick Rowe

'Likewise much' - Tim Sherwood writes off Steven Gerrard'south plan for Aston Villa

Quondam Aston Villa dominate Tim Sherwood believes a elevation six stop volition be 'too much' for Steven Gerrard'south side next flavour, but has backed his former guild to 'ameliorate' on last year's showing.

Villa finished in a disappointing 14th place last season and will be eager to leapfrog teams such every bit Brentford, Crystal Palace, Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the next campaign post-obit several loftier-profile and high quality signings throughout the summer.

According to The Athletic, Gerrard has already informed 'key' players that his ambition for the squad is to cease in the top seven come the end of the 2022/23 season. However, old director Sherwood believes these lofty ambitions may be arriving too presently at Villa Park.

READ More than HERE.

Patrick Rowe

What Aston Villa 'want' following Steven Gerrard transfer admission

One-time Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton has praised Steven Gerrard and the social club for the transfer business conducted so far, but has highlighted two areas that may demand strengthening moving forwards.

Villa acted quickly post-obit the end of the 2021/22 Premier League flavour with the signings of Philippe Coutinho (£17m), Boubacar Kamara (complimentary), Diego Carlos (£26m) and Robin Olsen (£3m) simply days later on domestic football game ended. Since and then, the gild has likewise secured a vital dorsum-upwards to Lucas Digne at left-back, in the course of erstwhile Sevilla defender Ludwig Augustinsson (loan).

Gerrard commented on any farther transfer dealings in the window after his side'due south ane-0 victory against Brisbane Roar on Wednesday, where the boss said: "Nosotros'll see what the next weeks bring. But, yep, in an ideal world nosotros've got an eye on the market and, if something comes upward that suits us, I'll speak to people that concerns."

READ More Here.

John Townley

Carney Chukwuemeka transfer claim fabricated as Aston Villa contract stand up-off continues

Barcelona are reportedly the frontrunners to sign Carney Chukwuemeka if he should leave Aston Villa - with French giants Paris Saint-Germain also said to exist interested in the midfielder.

Chukwuemeka is yet to sign fresh terms with Villa and could the teenager can move to a club in Europe for a compensation fee of around £300,000 to £400,000 in a years time. Withal, information technology is claimed that Villa have put a £20million toll tag on the midfielder for interested clubs this summer, as the likes of Barca, Borussia Dortmund and even Newcastle United are said to be monitoring the situation.

BirminghamLive understands contract discussions with Villa are ongoing, merely Chukwuemeka has been away from the start-squad in the crucial weeks leading up to the new entrada equally Villa bout Australia. "Carney is yet to sign a contract offer that has been in place for some fourth dimension now," Gerrard told Villa Television. "I've decided the best affair for him would exist to continue his training plan back at Bodymoor."

READ More than Hither

John Townley

Douglas Luiz transfer claims could prompt Aston Villa rethink amid AC Milan U-plough

AC Milan'due south interest in Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz has reportedly "faded" equally the Italian giants go along their search for a new midfielder this summer.

The 24-year-former has been linked with a move to the Serie A since the beginning of last season equally Jose Mourinho is an admirer, though Every bit Roma are all the same to follow up their interest this summer. Luiz has just 12 months left on his electric current deal and club's volition exist aware they he could leave Villa Park for a reduced cost every bit he will be allowed to discuss a gratis transfer with interested teams in Jan.

Luiz joined the guild from Manchester City in the summer of 2019 and has made more 100 appearances in blood and blue. Though, Luiz faces the prospect of limited game time next season post-obit the arrival of Boubacar Kamara, who will be one of the first names on Gerrard'southward team sheet next term subsequently he joined the club on a free transfer from Marseille.

READ More Here

Matthew Abbott

Former Villa starlet out to 'prove anybody incorrect' in Champions League tie

Aston Villa academy graduate Andre Green has revealed that the motivation behind leaving England subsequently being released past Sheffield Wednesday was to "show anybody incorrect".

The winger was released afterwards more than a decade at the guild, having joined at the age of 9, merely days after turning 22 years quondam in the summer of 2020. Green fabricated almost 50 appearances for Villa later on debuting as a 17-twelvemonth-old, with the majority coming while the gild were in the Championship.

Six months subsequently leaving Villa Park, the former England youth international signed for Sheffield Wednesday merely made just fifteen appearances in Yorkshire earlier securing a move to perennial Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava.

