The latest Aston Villa transfer news and rumours from BirminghamLive as the summer spending window opens
Aston Villa's Damian Vidagany, Unai Emery and Monchi
Aston Villa's Damian Vidagany, Unai Emery and Monchi(Image: Getty Images)
With the summer transfer window now open, Unai Emery, Monchi, and Damian Vidagany are set to meet with the rest of Aston Villa's recruitment team to discuss plans for the upcoming summer transfer window.
Here we take a look at the latest rumours and gossip around the club. You can also read what John Townley thinks of the summer window, here
Unlikely return?
Vasco da Gama chief executive Carlos Amodeo has spoken out on the Brazilian club’s attempts to keep Aston Villa ’s Philippe Coutinho.
Coutinho’s loan at Vasco ends on June 30, with the club eager to keep him beyond that date.
“The goal is to keep the player,” said Amodeo. “There is no problem between him and Vasco. The point is to resolve the situation with Aston Villa so we can move forward.”
Amodeo also says Vasco manager Fernando Diniz is also keen to keep Coutinho, who has no future at Villa Park under Unai Emery but is under contract until 2026.
“Coutinho is a player we want to count on for the rest of the season. We’re in contact with his staff awaiting his release,” Amodeo added.
Price tag
Brighton and Hove Albion are prepared to sell striker Joao Pedro this summer transfer window - but any interested club will have to pay more than double what the Seagulls themselves recruited him for in the summer of 2023 from Watford. Villa and Arsenal, both after strikers this summer, have been linked.
Brazil international Pedro, 23, scored 30 goals in 70 appearances for Brighton across the last two seasons, but he didn't play again after mid-April and was removed from the matchday squad for the final weekend of the campaign because of a training ground bust-up with teammate Jan Paul van Hecke.
"With Joao we had a small issue in training, the type which isn't uncommon from time to time in all football clubs. We dealt with it internally and the matter is closed," said head coach Fabian Hurzeler.
"Joao is an incredible football player, he's a match-winner for us, he's a great player and that's why we invested in him, but there are principles that are non-negotiable and count for everyone - that everyone has to stick to - where we don't make any compromises.
"Joao is still a young player. He will grow and I'm sure he will learn from this and come back stronger next season. I'm really looking forward to seeing him renewed and reinvigorated at his highest peak."
If Pedro, who has three international caps, is to leave the AMEX Stadium this summer, then the fee it'll take to extract him from the club will substantially eclipse the £30m Brighton paid Watford two years ago.
The Sun report that Albion want £70m for the forward, who they rate especially highly and who they don't intend to leave for anything other than what they rate him to be worth. Arsenal are after a centre forward and have been linked with Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak.
Villa, meanwhile, didn't replace Jhon Duran with an out and out forward in January and with Ollie Watkins still their sole, recognised striker option, they'll be eager to replenish that department of their squad, too.
Emiliano Martinez is being linked with a move away from Aston Villa
Emiliano Martinez is being linked with a move away from Aston Villa
No interest in Emi - yet
Villa haven't received any formal contact regarding goalkeeper Emi Martinez, who has dominated the transfer headlines since the end of the season.
The 32-year-old’s future has come under scrutiny after he was seen in tears at the end of Villa’s final home game of the season against Tottenham last month.
Martinez signed a long-term contract extension in August but has attracted interest from Atletico Madrid, other European clubs, and teams in Saudi Arabia.
He joined up with the Argentina national team over the weekend and remained coy about his future when asked.
“My future? I don’t know,” he told the press. “I’m here to play for the national team, and that’s all I care about right now. Do I want to change clubs? The transfer market has just opened, so there’s still a lot to happen.”
Sverre Nypan is 'not ready' for Villa
Norway manager Stale Solbakken has warned that talented teenager Sverre Nypan isn't ready for Premier League football in the short-term and that'd be a surprise to him if he was integrated into a team immediately, amid strong transfer links with Villa.
Midfielder Nypan, 18, plays for Rosenborg in his native Norway and has been playing regular first team football, but his contract expires at the end of 2026 and his performances have piqued the interest from clubs around Europe, particularly in the Premier League where both Villa and Manchester City have been credited with an interest.
Nypan, who has changed agents to Rafaela Pimenta - who looks after the likes of Erling Haaland - has reportedly visited England before now to explore his options and consider where his next destination beyond Rosenborg may be.
Solbakken, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager, agrees that Nypan has plenty of ability but, taking into account his fledgling age, he's wary that regular football in the Premier League with Villa or a rival might come too soon.
"He is someone who can choose a little too, but he is not ready for the Premier League now," Solkbakken said of Nypan in the Norwegian press recently. "It would surprise me if he enters the Premier League right away. There must be a way station there, but they may have a plan for that.
