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Aston Villa have been linked with a number of players ahead of the transfer window, as Unai Emery looks to bolster his squad this summer.

The Spaniard has handed the Villans a boost in performance and confidence, taking the squad from bottom half of the table dwellers to European hopefuls with one game to go.

The four-time Europa League winner is a well-liked figure in the continent, which could prove vital when the transfer window opens, with players attracted to joining the 51-year-old’s project at Villa Park.

A Premier League defender and former player of Emery has been linked ahead of the business period, but the Midlands club should be expected to face competition to seal the deal.

What’s the latest on Kieran Tierney to Aston Villa?

As reported by Football Insider earlier this week, Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney is on the radar of Villa this summer.

The report states that Newcastle United are the front runners to sign the Scotsman, however, Villa along with Manchester City, remain interested with nothing confirmed as of yet.

A separate piece from Football Insider states that the Gunners are expected to ask for a fee in the region of £30m for the 25-year-old.

What could Kieran Tierney bring to Aston Villa?

Signed by Emery at Arsenal in 2019, Tierney epitomises what the Spaniard hopes for in a full-back, as shown through his numbers over the past year.

The Scotsman showcases strengths in both the attacking and defensive areas at full-back, averaging 1.85 tackles and 2.14 clearances per 90, while scoring highly in progressive passes, with 5.06 per 90 – as per FBref.

Described by former Arsenal defender Ashley Cole as being a “warrior”, the £110k-per-week full-back flexes a high competency when playing on the flank, and could be a strong inclusion in Emery’s Villa squad.

The 25-year-old has a strong relationship with the Spaniard and sang his praises while the duo were at Arsenal, saying that he was “learning every day” under the manager’s guidance – as per football.london.

Having made just six starts this season, the defender looks almost certain to make an exit from the Emirates, which could potentially be bad news for Villa full-back Alex Moreno, whose position could be at threat should the full-back arrive from the Emirates.

Despite having a strong first campaign at Villa, the Spaniard is still establishing himself in the squad, averaging a mediocre Sofascore match rating of 6.63 since arriving in January.

While the Spaniard ranks expectedly higher statistically than Tierney, who has been deprived of football this term, the 25-year-old could occupy the left-back role ahead of the 29-year-old based on his potential alone.

Once lauded as being “one of the best in the world” by former Hibernian forward Tam McManus, it’s unlikely that a player of his calibre would settle for another bench spot, after spending the best part of his Arsenal career on the sidelines.

With Newcastle United reportedly leading the race for the Scotsman, only time will tell if a reunion with his former coach is on the cards, in what could be an exciting recruit for everyone at Villa Park.

Crystal Palace have made contact with Borussia Monchengladbach forward Alassane Plea about a summer move to Selhurst Park, according to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna.

Who will Crystal Palace sign this summer?

With Wilfried Zaha seemingly heading for the exit door upon the expiration of his contract at the end of next month, Palace will need to bring in a replacement, and Fabrizio Romano reports they have already made a bid for Sunderland's Jack Clarke.

The Eagles appear to be very keen on strengthening their attacking options, and they have recently been linked with a move for Gambia starlet Adama Bojang, while they are also said to be interested in Middlesbrough striker Chuba Akpom.

Plea is able to play on both wings and through the middle, which means he could be brought in to replace either Zaha or Jean-Philippe Mateta, with the latter player making it clear he wants to leave this summer.

Foot Mercato journalist Aouna reports Palace, and by extension chairman Steve Parish, are interested in signing the Monchengladbach forward, having already made initial contact, but there will be competition for his signature, with Fulham and West Ham United also said to be interested and making an approach.

The 30-year-old is thinking of leaving the German club, and Aouna claims he "dreams" of returning to Ligue 1, with Lyon "pushing" to bring him back. A move to the Premier League is not completely ruled out, but it appears as though he has his sights set on a return to his home country at the moment.

Who is Alassane Plea?

It is no real surprise the Frenchman is keen to return to Ligue 1, as he has been a resounding success in the French top flight in the past, registering 36 goals and 22 assists in 119 appearances in the competition during spells with Nice and Lyon.

The £79k-per-week forward moved to Monchengladbach in the summer of 2018, where he has also impressed, reaching double figures for goals in three out of the five seasons he has played in the Bundesliga.

Hailed as "extraordinary" by Gladbach legend Gunter Netzer, the one-time France international has displayed his remarkable playmaking abilities over the past year, averaging 0.46 assists per 90, in the 98th percentile compared to his positional peers.

