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Aston Villa are back in action this weekend in the FA Cup

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Aston Villa will be looking to bounce back from their 2-0 loss away at Wolves last time out in the Premier League. They are currently sat in 8th place in the table.

Unai Emery can progress to the fifth round if they can see off Tottenham Hotspur. They beat fellow top flight side West Ham in the last round.

Aston Villa have had a busy winter on the transfer front. They have brought in the likes of Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio and Donyell Malen, among others, to boost their ranks.

AI predicts Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur

Ahead of Aston Villa’s tie against Spurs, we have asked AI to predict the outcome of the game. As per ChatGPT, the technology has predicted: “Considering Aston Villa's home advantage and recent signings, they are well-positioned to challenge Tottenham Hotspur. However, Spurs' experience and recent FA Cup form suggest a competitive match. Statistical analyses indicate a slight edge for Aston Villa, with a 49.9% chance of winning, compared to Tottenham's 28.46%. The most probable scoreline is a 2-1 victory for Aston Villa.”

It added: “While Tottenham Hotspur's recent form has been inconsistent, their historical dominance over Aston Villa and experience in high-pressure matches make them formidable opponents. Aston Villa's recent signings and home advantage could level the playing field, leading to a closely contested match. Ultimately, the outcome will depend on the performance and tactical approach of both teams on the day.”

AI has backed Aston Villa to get through against Ange Postecoglou’s men. However, it believes it will be a close call and one goal could separate them.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery wants a reaction

Aston Villa have a genuine chance of getting to Wembley if they can see off Spurs. They will only be two wins from the semi-final if they get through.

They will be eager to hit some form over the coming weeks as they look to get into the top four. The Midlands outfit also remain in the Champions League.

Speaking after their loss to Wolves, Emery said: “[I’m] frustrated after we were enjoying the week. In the Champions League we are performing very well and being consistent and we wanted to be in the last 16.

“Always my message is that through the Premier League we are going to get our target, but it’s very, very difficult to be consistent in the Premier League with the teams and the good coaches they have. Today in Wolverhampton it’s difficult to win here. Our performance today was a little bit under our expectation at the beginning of the match.

“Our challenge is to try and be consistent like we are in the Champions League and try to get our performances in the Premier League. Wolverhampton were very focused in the match and individually, they were very aggressive and intense. We were competing as well but we conceded one goal and some chances in the first half and we were not controlling the game like we needed.”

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Aston Villa are back in action this weekend this weekend in the FA Cup

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Aston Villa have raised eyebrows by bringing in Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio to bolster their ranks. The pair have arrived on loan from Manchester United and PSG respectively.

Unai Emery’s side are currently sat in 8th place as they look to get into Europe again. They qualified for the Champions League last year.

Villa also ended up bringing winger Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund this winter. Jhon Duran left the club though for Al-Nassr.

FA make official decision ahead of Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur

The FA have confirmed that Anthony Taylor will be the referee for Aston Villa’s FA Cup clash against Tottenham Hotspur this weekend. Ange Postecoglou’s men make the trip to Villa Park on Sunday afternoon in the fourth round. Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn will be on assistant referee duties. Meanwhile. Meanwhile, Simon Hooper is the fourth official.

Taylor, 46, is an experienced operator and has made 27 appearances so far this season, 21 of which have come in the Premier League. He last refereed Aston Villa during their 3-0 loss away at Newcastle United back in December. He is from Wythenshawe and worked at the top level since 2010. The Cheshire-based man started out in non-league back in 2002 before working his way up the football pyramid.

Spurs are in Carabao Cup semi-final action on Thursday night away at Liverpool. They won the first leg 1-0 so head into the match with a slender lead.

What has been said ahead of Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur?

Aston Villa will want to see a reaction following their 2-0 loss against Wolves in their last league match. They have been boosted by the arrivals of Rashford and Asensio and they will both be eager to make an instant impact. Speaking after their defeat at Molineux, Emery said: “[I’m] frustrated after we were enjoying the week. In the Champions League we are performing very well and being consistent and we wanted to be in the last 16.

“Always my message is that through the Premier League we are going to get our target, but it’s very, very difficult to be consistent in the Premier League with the teams and the good coaches they have. Today in Wolverhampton it’s difficult to win here. Our performance today was a little bit under our expectation at the beginning of the match.

“Our challenge is to try and be consistent like we are in the Champions League and try to get our performances in the Premier League. Wolverhampton were very focused in the match and individually, they were very aggressive and intense. We were competing as well but we conceded one goal and some chances in the first half and we were not controlling the game like we needed.

