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Ollie Watkins is open to joining Arsenal this month following shock bid – but Aston Villa are determined to keep the England striker
- Arsenal saw a shock bid for Ollie Watkins rejected by Aston Villa on Wednesday
- The Gunners have been keen to sign an attacking option in the January window
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Ollie Watkins to Arsenal? It’s terrible planning from Arsenal… it’s all a bit late and panicked from the Gunners!
Ollie Watkins would be open to joining Arsenal this month but Aston Villa are determined to keep the England international.
Mail Sport revealed on Wednesday that the Gunners had an offer for Watkins rejected after receiving encouragement that a successful swoop was possible.
Arsenal, on Thursday, still had not given up hope of landing the 29-year-old despite the understanding that Villa will not consider selling Watkins and his strike partner Jhon Duran in the same window.
Duran is close to joining Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr.
Arsenal are now weighing up a second offer in hope of reviving the deal but if Duran completes his switch to the Middle East it appears highly unlikely that a renewed bid would be successful.
Watkins, for his part, is open to joining Arsenal – the club he supported as a boy – should the two clubs reach an agreement.
Ollie Watkins would be open to joining Arsenal who tabled a shock bid for his services this week
Aston Villa are determined to keep hold of the England star with Jhon Duran nearing a move to Al-Nassr
Mail Sport understands that Mikel Arteta’s side have not given up hope on landing the striker
With Arsenal likely to further strengthen their forward line this summer should a move for Watkins fail this month, this may be the final opportunity for the forward to join the team he followed as child.
If a deal is not possible, Arsenal are monitoring Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel, 19, and could launch a move for the Frenchman.
Tel also has interest from Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United and Aston Villa.
Ollie Watkins is open to joining Arsenal this month following a shock bid, but Aston Villa are determined to keep the England striker.According to reports, Arsenal have made a move for Watkins as they look to bolster their attacking options in the January transfer window. The Gunners are in need of a proven goal scorer and see Watkins as the perfect fit to lead their frontline.
Watkins, who has impressed since joining Aston Villa from Brentford in 2020, is said to be open to the idea of joining Arsenal and testing himself at a bigger club. The 25-year-old has scored 8 goals in 20 Premier League appearances this season and has caught the eye of several top clubs.
However, Aston Villa are determined to keep hold of their star striker and have no intention of selling him this month. The Midlands club see Watkins as a key player in their push for European qualification and are not willing to let him go without a fight.
It remains to be seen whether Arsenal will be able to convince Aston Villa to part ways with Watkins, but it is clear that the Gunners are keen to add the talented forward to their ranks. With the transfer window open, this saga is sure to develop in the coming days. Keep an eye on this space for all the latest updates.
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Ollie Watkins, Arsenal, transfer news, Aston Villa, England striker, Premier League, football, transfer rumors, EPL, transfer window, January transfer, Ollie Watkins to Arsenal, Aston Villa transfer news
#Ollie #Watkins #open #joining #Arsenal #month #shock #bid #Aston #Villa #determined #England #strikerOllie Watkins: Aston Villa striker open to Arsenal move in January transfer window – Paper Talk | Football News
The top stories and transfer rumours from Friday’s newspapers…
DAILY MAIL
Ollie Watkins would be open to joining Arsenal this month but Aston Villa are determined to keep the England international.
Marco Asensio is one of a number of attacking players Aston Villa are eyeing as Unai Emery looks to bolster his squad before the transfer window closes on February 3.
Manchester United have had to push back Patrick Dorgu’s medical with the club just days before Deadline Day because the relevant documentation and contracts were not completed on time for the original test.
Henry Winter claims the signing of Patrick Dorgu is a ‘statement’ for Manchester Untied boss Ruben Amorim
Manchester City have hinted at a major boost regarding the fitness of Rodri, with the club set to name him in their 25-player Champions League squad for the knockout stages despite a serious knee injury that has kept him out since September.
Reigning champions Oval Invincibles were the first of the eight Hundred teams to agree a private investment deal on Thursday when the owners of Mumbai Indians secured a 49 per cent stake for £60m.