Read more than here.

Patrick Rowe

Cameron Archer reveals Steven Gerrard chat about his Aston Villa time to come

Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer has admitted he would prefer to remain at the guild alee of the new season, but has stated he would exist open to a loan move if necessary.

Archer, twenty, secured Villa's 3rd win of the summer against Brisbane Roar as he came on at half-time and gave Steven Gerrard'due south side the lead with just over 10 minutes to get. The England U20 striker latched onto a laissez passer from Kaine Kesler Hayden, before swivelling and firing the ball into the back of the cyberspace, past Macklin Freke in the Brisbane goal.

It is his 2d goal in as many games throughout the pre-flavor preparations, as rumours go on to swirl regarding whether or not Gerrard will go along him around the first team squad or sanction a loan move for the histrion. Archer enjoyed a successful loan spell in the Championship last flavour with Preston Due north End, which saw him score vii goals across 18 starts for Ryan Lowe'southward side.

READ More Hither.

Matthew Abbott

Villa and Leeds 'seduced' past €10m striker besides wanted by Newcastle

Aston Villa are reportedly one of three Premier League teams interested in signing Bordeaux striker Sékou Mara this summer.

The France under-20 international enjoyed a breakthrough flavor in Ligue 1 final term, scoring six goals despite still existence a teenager while playing primarily every bit a substitute. But Mara will have to detect another club to proceed that progress next season after Bordeaux were relegated.

And due to fiscal issues and the very existent prospect of defalcation that could see them playing equally low as the fifth-tier this flavour, a whole host of players are expected to leave. While the club accept yet to sell whatever players, it seems a €10 million (£8.5 million) transfer fee is likely to be their request price.

Read more here.

Patrick Rowe

Former Aston Villa and Liverpool human lined up for shock Wolves transfer

Wolverhampton Wanderers are considering a motion for one-time Aston Villa and Liverpool striker Christian Benteke, according to reports.

The 31-year-old made his name in England later joining Villa in Baronial 2012 for around £7m. The Belgian was a resounding success in blood and blue, scoring 49 goals in 101 appearances - including 19 in his debut season.

But having fabricated a £32m switch to Anfield in 2015, Benteke struggled to recapture the same goalscoring course, ultimately leading to his move to Crystal Palace but a year afterward arriving at Anfield.

READ More HERE.

Matthew Abbott

Villa hero surprises fan named Aston with special pre-season experience

Former Aston Villa goalkeeper Marker Bosnich surprised a young supporter named in honour of the order alee of today's pre-season friendly in Townsville against Brisbane Roar.

In a video posted on social media, the ex-Commonwealth of australia international is shown interrupting a youth football game preparation session in Townsville to talk to young Aston. On behalf of the social club, Bosnich tells him that he volition be Villa's team mascot at Queensland Land Depository financial institution Stadium before tossing the coin ahead of kick-off.

Aston says on the video: "We were actually going to go downwardly to see them in Sydney when they were rumoured to be playing Crystal Palace last year, just that got cancelled because of Covid. So so coming up here, playing in Townsville, it was something we'd never imagined happening."

Read more here.

Matthew Abbott

McGinn breaks silence after Leeds incident

Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn has thanked Aston Villa fans for their back up on social media following the friendly in Australia confronting Leeds United.

The 27-yr-old featured for Steven Gerrard 'southward side in the 2nd half of the opening lucifer of the pre-season tour Downwards Under at Lang Park in Brisbane against their Premier League rivals. McGinn was and then involved in a controversial incident with Leeds teenager Archie Grayness after going in for a l/50 that saw the opposition player come out of information technology the worst.

A xanthous card was shown to the Scotland international, a rare sight in such friendlies, followed by the Villa man checking in on the stricken youngster as he left the pitch on a stretcher. The hope remains that Grayness only sprained his ankle in the incident.

Read more hither.

Patrick Rowe

Tim Sherwood makes 'huge' Aston Villa claim that Steven Gerrard and Philippe Coutinho will already know

Former Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood has outlined how 'huge' of a order Philippe Coutinho and Steven Gerrard have joined but has insisted they will need invest in players of 'quality' to surroundings the Brazilian with as the squad prepare for the 2022/23 Premier League season.