Plea's attacking threat could make him a fantastic replacement for Zaha, and if Palace are able to tempt him into a move to the Premier League, he may prove to be an excellent addition to the squad.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in sealing a move for Leeds United defender, Robin Koch, with the German international set to be available on a cut-price deal this summer.

What's the latest on Koch to Tottenham?

According to Football Insider, the Lilywhites are seemingly ready to take advantage of the Elland Road outfit's recent relegation by making a move for the 26-year-old in the coming weeks and months.

The piece suggests that the north Londoners believe that the former Freiburg man – who has just over a year left to run on his existing deal – could command a fee of just £15m, with the Whites facing something of an 'exodus' following their drop into the Championship.

This follows a report from the same publication back in March which also suggested that chairman Daniel Levy is eyeing a move for the versatile centre-back, with the eight-cap ace having been with the Yorkshire side since signing on a £13m deal back in 2020.

Should Tottenham sign Koch?

Levy and co have seemingly not had much success when it comes to snapping up players from Leeds in the recent past, having ultimately gained little from their signing of young Jack Clarke on a £10m deal back in the summer of 2019, during Mauricio Pochettino's time in charge.

The York native was immediately loaned back to his former club for the following season, albeit while making just three appearances in the first half of the 2019/20 campaign before sealing a swift return to N17.

Further loan spells at the likes of Queen's Park Rangers and Stoke City would follow for the promising winger over the next year or so, with the Englishman ultimately making just four first-team appearances for Spurs, prior to joining Sunderland for an undisclosed fee last summer.

With that Pochettino signing ultimately failing to work out for either Clarke or the north London outfit, it may be of concern for Levy to land another Leeds asset in the form of Koch, particularly with the latter man having rarely impressed during his time in England thus far.

Previously described as "horrible to watch" by journalist Beren Cross, the £40k-per-week dud's woes were also laid bare by the fact that he formed part of a backline that shipped 78 league goals in 22/23 – the worst record in the division.

While the 6 foot 4 asset had featured in a midfield role in recent weeks, that tactical tweak failed to have the desired effect, having notably 'lacked composure' against Ryan Mason's men in Sunday's 4-1 defeat – according to the aforementioned Cross.

As the Leeds Live journalist also noted on Twitter, the German was rather bullied by Spurs talisman Harry Kane on the day having been "outmuscled" by the Englishman in the build-up to Pedro Porro's second-half strike.

Those shortcomings were also laid bare as Koch lost possession on 15 occasions and was dribbled past twice in that final day drubbing, having also won just 11 of his 19 total duels, as per Sofascore.

That performance should have sent alarm bells ringing to the Tottenham hierarchy, with the club needing to avoid a repeat of their previous Clarke disaster.

Aston Villa are currently in talks with midfielder John McGinn over a new deal at the club, according to a fresh update regarding his future.

When is McGinn out of contract at Villa?

The Scot has been an outstanding servant for the Villans over a sustained period now, maturing by the year and now the captain at the club.

McGinn has racked up 183 appearances for Villa in total, scoring 17 goals and registering 26 assists along the way, and he also has 54 caps to his name for Scotland.

At 28, the midfielder remains at the peak of his powers, so Unai Emery will surely consider him a key man for the foreseeable future. His current deal expires in the summer of 2025, and while that is still two years away, they don't want to reach a point where they could lose him for a cut-price amount.

A new update suggests that an extension looks likely for McGinn, as the Villans try to keep hold of key players this summer, as well as sign exciting additions.

Could McGinn be set to sign new deal?

According to Football Insider, "talks are ongoing between John McGinn and Aston Villa over a new contract at the club", with the 28-year-old still seen as a "key member" of the setup at Villa Park.

It is stated that club chiefs "want to tie McGinn down to a long-term deal to ward off potential summer interest", with the player himself still "happy at Villa Park". There is confidence that an agreement will be reached in the near future.

Tying down McGinn to a new contract is an absolute no-brainer for Villa, with the midfielder such a consistent performer down the years, and someone who brings box-to-box energy in the middle of the park, not to mention provide strong leadership, too.

Last season, the £50,000-a-week Villans ace averaged 1.9 tackles per game across 34 Premier League appearances, as well as 1.3 dribbles per match, showing that he is an effective presence both on and off the ball. He has also been hailed as "universally respected" at the club by Steven Gerrard during his time as manager.

McGinn still has so much to offer, with his best years not likely to go away for another three or four years, and he can continue to be a massive part of the Emery revolution taking place at Villa Park currently.

Everton are in the market for a new centre-forward this summer after another disappointing season in the Premier League and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Everton's interest in Brandon Vazquez?

According to The Athletic, Cinnicinati FC are reluctant to part ways with their star striker this summer and any deal done would likely result in snapping up the services when the MLS season ends.