Newcastle are set to engage architects to lead the redesign of St James’ Park or a new build on nearby Leazes Park.
The prospect of an emotional return for Mauricio Pochettino to Tottenham in the event of Ange Postecoglou leaving is very unlikely.
Jamie Redknapp and Dharmesh Sheth discuss the latest with Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford.
Sean Longstaff is set to rebuff Premier League interest and fight for his place at Newcastle.
Rafa Benitez has ruled himself out of the running for the head coach vacancy at Botafogo.
Newcastle are very unlikely to do any transfer business before Monday night’s deadline.
Crystal Palace midfielder Cheick Doucoure is out for the season after suffering another serious injury.
Sportsbank, the investment vehicle who have entered into an exclusivity agreement to take part-control at Crystal Palace, could make a move into domestic cricket.
Sky Sports News’ Transfer Show round-up all the Premier League’s transfer news with only four days remaining in the January window.
Bournemouth want to secure a loan deal for a new striker before next week’s transfer deadline, with first-choice Evanilson still around five weeks away from being available, and back-up centre forward Enes Unal out long-term with a serious knee injury.
Crystal Palace are working on a deal for Juventus defender Tiago Djalo, 24, who will have to cut short his loan with Porto before transferring to Palace.
Newcastle have held talks with Malaga winger Antonio Cordero over a pre-contract agreement.
THE SUN
Al Nassr are weighing up a shock move for Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic.
Chelsea are ready to go right to the wire in their plans to land Alejandro Garnacho.
Barcelona could play the final two games of their LaLiga season in a third division stadium.
THE INDEPENDENT
Chelsea are interested in Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, although any move is likelier in the summer.
THE TIMES
Tottenham have reached a verbal agreement with Bayern Munich over a deal worth about £50m for Mathys Tel, with the forward set to decide whether to join Spurs or wait for other interested clubs.
Jamie Redknapp reveals he spoke to Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane about team-mate and Spurs target Mathys Tel
The Saudi Pro League has launched another spending spree before its transfer market shuts on Friday, with Al Nassr ready to spend a combined £140m to bring in Kaoru Mitoma and Jhon Duran.
Kevin De Bruyne is open to the possibility of extending his contract with Manchester City.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Aston Villa remain adamant they do not want to sell Ollie Watkins as it emerged Arsenal’s opening offer was around half the price the Midlands club value him at.
Sky Sports News’ Kaveh Solhekol and Dharmesh Sheth provide the latest updates on Arsenal’s bid to sign Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins
Jordan Henderson is in talks over a free transfer from Ajax to Monaco.
English cricket raised more than £100m on the first day of the Hundred franchise sale after stakes were sold to Asia’s richest family and the Tom Brady-backed American investment fund that owns Birmingham City.
Pep Guardiola is ready to register Rodri for the Champions League knockout stages in the hope that the Ballon d’Or winner can return from his serious knee injury this season to play in the latter stages of the competition.
THE ATHLETIC
Marco Asensio and Joao Felix are among the list of options Aston Villa are considering as they aim to recruit an attacker this window.
Watford are close to concluding a loan deal for Chelsea left-back Caleb Wiley.
Arsenal are optimistic David Raya will be available for selection against Manchester City on Sunday.
Sergio Ramos is in talks with Monterrey over a possible move to the Mexican club but no formal proposal has been received.
Barcelona have asked for an extension to play El Clasico at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys with the stadium now unlikely to host a Rolling Stones concert on the same weekend as the La Liga match against Real Madrid.
THE GUARDIAN
Aston Villa are weighing up a move for Matheus Cunha with Jhon Duran expected to finalise his transfer to Al Nassr on Thursday.
We take a look back at Matheus Cunha’s best goals and assists in the 2024/2025 Premier League campaign so far
The Rugby Football Union would consider staging England matches during the Six Nations on Friday nights if it works for broadcasters amid a push from organisers for unions to show more flexibility on kick-off times.
Middlesex’s chief executive, Andrew Cornish, has risked antagonising the England and Wales Cricket Board by appearing to criticise a central element of the counties’ new diversity rules that come into force on Saturday.
