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Unai Emery | AFP via Getty Images
Aston Villa have the chance to freshen up their ranks in the January transfer window
Aston Villa were beaten 2-0 by Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday night. Mohamed Salah and Ryan Gravenberch got their opponents’ goals. Unai Emery’s side are currently sat in 11th place in the Premier League table after their first 10 fixtures and have four wins on the board.
They are back in action on Thursday night with a Europa League clash against Maccabi Tel Aviv as they look to return to winning ways. The Midlands outfit have the chance to sign some players in the January transfer window. They also have the opportunity to let some individuals leave as well if needed.
Aston Villa target Kevin Filling
According to FotbollDirekt, Aston Villa have ‘entered’ the race for AIK starlet Kevin Filling. Manchester United and RB Leipzig have also been credited with an interest in the prospect. His current club could face a battle to keep hold of him down the line.
Filling, 16, is being tipped for a bright future in the game. He is under contract until June 2028 meaning the Swedish giants are under no pressure to sell him immediately and can hold out for the right money. The striker is a Sweden U17 international.
The teenager started his career with spells at IK Franke and Västerås SK before AIK came calling in 2023. He has since risen up through their academy ranks. The attacker was a regular for them at various different youth levels before recently making the step up into the first-team picture.
Filling has made seven senior appearances for the Allsvenskan side and has scored two goals since making his debut in June against IFK Göteborg. He has also been loaned out to Enköpings SK FK to get some experience under his belt and boost his development. Aston Villa could see him as someone to boost their attacking ranks in the long-term. However, they may have to face competition from United and Leipzig if they are to secure his services this winter.
What now for Aston Villa after Liverpool loss?
Aston Villa had been in decent form in the league before their defeat at Liverpool. It proved to be a tough night for them on Merseyside. Nevertheless, Emery will be confident that his players will respond against Maccabi Tel Aviv with a win.
Speaking after their loss to the Reds, the head coach said: “I am happy with how we competed and how we started the match in the first 30 minutes, playing with personality, dominating and getting chances to score. We were stopping them and breaking their high press and we were feeling comfortable. In the final 15 minutes [of the first half], we conceded metres on the field and they were pushing more, and we were defending slow.
“Through it, they scored one goal that was offside, and we were defending well. We made a mistake for the first goal when we were finishing the half and it was important to try and keep it 0-0. After it, we needed to react in the second half, playing the same way we played the first half. We didn’t start the second half like we started the first half and then we were close to changing something with our energy before they scored the second goal.”
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