"I like Sverre Nypan's runs. He has a lot to do in many phases, but still he has that gene. Even though he doesn't influence a match, I always think he's involved in things when they happen. Even though there are often others who have been better than him in the matches I have seen, he has been in the heat of the action. That is a good signal."
Buendia future unclear
Emi Buendia's Premier League future looks to be in the balance amid claims Leeds United and old boss Daniel Farke are ready to look elsewhere for post-promotion reinforcements.
The Villa outcast has been on loan in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen, but is said to be keen to have another chance in the Premier League. It is claimed his preference is for an established club unlikely to be involved in survival struggle next season.
Buendia played 121 matches under Farke at Carrow Road, scoring 24 times and registering 41 assists before joining Villa in the summer of 2021.
However, a stumbling block in any attempt to take Buendia to Elland Road is that Leeds will only be allowed two Premier League loans next season. They are also reportedly in the market for a new goalkeeper and a striker, so their focus may be elsewhere.
Despite reports claiming a £16.8m Leeds bid for the Argentinian, the more likely reality is that a loan will be their only avenue to securing his services, and as such they are now said to be looking elsewhere.
Sun transfer expert Alan Nixon reports: Aston Villa hope to find a new loan home for Emi Buendia as he returns from Bayer Leverkusen.
"The Argentine midfielder would like another Premier League chance and his availability has alerted old boss Daniel Farke at Leeds.
"Yet Buendia, 28, is keen to avoid a survival struggle and Leeds are looking at other options as they will only be allowed two Prem loans."
Buendia started just three of his 14 games for Bayer Leverkusen, who decided not to pursue a permanent deal for the Argentine despite his two goals for the Bundesliga club.
He has made more than 120 career appearances in the Premier League with Norwich and then Villa, but his career was seriously derailed by a debilitating cruciate ligament tear which sidelined him for the entire 2023/24 season.
That leaves Villa pondering what to do with a player who reportedly cost them around £33m but is now thought to be worth under £16m, with another loan looking to be their only options to defray at least part of the cost of his wages.
Louie Barry scored twice against Ruben Selles' Reading at Edgeley Park in late October
Louie Barry (Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Barry the Blue?
Birmingham City have been told signing Louie Barry from bitter rivals Villa would be a “great deal”.
And former Villans player Lee Hendrie says he’s heard whispers a deal could be struck between Villa and Blues owners Knighthead for the 21-year-old forward.
Villa are said to be preparing to sanction another loan move for Barry, while Blues are understood to have held internal talks about launching a bid for him.
Speaking about the possibility of a deal between the two clubs, Hendrie told Football League World : “I think signing Louie Barry would be a great deal for Birmingham City.
“I've heard a lot of reports and a lot of whispers about Louie Barry going to Birmingham City, so it wouldn't surprise me.”
“He did brilliant things at Stockport, got injured at Hull City and that's what hampered him really going and kicking on and proving that he's well worthy of playing in the Championship,” he added.
“I think he is well worthy. They've got a really good manager at Birmingham who plays a nice style of football that would suit Barry’s game.
“He's versatile, he can play through the middle, he can play out wide, which would suit Birmingham, as they have got players that can chop and change throughout their front line.
“I think Louie Barry would be a great addition for Birmingham City, particularly going into the Championship with new, fresh ideas.”
Alex Remiro on Villa interest
Real Sociedad’s Alex Remiro has responded to transfer interest from Villa.
Villa have been linked with the 30-year-old goalkeeper amid speculation over the future of Emi Martinez and the departure of Robin Olsen.
Both Unai Emery and Martinez have refused to rule out the possibility of the Argentine World Cup winner leaving Villa Park this summer.
It means Villa could be on the lookout for a new No.1 during the summer transfer window and, speaking to El Diario Vasco, Remiro was asked directly if he was aware of interest from Villa and Barcelona.
“Yes, I know, but they’re not the only ones who’ve been following or watching me,” he said.
“It’s not that difficult either because Real Sociedad have played in Europe for five years in a row, and we played at a high level in the Champions League last year.
“Against Barcelona, for example, we had great matches; we beat them 1-0 at Anoeta.
“We haven’t played Aston Villa yet. But it’s not just these two teams anymore; all the clubs are keeping an eye on everything that’s happening, and I’ve had some good years, and I think that, given the goalkeeping style that’s sought after today, I can give them that.
“I’m not just talking about those teams, I’m talking about them in general. But yes, I’m aware of it, and it’s there.”
The Spain international also admitted he is flattered by the interest, adding: “I think it’s good. It calms me down because it doesn’t upset my feelings, my emotions, or my daily life.
“I know what I’m capable of, what I’m not capable of, and what I want. It doesn’t do anything bad to me. It’s good that people notice you, but that’s it.”