“In the second half I changed four for some fresh legs, particularly with Leon Bailey on the right side, getting wide and trying to threaten them from there. We created some chances with Bailey and (Donyell) Malen as well; we created two, three, four chances to score but we didn’t score.”

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A medical has been passed for a €20m attacker after Tottenham Hotspur made contact for an Aston Villa star.

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Tottenham lodged an official enquiry to sign Leon Bailey from Aston Villa on Sunday evening, testing the waters ahead of a possible deadline day swoop.

Spurs are weighing up their options as they seek to add depth in quality in wide areas. Birmingham World understands Villa are reluctant to sell Bailey permanently but are open to the idea of a loan departure, following the arrival of Marcus Rashford from Manchester United and the imminent signing of Marco Asensio from Paris Saint-Germain.

Fabrizio Romano has reported Tottenham have formally initiated talks with Villa for Bailey, asking to be informed of the requirements of a possible deal. Man Utd are thought to be keen, too, as they spoke to Villa about Bailey during the Villans 2-0 defeat away at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

During a YouTube video update, Romano said: “Man Utd made contact but at the moment Villa are still not able to sign Joao Felix as Chelsea are not open. Villa must decide what to do with Bailey; Man Utd and Tottenham, both clubs called to be informed but it depends on Villa, there are no open doors but we will see on deadline day.”

Bailey has been very hot and cold for Villa under Emery, at times looking every penny of his €38 million (£31.6m) market value and then otherwise flattering to deceive. The 32-time Jamaica international has scored just one goal in 29 appearances across all competitions this season, also notching three assists.

Last campaign was far more successful as Bailey contributed an impressive 10 goals and nine assists in 35 Premier League games. The 27-year-old added a further two gaols and four assists in 11 Europa Conference League matches, too, establishing himself as one of Emery’s key players in a host of competitions.

Medical passed for €20m attacker

Meanwhile, Villa are on the verge of signing Asensio on loan from PSG with a medical already passed. The 29-year-old will be with Emery’s side until June, though that spell could potentially be extended in the summer. Birmingham World was alerted during the Wolves clash that talks were progressing nicely for Asensio.

The Athletic then revealed late on Saturday evening that a full agreement has been reached between Villa and PSG for Asensio to sign on for the remainder of the 2024/25 season. The Villans will cover the Spaniard’s full salary for the next six months as part of a wider financial package.

Unlike Rashford, Asensio isn’t joining with the view to a permanent transfer in the summer. The 29-year-old instead arrives on a straight loan to try and help Villa achieve their ambitions of finishing in the Premier League top four and progressing far in the UEFA Champions League.

Asensio, 38 times a full Spain international, has scored seven goals and made 11 assists in 47 matches for PSG since arriving in July 2023. Before that, the attacking midfielder racked up an impressive 61 goals and 32 assists in 286 appearances for Real Madrid. Asensio also won three Champions League titles during his eight years at the Santiago Bernabeu.

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The player will decide after talks with both Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur.

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Chelsea defender Axel Disasi will decide soon whether to join Aston Villa or Tottenham Hotspur on loan.

Villa agreed personal terms with Disasi on Monday but the centre-back has been weighing up his options. Fabrizio Romano reports Tottenham have made an official proposal are insisting on Disasi as their new centre-half for the rest of the season.

The decision is now fully up to the player as Chelsea have given the green light for a loan move to go ahead. Signed from AS Monaco for £38.5 million in August 2023, Disasi has made 61 appearances so far across all competitions for the Blues, scoring five goals and assisting two more.

Wolverhampton Wanderers were also interested in signing Disasi at the start of the week but the player made it clear he wanted Villa. The recent emergence of Tottenham has opened the race wide open again, however, with the move to Villa still not finalised.

How would Axel Disasi fit in at Aston Villa?

Disasi’s arrival would come as a welcome boost to Villa’s defensive depth following Carlos’ sale and the injuries suffered by both Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings. Pau is out for another five or six weeks with a broken metatarsal while Mings hobbled off during the 1-1 draw with West Ham on Sunday.

Pace isn’t Disasi’s strong point but the Frenchman is mightily strong and - at 6ft 3in - dominates in the air. His presence from set pieces should be a great aid, especially in Mings’ absence. One downside of Disasi’s game, however, is the fact he’s very right-footed and Villa ideally need a left-sided centre-half.

Disasi joined Chelsea from AS Monaco for a reported £38.5 million fee in 2021 but his minutes have restricted since the arrival of Enzo Maresca, who has given the 26-year-old just four Premier League starts so far.