As per the report, Everton and Hoffenheim are named as potential suitors for Brandon Vazquez, but with another one of their strikers (Brenner) also touted for a move away from the MLS club, the Toffees may be forced to wait until January to bring the centre-forward to Goodison Park.

Would Vazquez be worth the wait for Everton?

It is no secret that Everton found it difficult in front of goal this season due to Richarlison and Anthony Gordon's departure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin continuing to struggle with fitness problems.

The lack of consistent and reliable performers in the final third resulted in the Merseysiders getting caught up in a tight relegation scrap at the bottom of the table and tallying up the second-fewest goals (34) in the entire Premier League.

As a result, the signing of Vazquez would be a massive boost for Sean Dyche as he endeavours to improve the performances, increase goal contributions and lead Everton into a position where they can more comfortably compete.

Over 107 appearances for his current club, the 24-year-old has proven himself to be a "ruthless goal-scoring machine" in the words of journalist Chris Smith.

Indeed, the £3m-rated forward has scored 32 goals and registered 14 assists, averaging a goal contribution every 134 minutes, an output that would be a huge asset to Everton next season and could see him become the perfect Calvert-Lewin heir.

The Toffees striker has been a talisman for the team in the past and been influential when it has mattered most to the club, notably scoring 16 league goals in the 2020/21 campaign. However, over the last 18 months, his constant injury issues have massively hindered his ability to get a run of form going, finding the net just nine times since.

Dyche will surely now be desperate for more consistency in the role to ensure mistakes are not repeated in relying on the striker's return, and their top-flight status won't be compromised again next season, so Vazquez could be the perfect player to succeed the 26-year-old.

Unlike the Premier League, the MLS runs by calendar year so currently Vazquez is playing an integral role in America whilst Europe breaks until August, so it is understandable why Cincinnati would be reluctant to part ways with such a huge asset mid-season.

Having said that, Everton are at a point where they have been riding their luck in the top flight for too long and after only being saved in the final 45 minutes of the season from dropping into the Championship, waiting another six months for a striker could be detrimental.

Leeds United are in the latter stages of their manager search this summer and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source about a potential late contender.

What's the latest on Leeds' interest in Patrick Vieira?

According to The Athletic's Leeds reporter Phil Hay, Patrick Vieira is the latest to be considered for the highly-anticipated managerial role at Elland Road.

As per an article written for the publication, Hay claims that the former Crystal Palace manager is on the radar and was, in fact, interested in taking over at Leeds when Jesse Marsch was sacked in February.

What is Patrick Vieira's manager style?

With every day passing the pressure will be mounting on the 49ers and the club's hierarchy to make a decision on their next appointment to lead the squad in their Championship campaign next season.

The fixture lists will be released tomorrow for the EFL and players remaining will return for pre-season in just a few weeks, so employing a manager who can get to work with planning ahead of the challenging 46-game campaign and start to develop a relationship with the team as soon as possible will be vital.

Vieira's latest inclusion in the considerations for the important appointment could be a great opportunity for Leeds to bring in a manager who has a keen eye for developing and nurturing young talent, something that the West Yorkshire based squad has plenty of.

Joe Gelhardt, Cody Drameh, Charlie Cresswell, Wilfried Gnonto, Crysencio Summerville and Luis Sinisterra are just some of the incredible young talent Leeds boast who are all under the age of 23, demonstrating an opportunity for the right manager to promote a youth revolution at Elland Road next season.

Whilst the Arsenal legend struggled in the final few months of his most recent job at Selhurst Park, Vieira is renowned for building the next generation of the Crystal Palace team with Michael Olise, Marc Guehi and Odsonne Edouard all acquired by the 46-year-old in his first transfer window and all of these players have gone on to thrive and become key players.

Indeed, Guehi has become a regular in the England squad and has seen his game improve so much that he is now valued at a huge £50m. Olise, meanwhile, fired home two goals and registered 11 assists last term.

Not only that, the attacking-minded manager – who has commonly deployed a 4-3-3 formation over his career on the touchline so far – could significantly improve their presence in front of goal with his possession-based philosophy that earned him 22 victories and 24 draws over his 74 games in charge of Palace. That would surely be music to the ears of the likes of Gnonto and Summerville.

As a result, the appointment of Vieira – hailed a "natural-born winner" by Ian Wright – would be a statement of the club's intent to build a squad for the future at Elland Road, instead of just adopting the short-sighted view of gaining instant promotion back to the Premier League next season.

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in West Bromwich Albion youngster Rico Richards, as Unai Emery plots to steal a rising star from the club’s rivals.

