Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa are safe from the drop in mid-table security in 12th.
They will climb at least one place if they beat 11th placed Crystal Palace on Sunday.
But the ramifications of the relegation battle can still have a big impact at Villa Park as clubs heading to the Championship could have to sell their prized assets.
And it is clear Villa officials and Gerrard will be keeping a close on Leeds, who remain in the drop zone after losing at home to Chelsea on Wednesday night.
Kalvin Phillips boost
Leeds’ Premier League survival battle could help Villa land England midfielder Kalvin Phillips if the Elland Road club go down.
Gerrard is a long-time admirer of Phillips, 26, who has 19 caps for England, and was courted by Villa previously under Dean Smith.
The Daily Mail claim that the Elland Road club face the very real prospect of losing several of their key players this summer including Phillips, Raphinha and Patrick Bamford - if Jesse Marsch's side fail to avoid the drop.
Leeds have been trying to tie Phillips to a new contract as he has just two years left on his deal.
Villa are also believed to be interested in thrashing out a deal to sign Marseille midfielder Boubacar Kamara, who Gerrard scouted in person recently.
Philippe Coutinho's permanent switch 'done'
Aston Villa have completed the permanent signing of Philippe Coutinho, according to reports.
The Brazilian has been on loan at Villa since January after he returned to the Premier League four years after his £142million transfer from Liverpool to Barcelona.
Boss Gerrard admitted after Villa’s home defeat to Liverpool that the club were trying to land the ace permanently.
Now reports claim that Coutinho,29 will stay at Villa permanently after the club and Barca have reached an agreement to discount his original £33m option to stay.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims that a 'total agreement' has been reached and claims the deal is set to be announced but Mirror sources are not aware of any planned announcements on Thursday.
Watkins tempter
West Ham ’s pursuit of Aston Villa’s England striker Ollie Watkins could yet be successful according to reports, which claim the Midlands could sell if they make a big profit.
Watkins, 26, was signed by Villa in 2020 in a deal worth up to £33 million and, after now developing into an England international with 24 Premier League goals to his name, figures in the region of £40-50 million are being quoted for the player.
According to the Daily Mail, West Ham believe they have a 'strong chance' of landing Watkins this summer with Villa reportedly 'open to selling' the player if they are able to make substantial profit.