Villa consider Disasi alternative

In case the Villans can’t complete a swoop for Disasi, an alternative option has been lined up. A loan offer has already been submitted for RC Lens defender Kevin Danso but there’s hot competition from Serie A giants Juventus and Ligue 1 side Rennes.

Lens hold the cards as they would prefer not to let Danso leave for a direct rival - Rennes - but are also keen to capitalise the financial gains of any deal. It awaits to be seen just how much Villa’s offer was worth but it’s suspected it was a loan proposal rather than permanent.

Fellow Premier League clubs Newcastle United, West Ham United and Everton have all been linked with Danso in the past 12 months. Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Atalanta, Napoli, Stuttgart, Galatasararay and Fenerbahce have all shown interest, too.

Wolves are well in the fight, too, as Birmingham World understands the Old Gold have already seen two bids rejected for Danso, one totalling £16 million and the other worth around £18.5 million. A fair whack more needs to be coughed up if Wanderers are to acquire their top target.

Predominantly a centre-back but also capable of filling in at right-back or defensive midfield if required, Danso stands at 6ft 2in. The 26-year-old isn’t the most agile but he’s rapid once he gets up to speed and he’s very strong in the air. Danso also loves a crunching tackle.

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Tottenham Hotspur could let a promising forward join West Bromwich Albion or Middlesbrough this January.

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West Brom and Middlesbrough are among several Championship clubs to register an interest in signing Tottenham Hotspur attacker Will Lankshear on loan for the rest of the season.

Albion have been in the hunt for a new striker since Josh Maja suffered a hamstring injury requiring surgery. Daryl Dike is nearly back from a serious Achilles issue but the American will need to be eased in before he plays regularly, so a loan signing is being sought.

Ipswich Town forward Ali Al-Hamadi was understood to be very close to joining West Brom but an issue was picked up during his medical. The Iraq international joined Stoke City instead and he will spent until the end of the current campaign at Bet365 Stadium.

Football London reports West Brom are hopeful of landing Lankshear to fix their striker issue but face competition from Middlesbrough, Luton Town and Cardiff City. Clubs abroad are also said to hold an interest but Spurs would prefer to see how how their wonderkid fares in the Championship.

Still just 19 years of age, Lankshear has made his senior breakthrough for Tottenham this season with six appearances across the Premier League and UEFA Europa League. The teenager scored his first Spurs goal in the latter, netting his team’s equaliser in the 3-2 defeat away at Galatasaray. Rather unfortunately, Lankshear was also sent off in that game for two yellow card offences.

A devastatingly clinical player at youth level, the England U20 international scored 23 goals in 23 Premier League 2 appearances last season before making the step up to the first team. During the campaign preceding that, Lankshear hinted at what he was capable of with four goals and two assists in five U18 Premier League matches.

How would Will Lanskhear fit in at West Brom?

Although new West Brom manager Tony Mowbray has suggested a striker signing before the window closes isn’t an absolutely necessity, there’s no doubting Albion would be better off with a new face leading the line.

Originally on the books at Sheffield United but snapped up by Spurs as a 17-year-old for £1 million, Lankshear is an out-and-out centre-forward so he’d help sort West Brom’s issue. Standing at 6ft 2in, the striker isn’t the quickest but he’s got excellent technical ability.

Lankshear wouldn’t be guaranteed to start every match for the Baggies - especially straight away - but the Spurs number 42 would provide strong competition for the likes of Karlan Grant, Jed Wallace and Grady Diangana, all of whom have played as auxiliary strikers recently.

Albion certainly didn’t lack firepower in the recent 5-1 victory over Portsmouth at The Hawthorns but the season on the whole has been rather stop-start in front of goal. A division-high 14 draws in 29 matches has denied the Baggies the chance to compete with the top four - Leeds United, Sheffield United, Burnley and Sunderland - who have now all marched off into the distance.

Beating Boro to Lankshear’s signature could be important for West Brom, not only to improve their own front line but also to stop their direct rivals from doing so themselves. Behind Albion by merely two goal difference, Michael Carrick’s side are firmly in contention for a play-off finish.

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Villa have been linked with a late move for an elite defender who is also wanted by Spurs and Newcastle.

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Aston Villa could be lining up a January move for one of Tottenham Hotspur’s priority transfer targets – Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Milan Škriniar, who is expected to leave the French club after falling out of favour.

Sport Witness, who cite a story from L’Equipe, claim that while Spurs, who have been linked with a bid the Slovakian defender by a number of press outlets in recent weeks, have a “real desire” to sign Škriniar, and their interest is “more along the road” than that of the Villans.