DAILY MIRROR
Jordan Henderson has been stripped of the Ajax captaincy after his bid to force a departure away from the Dutch club took a dramatic turn.
Paris Saint-Germain were the only club in Europe to spend more money in the international transfer market last year than Manchester United.
Arsenal are among the top European clubs currently tracking Adana Demirspor’s teenage goalkeeper Deniz Donmezer.
DAILY RECORD
Celtic are reportedly looking at Manchester United full-back Tyrell Malacia as an alternative if they fail to bring Kieran Tierney back to Parkhead this month.
THE SCOTTISH SUN
David Gray has insisted he never lost faith in his ability to manage Hibernian.
Transfer Centre LIVE! Deals, rumours, news on your phone
The January transfer window is OPEN!
Follow all the latest deals, news and rumours on the ‘Transfers’ section of the Sky Sports app!
Looking for news about YOUR club? Find dedicated transfer pages for EVERY Premier League team.
Ollie Watkins: Aston Villa striker open to Arsenal move in January transfer window – Paper TalkAston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has reportedly expressed his openness to a potential move to Arsenal in the upcoming January transfer window. The 25-year-old has been in impressive form for Villa since joining from Brentford last season, scoring 10 goals in 23 appearances so far this campaign.
According to reports, Watkins is believed to be eager to test himself at a higher level and sees Arsenal as a suitable destination to further his career. The Gunners, who are currently struggling in the Premier League, are said to be monitoring the situation closely and could make a move for the English forward in January.
Watkins’ versatility, pace, and goal-scoring ability have caught the eye of several top clubs, with Arsenal looking to bolster their attacking options in the winter transfer window. The striker’s potential move to the Emirates Stadium would provide Mikel Arteta’s side with a much-needed boost in their quest for success this season.
It remains to be seen whether a deal will materialize between Aston Villa and Arsenal, but Watkins’ desire to make the switch could play a crucial role in negotiations. The January transfer window promises to be an exciting one, with plenty of potential moves on the horizon. Stay tuned for more updates on Ollie Watkins and his future in the Premier League.
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Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa striker, Arsenal transfer, January transfer window, football news, Paper Talk, Premier League, transfer rumors, player news.
#Ollie #Watkins #Aston #Villa #striker #open #Arsenal #move #January #transfer #window #Paper #Talk #Football #NewsWho could Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Man City and Celtic face in UEFA Champions League play-offs and last 16?
Fans have been treated to goals galore in this season’s UEFA Champions League – now things are about to heat up once again as the draw for the knockout phase play-offs loom.
It has been a season of firsts in the Champions League, with the inaugural play-off round set to get underway in February.
The draw must take place first though, and with that in mind, here is everything you need to know about the next step on the road to Munich.
When is the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off draw?
The Champions League knockout phase play-off draw will get underway at 11:00 UK time on January 31 – live on TNT Sports and discovery+.The draw will be held at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland, which is UEFA’s headquarters.
The fixtures themselves will be played over two weeks, with the first legs set to take place on February 11 and 12 before the second legs on February 18 and 19.
Who could Manchester City and Celtic face in UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs?
British clubs Manchester City and Celtic have the same two possible opponents in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs after finishing 22nd and 21st.
The Scottish giants and the Premier League champions will face either face 15-time winners Real Madrid or German icons Bayern Munich after they finished 11th and 12th.
Who could Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa face in UEFA Champions League last 16?
While the top eight sides will not find out their opponents until the last 16 draw on February 21, the bracket format means they have four possible opponents.
Liverpool finished top of the league phase standings, but there are no easy games in the UEFA Champions League, and they will now face one of Monaco, Brest, Paris Saint-Germain or Benfica.
Arsenal ended their league phase campaign in third, and will take on one of Feyenoord, Juventus, AC Milan or PSV Eindhoven when their campaign resumes
Aston Villa secured their spot in the top eight with an entertaining 4-2 triumph over Celtic, and will now face a mouth-watering encounter with one of Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting Lisbon or Club Brugge in the last 16.
How does the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off draw work?