It’s expected to be a busy summer at Villa Park, as both Emery and Monchi aim to take the side to the next level following on from last season’s highs.

The Spanish duo will be hoping to bolster the squad with depth in all areas, as Emery explained to The Athletic in April, which is something they could do by introducing the talent of West Brom’s Richards.

What’s the latest on Rico Richards to Aston Villa?

As reported by Football Insider, Villa are in ‘advanced talks’ to sign the 19-year-old talent who will leave West Brom this summer at the expiry of his contract.

The report states that talks are ‘well underway’ and making good progress, with Villa ‘confident’ in reaching a full agreement with the player.

Who is Rico Richards?

Hailed as a “technician” by analyst Tom Williams, the teenager has shone for the Baggies’ academy sides and made his Championship debut earlier this year, playing ten minutes against Hull City.

Deployed primarily an attacking midfielder, the 19-year-old is versatile in his position behind the striker, with the ability to play on either flank as well as centrally.

In 19 Premier League 2 Division 2 appearances last season, the 6 foot Englishman contributed to nine goals, scoring four and assisting five in an impressive feat in the final third for the skilled teenager.

Described as a player that “loves dribbling” by Williams, the youngster could offer a lot to Emery’s side, and would follow in the footsteps of academy stars that have made the cut to the first team, including the likes of Jack Grealish and a certain Jacob Ramsey who transitioned into being a regular starter.

Possessing the ability to play centrally and on the flanks like Richards, Ramsey initially filtered out Bertrand Traore with his top performances over the past few seasons, a trend that Richards could follow as he bids to dislodge someone of Emiliano Buendia's standing.

Signed from Norwich City in the summer of 2021, the Argentine playmaker secured 32 goals and assists in his final Championship campaign with the Canaries, however, has failed to show his full potential as of yet in the Midlands.

The 26-year-old has registered just 18 goal involvements in the entirety of his Villa career which has spanned over 78 appearances so far, showing his struggle for form in the Premier League.

With the "splendid" Richards – as dubbed by Joe Chapman – potentially arriving at Villa Park, the youngster could target Buendia’s spot in the starting 11, just as Ramsey did in claiming the right-flank as his quarters.

As per The Athletic’s Steve Madeley, the teen has been described by unnamed coaches that have worked alongside him as being an individual with an ‘eye for a goal-creating pass’, to a level that is ‘rarely seen in players his age’.

With his composure on the ball and in the final third, Emery could discover a revelation in Richards, in a talent that could grace his side for years to come and emulate the success of youngsters that have excelled before him at Villa Park.

Crystal Palace are willing to submit an offer to bring Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto back to the Premier League, according to reports.

When does Wilfried Gnonto's contract expire?

Gnonto is a left-sided winger who currently plies his trade at Elland Road having moved there from FC Zurich last summer, and he's quickly become a regular feature of the first-team, registering 28 appearances in his debut season.

The Italy international’s contract isn’t set to expire for another four years, but having suffered relegation, he and a number of other prized assets will likely want to leave so that they can continue competing at the highest level.

The Athletic’s Phil Hay, who is a reporter for the Whites, revealed earlier this month that the 19-year-old is a player that the hierarchy will “battle to keep” should he start attracting interest during the ongoing window, which is exactly what has happened if the following update is to be believed.

Are Crystal Palace signing Gnonto?

According to The Mirror, Crystal Palace “will make a move” for Gnonto should they lose the services of Wilfried Zaha. Brighton, West Ham and Everton are also keen to strike a deal for the Leeds attacker, and despite his value rising to £30m, several clubs are “willing to bid” for him.

Premier League scouts from all of the potential suitors named above are also claimed to have been in attendance to watch their target during Italy’s U21s game vs Switzerland on Sunday.

£30m would represent a record signing for Palace, ahead of current most expensive arrival Christian Benteke.

As the source states, Gnonto will only be able to nail down a regular place in Roy Hodgson’s starting XI should Zaha depart which at this stage is unknown, but should he leave, Leeds’ talented prospect could be a promising long-term successor for the future.

The Verbania native posted six goal contributions (four assists and two goals) in 24 Premier League outings last season and recorded 50 shot-creating actions, which was the fourth-highest total throughout his squad despite not always playing 90 minutes, as per FBRef.

The Puma-sponsored ace, who has “scary” pace according to talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor, is also a versatile operator having been deployed in seven different positions since the start of his career, including everywhere across the frontline and even in the midfield, so he could be a great option for the manager to have at his disposal.

Gnonto is already making a name for himself on the international stage having made ten senior appearances for Roberto Mancini’s Italy, which is hugely impressive at just 19 years of age, so there’s no doubt that he’ll have a massive future ahead of him.