Meanwhile, Unai Emery’s side are “waiting in the wings to pounce” and could “hijack” the deal. Reinforcements at centre-half are not believed to be an urgent priority for Emery, but the chance to sign a player of Škriniar’s quality may prove to be too good to pass on.

Why is Milan Škriniar up for sale?

Škriniar, who has earned 77 caps for his country and is the national captain, earned a reputation as one of the best defenders in Europe during an impressive six-year stint in Italy with Inter Milan, for whom he made nearly 250 appearances.

He left Inter as a free agent at the end of the 2022/23 season and quickly signed a five-year deal with PSG with a salary estimated by Capology at €315,000 (£266,000) per week, which could prove a stumbling block in negotiations.

His time in the French capital has been unproductive, however, with injuries and sub-par performances across his debut campaign leading to his being dropped by head coach Luis Enrique. Škriniar is reportedly unhappy with his reduced playing time and is amenable to a move.

How much would Škriniar cost?

A prior report from Caught Offside suggested that the transfer fee for the 29-year-old Škriniar, who signed for PSG as a free agent in 2023, could be as high as €35m (£29.5m). That report also suggested that Newcastle United could be interested.

However, Sport Witness’ report claims that PSG are now looking to ease the player’s departure from the club by allowing him to leave on an initial loan deal with a purchase clause which would be activated in the summer after some “easy” conditions are met.

That could help Villa – or a Premier League rival – to make the deal work despite profit and sustainability restrictions. It isn’t stated whether PSG would demand a fee up front for a loan, or how much of Škriniar’s wages may have to be covered.

If none of the defender’s Premier League suitors make a move, then Galatasaray and José Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe are also hovering, per the report. The latter recently had a bid for Newcastle defender Lloyd Kelly rebuffed and are working hard to bring in reinforcements for the back line.

Elsewhere, Aston Villa have completed their second transfer deal of the January window with the sale of young winger Jaden Philogene, netting a substantial profit in the process, and have also been linked with a move for a free-scoring £25m-rated striker from the Turkish top flight.

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Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly planning a bid for a player Wolverhampton Wanderers only signed four months ago.

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Sam Johnstone could depart Wolves this January as fellow Premier League side Tottenham are reportedly interested in acquiring his services.

Bought from Crystal Palace for £10 million in the summer transfer window, Johnstone arrived at Molineux as a decent option to rotate with Jose Sa. Gary O’Neil, then Wolves manager, insisted at the time that there was no clear number one goalkeeper and that turned out to be true as the game time has been shared this term.

Sa is the preferred option for new head coach Vitor Pereira but Johnstone has made seven Premier League appearances of his own in 2024/25. It’s not been an overly successful start for the 31-year-old, however, as he’s conceded 17 times in those seven outings and failed to preserve a single clean sheet.

Johnstone may not have to warm the bench at Wolves for much longer as Tottenham are interested in signing him, according to a report from TBR Football. It’s claimed Spurs have identified Johnstone as a target to start in the absence of Guglielmo Vicario, who is not expected to return from his serious ankle injury until at least March.

Fraser Forster has deputised for Vicario between the sticks for the past eight Premier League matches but the 36-year-old has only kept one clean sheet and has conceded 15 goals. Spurs want another senior option to step in if possible, especially with Forster’s contract set to eclipse on June 30 of this year.

Wolves make Sam Johnstone call amid Spurs interest

The report from TBR Football claims the Old Gold are willing to let Johnstone go despite only welcoming him to the club a matter of months ago. As long as Wolves can make a profit and are able to source a replacement, they would be up for cashing in. The latter point is less urgent, though, with Daniel Bentley a decent alternative already on the books.

Wolves can expect an update in their inbox soon as Tottenham are now ‘exploring a deal’ to bring in Johnstone on loan with an option to buy. It awaits to be seen if Wanderers would agree to those terms but that’s what Spurs are looking to set out as they seek a solution to their poor defensive form.

Currently down in 11th in the Premier League, Tottenham have conceded 28 goals at the halfway stage of the campaign. Out of the teams in the top half, only Aston Villa (31) have let in more. Even the likes of AFC Bournemouth (23) and Fulham (25) boast superior defensive records than Spurs.

It’s not all down to Forster, of course, as Vicario was also susceptible to conceding due to Ange Postecoglou’s gun-ho attacking system. A high back line is always risky and can lead to some devastating scorelines, no matter the goalkeeper between the sticks.

There are still some contrasting figures between Vicario and Forster, though, with Tottenham’s first choice shot-stopper conceding 1.08 goals per 90 minutes this season. For comparsion, Forster has let in 2.14 per 90. Johnstone’s figure stands at 2.43, but he does of course have an inferior defence in front of him.