The top eight sides in the league phase table will progress automatically to the last 16, meaning only the teams that finished between ninth and 24th will be included in the play-off draw.
Teams that finished between ninth and 16th place will be seeded while the teams that were placed between 17th and 24th will be unseeded.
Unlike a traditional UEFA knockout draw – where any seed can meet any unseeded team – the competition adopts a bracket format from the play-off stage onwards.
There is still a draw, but potential opponents are reduced to two options. For example, teams finishing ninth and 10th can only be drawn against teams finishing 23rd and 24th; teams finishing 11th and 12th can only be drawn against teams finishing 21st and 22nd; and so on…
With only two teams in each pot, the first side selected is put on the silver side of the bracket and the other team placed on the blue side of the bracket.
Teams that draw each other will go head-to-head across two legs, with the winners progressing to the last 16.
The seeded clubs will play the return leg of their draw at home.
Seeded teams: Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, PSV, PSG, Benfica
Unseeded teams: Monaco, Brest, Feyenoord, Juventus, Celtic, Manchester City, Sporting Lisbon, Club Brugge
Can teams from the same country face each other?
Yes, sides can face another team from the same national association from the knockout phase play-offs onwards.
Intriguingly, they can also face teams they played during the league phase.
Stream the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference League and much more live on TNT Sports and discovery+
As the UEFA Champions League group stages come to a close, fans of Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Celtic are eagerly awaiting the draw for the play-offs and last 16. With some tough competition in the mix, the potential opponents for these teams could make for some exciting matchups.Liverpool, as one of the top seeds, could potentially face teams like Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, or RB Leipzig in the play-offs. In the last 16, they could come up against Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, or Juventus.
Arsenal, on the other hand, may face tough opponents like PSG, Sporting Lisbon, or Ajax in the play-offs. In the last 16, they could potentially meet Barcelona, Sevilla, or Borussia Dortmund.
Aston Villa, making their return to the Champions League after a long absence, could be drawn against teams like Porto, Lille, or RB Salzburg in the play-offs. In the last 16, they could face teams like Atalanta, Benfica, or Shakhtar Donetsk.
Manchester City, as one of the favorites to win the competition, could face teams like Napoli, Zenit St. Petersburg, or Villarreal in the play-offs. In the last 16, they could potentially meet AC Milan, Wolfsburg, or Marseille.
Celtic, as the Scottish champions, could potentially face teams like Sevilla, Dinamo Zagreb, or Young Boys in the play-offs. In the last 16, they could come up against teams like RB Leipzig, Porto, or Inter Milan.
With so many potential matchups on the horizon, fans of these teams will be eagerly awaiting the draw to see who their beloved clubs will face in the next stages of the Champions League. Stay tuned for updates and analysis on these exciting matchups!
Tags:
- Liverpool Champions League play-offs
- Arsenal UEFA Champions League opponents
- Aston Villa potential last 16 match-ups
- Man City UCL play-offs draw
- Celtic Champions League opponents last 16
#Liverpool #Arsenal #Aston #Villa #Man #City #Celtic #face #UEFA #Champions #League #playoffs
Jhon Duran close to completing Al-Nassr move from Aston Villa
Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran is close to completing a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, sources have confirmed to BBC Sport.
A fee has been agreed between the two clubs and Duran – who was on the bench for Villa’s 4-2 win over Celtic on Wednesday night – was undergoing a medical on Thursday.
A price of £65m for the 21-year-old Colombian has been reported, although not verified by BBC Sport.
A senior Saudi Pro League source said Duran will fly to Saudi Arabia on Saturday if the medical goes well.
Sources told BBC Sport that Duran was saying his goodbyes to staff and colleagues at Villa Park on Wednesday night after the deal progressed.
A Saudi delegation has been stationed in London this week negotiating the deal.
Aston Villa have been approached for comment.
Villa manager Unai Emery was asked post-match on Wednesday about the future of Duran as well as striker Ollie Watkins, amid a rejected bid from Arsenal.
On Duran, Emery said: “If he is leaving it’s because he wants [to]. I told you last week I wanted him here.
