Aston Villa will be targeting a return to winning ways when they welcome Liverpool to Villa Park in the Premier League on Monday night.
Unai Emery's side were knocked out of the Europa Conference League in midweek following a 2-0 defeat to Olympiacos out in Greece on Thursday night. They now have the chance to secure qualification for the Champions League against Liverpool.
A victory would be enough to make it mathematically impossible for Tottenham to catch Villa in the top four with two games against Manchester City and Sheffield United remaining for them following Saturday's win over Burnley. A win for title chasers City against Spurs would also be enough for Villa to claim fourth place on Tuesday night.
Villa's transfer business could be impacted by whether or not they secure qualification for the Champions League this season. It's crucial Monchi bolsters Emery's squad given the strain on his players throughout this season.
Without eight players for their Europa Conference League semi-final second leg against Olympiacos, the demands of the season appear to have caught up with Villa.
Villa continue to be linked with many names ahead of the transfer window opening on June 14. A number of exits are also on the cards.
Follow the live blog below for all the very latest Villa news throughout the day.
Key Events
The Villa players who could bid farewell on Monday
It could be another game to remember on Monday when Aston Villa host Liverpool with the opportunity to secure Champions League qualification.
Unai Emery's side are just one win away from confirming their spot in the top four ahead of Tottenham. Even if Villa lost to Liverpool on Monday night, Spurs will then be unable to catch them if they lose to Manchester City the following day.
Villa are already guaranteed to finish in the top five, meaning they'll enter the Europa League next season if they fail to pip Spurs to fourth. Whatever competition Villa qualifies for, the club's president of football operations Monchi has a big task on his hands to bolster Emery's first-team squad while also raising money through player sales.
Locko linked
Aston Villa are reportedly interested in signing Bradley Locko this summer.
The left-back has been in fine form for Brest this season and top scouts from both Premier League clubs watched the attacking defender on Friday. Brest are expected to cash in on the 22-year-old this summer with Manchester City also tracking him, according to the Sun.
Villa's Arblaster interest
Aston Villa are said to hold an interest in Sheffield United midfielder Oliver Arblaster, who at the age of 20 has already captained the first-team twice.
Scouts from across the Premier League are understood to have been keeping close tabs on Arblaster in recent months, with Villa and West Ham just two clubs in the frame to make a move for him this summer, according to The Telegraph. Arblaster was the Blades' skipper in the last two games away against Newcastle United and Manchester United, despite only making his seventh Premier League start last weekend.
Following relegation from the Premier League, Sheffield United now face a battle to keep the England Under-20 international on their books even though he signed a contract back in February. Manager Chris Wilder has outlined that he wants to build a team around Arblaster in the Championship.
Villa hold Baena interest
It has been revealed Aston Villa director of football operations Damian Vidagany was in attendance at Villarreal's recent La Liga clash with Rayo Vallecano - days after fresh rumours of interest in Alex Baena.
Vidaganyjoined as a key member of Villa's backroom staff when Unai Emery joined the club in late 2022, then carried on in his aforementioned role when Monchi entered the fray in last year's reshuffle. As well as having nine years of prior experience with Valencia, past work meant he was highly regarded for his commercial and communications skills.
And now it appears his latest scouting work has taken him back to his homeland, as Spanish publication AS claim to have seen him in the stands of La Ceramica whilst the home side defeated Rayo Vallecano 3-0 on Sunday, April 28.
Coutinho's future plans
Philippe Coutinho could return to his native Brazil this summer and end his unfortunate Aston Villa spell prematurely after spending the season out on loan in Qatar with Al-Duhail. Coutinho was brought to Villa, initially on loan, by former teammate and then boss Steven Gerrard.
After an excellent early impression, in which Coutinho made big impacts on his debut against Manchester United, in the hammering of Southampton and also in home and away meetings with Leeds United, his influence faded as Gerrard's tenure began to sour. Aside from his goal on the final day of the season at Manchester City that season, the only other goal the Brazilian contributed since has been in the 4-2 defeat to Arsenal last year.
Unai Emery was happy to allow Coutinho to leave in the summer, but only a loan move could be secured for the former Liverpool playmaker, who once cost Barcelona around £140m, and he headed to Al-Duhail where he has been playing regularly. Coutinho, who cost Villa £17m when they decided to sign him permanently, has two more years remaining on his contract.
Villa 'close' to Hermoso agreement
Aston Villa are reportedly leading the race to sign Mario Hermoso on a free transfer this summer.
The 28-year-old is set to depart Atletico Madrid at the end of this season after four years working under Diego Simeone. Hermoso is of interest to a number of clubs on the continent, including Inter Milan, but Villa are said to be closing in on the centre-back's signature.
Diarioi AS claim that Villa are now primed to press ahead and reach an agreement with Hermoso to make him their first summer signing.