Aston Villa have reached an "agreement" to bring Villarreal defender Pau Torres to the Premier League, according to The Athletic's David Ornstein.

Is Pau Torres joining Aston Villa?

Quique Setien’s academy graduate will be out of contract at the end of next season meaning that the ongoing transfer window is his club’s final opportunity to cash in should they not want to lose him for free, and 90min have claimed that he’s told them that he’s ready to leave.

The Yellow Submarines centre-back has reportedly been made a top target by the Midlands outfit with Unai Emery a “big fan” of the 26-year-old having managed him for 105 appearances during his time in his homeland.

The La Liga star’s deal has a £55m release clause included but Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that NSWE and Monchi will pay "way less" than that, and if the following update is anything to go by, the conditions of the deal have already been addressed.

Taking to Twitter, Ornstein revealed that Aston Villa have finalised a deal for Torres with the defender having given the green-light to complete a summer move to the Midlands. He wrote:

"Aston Villa have now reached an agreement with Villarreal to sign centre-back Pau Torres. Personal terms are also in place for 26yo Spain international defender to join in what’s another big coup for #AVFC + manager Unai Emery."

Is Torres a good signing for Villa?

Aston Villa will already be aware of what Torres is capable of due to Emery’s existing connection to the centre-back, and having also been dubbed an “extraordinary talent” by his former coach Javier Calleja, he would be a fantastic acquisition for the boss.

The Spain international averaged 4.1 clearances, 1.7 aerial wins and 1.3 tackles per league game last season, via WhoScored, so is a real rock at the heart of the backline, but he also likes to push his team as high up the pitch as possible having ranked in the 99th percentile for most progressive carries by centre-backs.

Torres, who stands at a staggering 6 foot 2, also knows what it takes to compete and be successful at the level that the Villans are looking to achieve having previously won the Europa League back in 2020/21, so he could inspire the rest of the squad to give it their all on the bigger stage next season in their first campaign in the Conference League.

Glasgow Rangers officially completed their sixth signing of the summer transfer window on Thursday as they announced the arrival of Cyriel Dessers.

The Nigerian international has joined on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee from Italian side Cremonese to bolster Michael Beale's attacking options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

He follows Kieran Dowell, Abdallah Sima, Dujon Sterling, Jack Butland, and Sam Lammers through the door at Ibrox, with the Light Blues wasting no time in attempting to improve their squad.

The Gers failed to win a single trophy last season and they will be hoping that their moves in the transfer market this summer allow them to compete for major silverware over the next 12 months.

Another player who has been linked with a move to Glasgow is Bayern Munich attacking midfielder Malik Tillman. He spent last term on loan from the German giants and it has been reported that Rangers remain in the race to land him on a second deal, although they face competition from Premier League teams.

How much will Malik Tillman cost?

The Light Blues would only need to cover his wages, which are reportedly £13k-per-week, alongside a possible loan fee if they were to sign the American international on another temporary deal.

Although, it has also been claimed that Bayern would demand at least £10m, which is twice the value of the option-to-buy the Gers previously had in their loan contract, in a permanent transfer for the exciting gem.

Beale must push for Rangers to sign Tillman again as the 21-year-old magician's exceptional performances in midfield could make Dessers better next season, with his creative quality out wide and in the middle of the park.

The former Cremonese ace scored six goals in 19 Serie A starts this season, while he only missed five 'big chances'. This suggests that the 28-year-old gem did not get quality service from his teammates, which prevented him from finding the back of the net on a regular basis.

Dessers racked up an outstanding 19 goals in 16 starts for Feyenoord, along with 14 'big chances' missed, during the 2021/22 Eredivisie and Europa Conference League campaigns, whilst James Tavernier was Rangers' top league scorer with 16.

This shows that the Nigerian finisher is capable of being a prolific scorer when his colleagues are able to provide him with excellent opportunities in front of goal.

Therefore, Tillman could be perfect for him as the Bayern prospect was an excellent creator for the club last season. The 21-year-old wizard created a whopping 12 'big chances' on his own for his teammates in the Scottish Premiership, which was more than Fashion Sakala (seven), Todd Cantwell (five), and Ryan Kent (nine) managed.

This shows that the terrific youngster, who was lauded as "phenomenal" by John Lundstram, is an outstanding creative presence in midfield. He has the ability to open up opposition defences on a regular basis and this could allow Dessers to thrive in the box as the latest signing has proven himself to be a reliable goalscorer with the right service.

Therefore, Beale must swoop to bring Tillman back to Ibrox as his return could make the former Genk centre-forward unplayable over the coming months.