“We are different people, different objectives.
“The club is working and we have to be intelligent in the market.
“Our objective here is to keep our structure because we want to keep the level high, and maybe we have to sell some players – and I don’t know exactly until everything is done whether or not Jhon Duran is leaving – but if he does, it’ll be good news for us because it’s good money.”
Duran joined Villa from Chicago Fire for £18m in January 2023 but is now expected to leave in a deal reportedly worth more than £64.4m plus add-ons.
Al-Nassr are fourth in the Saudi Pro League table.
According to recent reports, Jhon Duran is edging closer to completing a move from Aston Villa to Al-Nassr. The Colombian midfielder has been in talks with the Saudi Arabian club for some time now, and it seems like a deal is finally coming to fruition.Duran has been a key player for Aston Villa in recent years, but it appears that he is ready for a new challenge. Al-Nassr are said to be offering a lucrative deal to the midfielder, which has persuaded him to make the move.
Although nothing has been officially confirmed yet, sources close to the negotiations have indicated that the deal is in its final stages. Fans of both clubs will be eagerly awaiting an official announcement in the coming days.
Stay tuned for more updates on Jhon Duran’s potential move to Al-Nassr from Aston Villa.
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- Jhon Duran transfer news
- Al-Nassr transfer update
- Aston Villa player move
- Jhon Duran Al-Nassr deal
- Football transfer rumors
- Jhon Duran latest transfer news
- Saudi Arabian football transfer
- Jhon Duran transfer rumors
- Al-Nassr new signing
- Aston Villa player transfer to Al-Nassr
#Jhon #Duran #close #completing #AlNassr #move #Aston #Villa
Jhon Duran transfer: Al Nassr confident of deal worth over £64m to sign Aston Villa striker | Football News
Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran has completed a medical with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr ahead of a £64m move.
The 21-year-old, who was an unused substitute in Villa’s 4-2 home win over Celtic in the Champions League on Wednesday, will now fly to Saudi Arabia to join a side headed by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Duran’s move comes as it also emerged Villa have rejected a bid from Arsenal for striker Ollie Watkins.
Al Nassr are understood to be paying just over £64m (€77m) plus bonuses for the striker, who was signed for around £15m from MLS side Chicago Fire FC two years ago.
The Saudi club have also seen a bid worth £54m for Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma rejected.
This is all part of a new Saudi strategy to focus on singing young, developing players. They do not want to be regarded as a retirement home for ageing superstars.
Speaking after Aston Villa’s draw with West Ham in the Premier League, Unai Emery confirmed he wanted to keep Duran
Emery said of Duran in his post-match press conference: “The club is working, we have to be competitive, of course we are developing players and increasing our objective, increasing our target, playing Champions League.
“Of course, we in the eyes of another strong team, strong countries like Saudi Arabia. It is something as well I can feel proud of because [the players] are improving. We have players who are of interest to other clubs and paying good money to us.
“But of course our objective is to keep our structure on the sport side because we want to keep our level that we are at and to keep it for a long time is hard.
“[To answer the question], I don’t know exactly until everything is done.
Emery remained coy on whether strikers Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins could both head for the exit door at Villa Park
“If he is leaving it is because it is a good deal for us. Because we have developed a young player in two years. It is not only club, it [has to work for] club, player and team.
“I don’t know if he is going to leave.”
The Spaniard added: “With Jhon Duran, you know more or less everything we are speaking here. He is a fantastic young player, fantastic potential. I was so close with him, trying to work with him in his development.
“But the player has the objective, sometimes they are impassioned. If they are leaving it is because they are doing another way in their career.”
Questioned on whether Duran has asked to leave the club, Emery replied: “If he is leaving, of course it is because he has agreed.
“I told you last week, I wanted him here. After West Ham, I told you I wanted him here. But what does he want?”
Earlier this month, West Ham had a £57m bid turned down for Duran.
Al Nassr opt for Duran over Boniface
Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface was an Al Nassr target
Sky Sports News reported on Wednesday morning that Al Nassr wanted to sign either Duran or Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface.