Coutinho, 30, converted his temporary switch from Barcelona to the Midlands into a permanent i this summer, as Villa completed the £17 1000000 signing of the man that once cost the La Liga giants £142 million in 2018. Coutinho is now well underway with his first pre-season with his new squad, which saw get a 45 infinitesimal run-out in the i-0 win against Leeds United.

Elsewhere Villa take as well secured the signings of Boubacar Kamara, Diego Carlos, Robin Olsen and Ludwig Augustinsson however the former managing director at Villa Park believes a 'few' more additions are still needed in order to consummate the team and to bring the all-time out of Coutinho.

READ More HERE.

Patrick Rowe

Steven Gerrard facing 'difficult' Aston Villa selection headache

One-time Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton has praised the 'solid' signing of Diego Carlos whilst likewise highlighting the competition Steven Gerrard has at centre-back is needed to button the squad further.

Villa secured the signing of the 29-year-onetime Brazilian defender earlier on in the window for a fee in the region of £26 million to eternalize their options within the defense. Nevertheless, with Carlos capable of operating as a left-sided defender, right-sided defender or inside a dorsum three, Gerrard now faces a huge selection headache ahead of the 2022/23 Premier League campaign in terms of which partnership he turns to in the opening fixture against Bournemouth.

Villa captain Tyrone Mings featured in 36 of the 38 domestic fixtures terminal flavour whilst Ezri Konsa was limited to just 29 through both intermission and injury issues. Due to the setbacks Konsa experienced, Villa needed a reliable backup to call upon and that swiftly arrived in the course of Calum Chambers on a free transfer. The 27-twelvemonth-old defender thrived in the office when chosen upon, so much so that the term 'fill-in' may exist doing the player a disservice going into the new campaign.

READ MORE Hither.

Patrick Rowe

Aston Villa striker to walk out on loan club to sign new transfer understanding

Brazilian striker Wesley is expected to wrap up another loan deal this week to join Levante in Spain. The 25-twelvemonth-old is booked in for a medical and will cut short his stint at Internacional Due south.C due to a lack of game time.

Wesley, a £22million signing for Villa in 2019, initially joined Internacional dorsum in January and penned an 18-month loan deal but, only vi months into that agreement, the former Club Brugge man is now returning to Europe. Wesley made 19 appearances at the Brazilian lodge - scoring twice - merely drastically fell out of favour following the club's appointment of Mano Menezes as manager in Apr.

He'll now sign a season-long loan at Levante who, final season, were relegated from La Liga. The Segunda Sectionalisation club, nicknamed The Frogs, are now managed by former Birmingham City midfielder Mehdi Nafti.

READ More Here.

John Townley

Boubacar Kamara sends 'special' bulletin to Aston Villa fans

Aston Villa midfielder Boubacar Kamara has thanked supporters for their 'astonishing' welcome afterwards he played his first game for the club in a pre-season friendly against Leeds United.

The French republic international impressed for Villa in the showtime half, before Steven Gerrard elected to make 9 changes at half-fourth dimension to the team who started in the 1-0 win over Leeds at the Suncorp Stadium. Kamara started at the base of a midfield three aslope Douglas Luiz and Jacob Ramsey in Brisbane, and supporters were excited by the 45-minute showing from their new summertime signing.

Kamara joined Villa on a free transfer following his exit from Marseille this summertime, despite reported involvement from Manchester United and Atletico Madrid. Post-obit his beginning advent for Villa, the 22-year-old posted a message on Instagram.

READ MORE Hither

John Townley

Tottenham face fresh transfer dilemma after beating Aston Villa to £14m star

Tottenham Hotspur are considering sending Pape Matar Sarr out on loan nigh 12 months after he joined the north London club following strong interest from Aston Villa.

Matar Sarr joined Spurs later a £fourteen.5m deal plus add together-ons was agreed with FC Metz terminal summer, merely it was Villa who were reportedly leading the race for the teenager'due south signature earlier the deal was done. After arriving at Tottenham every bit a signing for the future, Sarr saw out the residual of the 2021/22 campaign with his former social club.

Last season, Matar Sarr made 33 Ligue 1 appearances and scored ane goal, and Spurs boss Antonio Conte admits he is unsure whether the midfielder is set for the Premier League next term. The 19-year-old is currently training with Tottenham during pre-season.

