Aston Villa are on Australia's Gold Coast for pre-season with the first game of the tour against Leeds less than a week away. The countdown is also on for Saturday August 6 when Aston Villa visit Bournemouth in their new Premier League campaign.
Boss Steven Gerrard looks set to have a new-look side ready for the curtain raiser after being very active early on in the transfer window. Boubacar Kamara signed as a free transfer from Marseille just after the end of last season and has since been joined by Sevilla centre-back Diego Carlos, while Philippe Coutinho and Robin Olsen have made their loan moves permanent.
The club have also confirmed they have reached an agreement with Sevilla FC for the season-long loan of Ludwig Augustinsson, who has begun the process of obtaining a work permit.
Augustinsson has been capped 46 times by Sweden and played both Champions League and Europa League football for Sevilla last term and is on his way after Villa sold Matt Targett to Newcastle for £15million after his successful loan. Mirror Sport takes a look at the latest Villa transfer news and rumours.
Barca chase Villa starlet
Aston Villa starlet Carney Chukwuemeka is reportedly attracting “serious interest'' from Barcelona this summer.
Football transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano reported on Monday evening that the Spanish giants hold a “serious interest” in the Villa starlet. It was stated that he is viewed by the Catalan club as a player with “huge potential” that would be available for a “training compensation” as early as January, if he doesn’t sign a new deal at Villa.
The 18-year-old made 12 league appearances last term after being given his senior debut towards the end of the 2020/21 season having been a talismanic figure for Villa’s FA Youth Cup-winning side.
His success continued this summer as the midfielder was one of three Villa youngsters that helped steer England to glory in the U19 Euros . However, with his contract entering its final 12 months, the teenager is the subject of intense transfer speculation.
Porto make demands
FC Porto will only sell coveted midfielder Otavio if his buy-out clause is met.
Portugal international Otavio has been linked with a transfer to the Premier League, and Villa are reportedly among his suitors with Gerrard after a new midfielder and forward before September 1.
Otavio - who recorded three goals and 11 assists as Porto clinched the Primeira Liga title last term - is said to be among Villa’s targets but competition for the 27-year-old is fierce after Leeds saw a bid rejected earlier in the transfer window.
Porto president Pinto Da Costa has said : “Whoever wants a Porto player now knows they have to pay the clause in cash.”
According to reports , Otavio’s €40m (£34m) buyout clause expires on Friday on July 15, when it will rise to €60m (£51m). Otavio has three years remaining on his Porto contract.
Gerrard agrees double loan transfer
Villa have confirmed that two academy youngsters will send next season in League One.
Goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo and midfielder Finn Azaz will spend the upcoming campaign in the third tier after being part of Villa ’s first team squad at the start of pre-season. Sinisalo is heading to Burton Albion, while Azaz will join up with Plymouth Argyle.
Both players featured as Gerrard ’s side got their pre-season campaign underway at the weekend against Walsall. Azaz was composed in midfield before being one of 10 changes at half-time, while Sinisalo played the full 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet in goal in the 4-0 win.
Azaz, 22, excelled while out on loan with Newport last term, picking up the League Two Young player of the Season award, as well as being named in the Team of the Season. Villa have confirmed the midfielder has signed a fresh contract ahead of his loan to Plymouth, where he will hope to enjoy similar success as he makes the step up to League One.
The Finnish goalkeeper was first linked with a move to the Brewers last week and was claimed to be nearing a loan switch after signing a fresh contract. However, the temporary switch for Azaz, who spent last season with Newport County in League Two, had not previously been reported