The Saudi Arabian club had held talks over both strikers but will only sign one of them and it appears they have settled on Duran despite also agreeing a £46m (€55m) deal for Boniface, who had undergone a medical.
Sky Germany reported on Wednesday night Boniface’s move to Al Nassr is off.
The 24-year-old was left out of Leverkusen’s squad on Wednesday for their 2-0 Champions League home win over Sparta Prague.
Leverkusen’s sporting director, Simon Rolfes, said it is now unlikely that Boniface leaves.
Rolfes said: “Boniface will train with the team again tomorrow. He is still a Bayer 04 player.
“The events have not led to him being sold. With certain sums of money, economic considerations naturally always play a role.
“The current situation is that he will most likely stay. We are happy about that.”
Villa reject Arsenal’s bid for Watkins
Transfer Show panel discusses why Aston Villa rejected Arsenal’s bid for Ollie Watkins
Al Nassr’s move for Duran comes amid Villa rejecting a bid from Arsenal for striker Ollie Watkins, who has been Villa head coach Unai Emery’s preferred striker.
Arsenal are expected to return with an improved offer for the England international.
Villa’s position is that Watkins is not for sale, which makes it unlikely a deal will be done in this window.
Watkins, known to be an Arsenal fan, is the Premier League’s ninth-top goalscorer this season with 10 goals – including Villa’s equaliser at Arsenal earlier this month.
The 29-year-old has five goals in 18 games for England, including the winner in last season’s Euro 2024 semi-final victory against the Netherlands.
Transfer Centre LIVE! Deals, rumours, news on your phone
The January transfer window is OPEN!
Follow all the latest deals, news and rumours on the ‘Transfers’ section of the Sky Sports app!
Looking for news about YOUR club? Find dedicated transfer pages for EVERY Premier League team.
Breaking News: Al Nassr confident of securing a deal worth over £64m to sign Aston Villa striker Jhon DuranIn what could be a blockbuster transfer deal, Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr is reportedly in advanced talks to sign Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran for a fee exceeding £64m. The 27-year-old Colombian international has been a key player for Villa in recent seasons, but it appears that he could be on his way out of the club in the coming days.
Al Nassr, managed by former Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino, are said to be confident of reaching an agreement with Villa for the transfer of Duran. The move would see the striker link up with the likes of former Barcelona forward Xavi Hernandez and ex-Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic at the Saudi outfit.
Duran has been a prolific goalscorer for Villa, netting 20 goals in all competitions last season. His departure would be a major blow for the Midlands club, but the lure of a lucrative move to Al Nassr could prove too tempting for the Colombian.
Stay tuned for further updates on this potential blockbuster transfer deal as negotiations continue between the two clubs. Could Jhon Duran be set for a sensational move to Saudi Arabia? Only time will tell. #JhonDuran #AlNassr #AstonVilla #TransferNews #FootballTransfer
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Jhon Duran transfer, Al Nassr, Aston Villa striker, £64m deal, football news, transfer news, player transfer, Al Nassr transfer deal, Jhon Duran news, Aston Villa transfer, football transfer updates
#Jhon #Duran #transfer #Nassr #confident #deal #worth #64m #sign #Aston #Villa #striker #Football #NewsDuran completes medical ahead of proposed Al Nassr move from Aston Villa
On the back of all the action last night, it as good a time as any to remind you that The Athletic’s football writers, club correspondents and editors will leave no stone unturned in this transfer window to ensure you know everything that is going on at your club.
All of it will filter into our daily live coverage here.
The jewel in the crown is the DealSheet, where each Tuesday morning our team — led by the prolific David Ornstein — will take you inside the market to explain the deals being worked on this window across the Premier League and beyond.
This week David picked out Aston Villa as his ones to watch — and he has already been proven right there. But there is way more to this week’s DealSheet than just that.
We will bring you analysis you can trust about what is happening and why at Europe’s leading clubs, with the latest information we’re hearing from our sources across the market.
Settle in with a cup of tea because the article is long but detailed, giving you comprehensive knowledge of all the deals in the works— or you can search for the club and players you want to read about.
You can enjoy the latest edition of the DealSheet below.