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The latest Premier League transfer rumours as Wolverhampton Wanderers discuss terms with an attacker wanted by Tottenham Hotspur.

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Wolves are reportedly set to offer star forward Matheus Cunha a lucrative new contract following an impressive start to the new season.

The Old Gold are aware of interest in their best players from the Premier League’s elite clubs but want to keep them at all costs. Cunha comes under this bracket and as does left wing-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, who has been heavily linked with Liverpool and Manchester United in recent weeks.

The Telegraph reports Wolves want to reward Cunha for his efforts over the past couple of seasons, offering him significantly improved terms while extending his stay at Molineux. It’s stated the Old Gold feel it’s inevitable that bigger clubs will come knocking in the summer, so they want to ensure Cunha’s contract is of a longer term.

This update comes after reports that higher-ups at Tottenham have been in talks over a potential move for Cunha in the summer transfer window. Another fellow Premier League side, Man Utd, are also said to have been monitoring the Brazilian’s progress.

Cunha, 25 years old and heading into his prime, has contributed an impressive seven goals and three assists in 12 Premier League matches this season despite Wolves’ torrid form. Wanderers have picked up just nine points out of an available 36 but that hasn’t stopped Cunha from starring in games, even when his side have been defeated.

Goal contributions came at a similar rate last term, too, as Cunha netted on 12 occasions while providing seven assists in 32 league matches. The £44million fee may have seemed a little excessive at the time but the 11-time former Brazil international is certainly proving his worth.

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Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur clash in the Premier League in North London on Sunday, November 3, at 2.00 pm.

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Aston Villa hope to bounce back from their exit from the Carabao Cup in midweek when they travel to London to face Spurs in the Premier League.

The Villains lost to Crystal Palace 2-1 on Wednesday night, despite Jhon Duran getting them back on level terms after Eberechi Eze opened the scoring. Villa have won twice in their last two meetings at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but the most recent clash between the two sides resulted in a 4-0 win for Spurs back in March.

Spurs progressed to the last eight of the Carabao Cup after beating Manchester City, but they didn’t come through things unscathed. They’ve got some injuries to contend with, and so without a further ado, here’s the latest injury update on both side’s squads.

Aston Villa team news

In what is a rarity these days given the volume of fixtures, Aston Villa have no injury concerns. Jaden Philogene missed their last league match due to picking up two yellow cards, but he's now back, and available for selection.

Villa have a game against Club Brugge in the Champions League next Wednesday, and so there might be one eye on that fixture when it comes to team selection. The Premier League is the bread and butter, but Villa will want to continue their good start, having topped the league phase in the UCL after three games.

Unai Emery made 10 changes from the team that drew with Bournemouth against Crystal Palace, including starts for Tyrone Mings, and Boubacar Kamara who have recovered from ACL injuries.

Spurs team news

Micky van de Ven has emerged as an injury concern for Spurs. He felt something in his hamstring after playing a part in their win against Manchester City on Wednesday. He'll be assessed, and an update should be provided on Friday.

Timo Werner looked to have been contending with fatigue towards the latter stages of the game against Man City. Werner should be okay to play at the weekend however. Cristian Romero is similar to Werner, but given van den Ven's injury, a decision was made to bring on Ben Davies early in the second period.

Summer signing Wilson Odobert has been ruled out. He's picked up a fresh injury which is around the same area as he picked up the first which put him out for over a month.

Spurs are hoping that they can get Heung-Min Son back for the weekend. He's been sidelined with a thigh injury, and he's been described as 'almost fit' and so it seems he's touch and go for the weekend. Djed Spence is in a similar position to Heung-Min Son, with Ange Postecoglou hoping that he would re-join the squad this week in training.

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The Premier League table based on the total squad transfer values of all 20 teams.

Aston Villa have begun the new season in style, with just one defeat in their opening seven Premier League matches.

Unai Emery’s side have continued their fine work from last campaign’s fourth-placed finish, building further momentum toward becoming an established European outfit.

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That’s been proved in the Champions League itself, too, as Villa have won their opening two fixtures. The second of those victories was incredibly impressive as they beat Bayern Munich by one goal to nil at Villa Park.

On paper, Emery has achieved these remarkable feats with a squad not quite at the level of those in the so-called ‘big six’. Villa’s financial power is far less significant than those teams, too, making the progress all the more admirable.

How, then, does Villa’s total squad value compare to the rest of the Premier League? Emphasising just how brilliantly Emery is doing, here’s a full run-through.