READ More HERE

John Townley

Micah Richards disagrees with Jack Grealish's Aston Villa betoken after £100m Man City transfer

Micah Richards doesn't think Jack Grealish has improved under Pep Guardiola during his first season at Manchester City post-obit a £100m transfer from Aston Villa.

The 26-year-old left his boyhood club for a British record transfer fee terminal summer, a year after penning a new five-year bargain to remain at Villa Park. But the contract Grealish signed contained a £100m buy-out clause for whatever Champions League social club to activate, which City did.

Grealish won the Premier League under Guardiola concluding season, but sometime Villa and City defender Richards thinks he can go to some other level at the Etihad side by side term. Speaking on the Sky Bet Debate, he said: "I'll be honest (I haven't seen an improvement from Villa) I expected more. I'g just saying he needs a footling bit more time to settle.

READ MORE Hither

John Townley

Aston Villa receive Barcelona transfer message later on Robert Lewandowski signing

Aston Villa are reportedly looking to bolster Steven Gerrard's attacking options this summer if the right actor becomes available on the marketplace.

talkSPORT transfer adept Alex Crook claims Villa are 'scouring the market' for a new number 9, and caput coach Gerrard has already suggested he wants to add together at to the lowest degree 1 more player to his team before the start of the new season. A midfielder appears to be the club's current transfer priority, nonetheless.

The Dominicus have also suggested that Villa are eyeing a move for a new striker, despite already having the likes of Ollie Watkins, Danny Ings and prospect Cameron Archer in the squad. Supporters have also been discussing the possibility of another striker arriving at Villa Park this summer after one report claiming an unnamed Premier League social club had tabled an offer for a Barcelona star.

READ More than HERE

John Townley

Steven Gerrard must brand a decision on Dean Smith'due south £90m transfer haul

Aston Villa spent in the region of £90million to supercede Jack Grealish last summertime as the England international became the start £100million British footballer in history - but Steven Gerrard is nonetheless to get the best out of the trio of signings who replaced him.

Danny Ings,Emiliano Buendia and Leon Bailey all joined the guild after Grealish signed on at Manchester City, just they struggled in their first entrada at Villa Park. Ings and Buendia would later assistance their crusade with with impressive cameos off the bench, but in the case of Bailey, he's yet to testify what he can do barring a sensational ten minute blitz against Everton dorsum in September.

Villa sacked Dean Smith in Nov afterward a v-match losing streak, and he struggled to get the best out of the new attacking trio. However, it's tricky to fit all three, plus Ollie Watkins - who ended the 2020/21 campaign with 14 goals - in the same team, without affecting the overall balance.

READ More Here

Key Result

Martinez the joker & other moments in Aston Villa training

Aston Villa trained inside the Queensland Land Banking concern Stadium alee of their second pre-flavor friction match Down Under against Brisbane Roar on Wednesday (July xx)

Aston Villa staged an 'open training session' in Townsville earlier ahead of tomorrow'south pre-season friendly against Brisbane Roar. The session, held at the 25,000-chapters Queensland Country Bank Stadium, was open to local school children - boys and girls - who play for Football Queensland Academy in the w of Australia.

Hither'southward what went down, including Emi Martinez having the last laugh with Philippe Coutinho.

Alex Dicken

Q&A from Oz

Villa reporter Ashley Preece has conducted a Q&A session in Commonwealth of australia, discussing all the latest claret and blue talking points.

Yous can check out the full transcript Hither

Aston Villa head motorbus Steven Gerrard before his side'due south friendly against Leeds United in Brisbane (Image: Albert Perez/Getty Images)

John Townley

Leon Bailey sent 'frustrated' alarm ahead of crucial Aston Villa season

Former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has warned Leon Bailey to find his best form under Steven Gerrard adjacent season.

Bailey signed for Villa in a £30million switch from Bayer Leverkusen last summer just struggled to justify his large price tag in blood and blue last term. Besides an impressive cameo in the 3-0 home win over Everton last September, the Jamaica international showed little more than under Dean Smith or Steven Gerrard.

He made just xviii appearances for Villa final season subsequently a number of injury problems hampered his progress during the showtime Premier League campaign of his career. His move to England came after his most productive Bundesliga season as he registered 18 goal contributions in xxx games for Leverkusen and Agbonlahor thinks he must earn his place in the first 11 given the corporeality of contest in forwards areas in Gerrard'due south team.

READ More than HERE