GO FURTHER
The Transfer DealSheet: Latest on Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid and more
Aston Villa striker, Fabio Duran, has completed his medical ahead of a proposed move to Al Nassr, according to reports.The 24-year-old Brazilian has been linked with a move away from Villa Park this summer, and it looks like a deal with the Saudi Arabian club is now close to being finalized.
Duran joined Villa from Corinthians in 2019 and has since struggled to establish himself as a regular starter in the Premier League. However, his impressive performances in the recent months have caught the eye of Al Nassr, who are keen to bolster their attacking options ahead of the new season.
The completion of Duran’s medical is a significant step towards the transfer being completed, and it is expected that an official announcement will be made in the coming days.
Villa fans will be sad to see Duran leave, but they will wish him all the best in his new adventure with Al Nassr.
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- Duran medical examination
- Al Nassr transfer news
- Aston Villa player move
- Duran Al Nassr deal
- Football transfer updates
- Duran medical assessment
- Al Nassr signing
- Aston Villa player transfer
- Duran transfer latest
- Football player medical examination
#Duran #completes #medical #ahead #proposed #Nassr #move #Aston #Villa
Champions League knockout draw: who Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal and Villa could face
Myles Lewis-Skelly can look forward to a potential knockout match in the Champions League – Getty Images/Stuart MacFarlane Manchester City face a blockbuster Champions League play-off tie against Real Madrid or Bayern Munich after scraping through the new league phase with a 3-1 victory over Club Brugge.
The Premier League champions, enduring their most turbulent season in Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering reign, again underwhelmed but recovered from a 1-0 deficit at half-time against the Belgian underdogs.
The comeback sparked a dramatic outpouring of emotion from Guardiola, who twice booted a pitchside coolbox in apparent relief after being left immensely frustrated by a nervous and lacklustre first half.
Elsewhere, the night proved significantly less stressful for other English sides as Arsenal and Aston Villa joined Liverpool in securing last-16 spots for finishing in the league phase’s top eight.
The Etihad Stadium suffered a huge scare as City, knowing only victory would suffice to avoid the abject embarrassment of slipping out of the top 24 places in the tournament’s new format, were forced to battle back from Raphael Onyedika shock opener just before half-time.
Guardiola’s men rallied in the second half, however, with Mateo Kovacic driving low past Simon Mignolet. Joel Ordóñez then turned Josko Gvardiol’s cross into his own net before the substitute Savinho scored with a low shot.
It was a goal-laden night elsewhere in the deciding matchday eight, with Aston Villa overwhelming Celtic 4-2 and Arsenal winning 2-1 away at Girona. An understrength Liverpool, their place already safe, slipped to a 3-2 defeat at PSV Eindhoven.
Arsenal will face AC Milan, PSV, Feyenoord or Juventus in the last 16. Liverpool also face one of four potential opponents in the next round, with Paris St-Germain the standout potential opponent while Borussia Dortmund are among four potential opponents for Villa.
Celtic, like City, are also waiting to find out if they face Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.
The new league phase of the Champions League had divided fans until Wednesday night, but Uefa have now declared the changes over the summer an unmitigated success.
Here is how the next stages unfold.
When is the Champions League knockout draw?
The draw for the knockout phase play-off round takes place in Nyon, Switzerland, on Friday, January 31. It will start at 11am UK time (12pm European time) and will be live-streamed on Uefa.com.
How does the play-off round work?
Teams that finished the new Swiss-format league phase between ninth and 16th are seeded for the first draw for the knockout phase and will face a team placed 17th to 24th. The seeded team will, in principle, play the return leg at home. Potential opponents are also pre-defined by pairings of teams’ final league positions. For example, teams finishing ninth and 10th will face the sides that ended 23rd or 24th; teams finishing 11th or 12th will be drawn against either the 21st or 22nd-placed sides and so on.
Who will Manchester City and Celtic face?
Celtic’s 21st place finish, with City immediately beneath them means they will face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, who finished 11th and 12th respectively. The draw starts with the unseeded teams, in this case City and Celtic, who will play at home first.
Who can Liverpool face?
Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa finished in the top eight so progress directly into the last 16. The Merseyside club’s top spot and top seed status hands them a tie against either PSG, Benfica, Monaco or Brest, who need to come through the play-off stage first. Liverpool will also play their second leg of the round of 16 tie at home.
Who can Arsenal face?
Arsenal’s third place finish means they face either AC Milan, PSV, Feyenoord or Juventus.
Who can Aston Villa face?
Villa’s eight-place slot hands them either Atalanta, Dortmund, Sporting or Club Brugge.
What happens to the teams who are knocked out?
There will be no buffer of the Europa League like years gone by. Those teams who finished 25th or below have been eliminated and, to use that old football adage, can concentrate on their respective domestic leagues. The Europa League and Europa Conference are also using the Swiss Model format.
When is the play-off round?
First legs will be played on February 11 and 12, with the return leg the following week on February 18 and 19.
The rest of the tournament follows as . . .
Round of 16: March 4/5 and 11/12
Quarter-finals: April 8/9 and 15/16
Semi-finals: April 29/30 and May 6/7
Final: May 31
As the Champions League knockout draw approaches, fans of Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Aston Villa are eagerly anticipating the potential matchups that could await their teams. With some of Europe’s top clubs still in the competition, the stakes are high as the road to the final becomes clearer.Liverpool, last year’s champions, will be looking to defend their title and could face tough opponents such as Bayern Munich, Barcelona, or Juventus in the next round. With their attacking prowess and solid defense, the Reds will be a force to be reckoned with no matter who they come up against.
Manchester City, one of the favorites to win the tournament, will be hoping for a favorable draw as they seek to finally clinch the Champions League trophy. Pep Guardiola’s side could potentially face Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, or Paris Saint-Germain in the knockout stages, setting up some exciting clashes.
Arsenal, who have been impressive in the competition so far, will be aiming to make a deep run and could potentially face teams like Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, or RB Leipzig in the next round. With their attacking talent and solid defense, the Gunners will be looking to cause some upsets along the way.
Aston Villa, the surprise package in this year’s Champions League, will be looking to continue their fairy-tale run and could face heavyweights like Chelsea, Manchester United, or Sevilla in the knockout stages. With their never-say-die attitude and strong team spirit, the Villans will be a tough opponent for any team they come up against.
As the draw takes place, fans of these four teams will be eagerly awaiting the matchups that could potentially define their Champions League campaigns. With so many top clubs still in the competition, anything can happen, and the excitement is sure to be at an all-time high. Stay tuned for the Champions League knockout draw to see who Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Aston Villa could face next!
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Champions League permutations: Who could Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Celtic and Man City play in knockout stages? | Football News
The Champions League group stages are over and we’ve got a much better idea of who will play who in the knockout stages. Who will the English sides and Celtic face?
Pep Guardiola faces a potential return to Bayern Munich in the play-offs after his Manchester City side beat Club Brugge to continue their Champions League campaign.
But City will face a tough test to reach the last 16 with City and Celtic facing either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid for a chance to play Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen after that in the last 16.
Aston Villa snuck into the top eight by the skin of their teeth after Atalanta failed to beat Barcelona and dropped into the play-offs, meaning Unai Emery’s side will face one of Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting or Club Brugge in the last 16.
Arsenal and Liverpool already knew their automatic progression was secured.
Liverpool top the overall table and will now face one of Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Monaco or Brest.
Arsenal could face one of two Serie A giants with AC Milan, PSV, Feyenoord or Juventus their possible last-16 opponents.
Who will British teams play in the next round – and who could they face in the last 16?
Liverpool (Ranked No 1)
Round of 16: vs PSG (15th), Benfica (16th), Monaco (17th) or Brest (18th).
Arsenal (Ranked No 3)
Round of 16: vs AC Milan (13th), PSV (14th), Feyenoord (19th) or Juventus (20th).
Aston Villa (Ranked No 8)
Round of 16: vs Atalanta (9th), Borussia Dortmund (10th), Sporting (23rd) or Club Brugge (24th).
Celtic (Ranked No 21)
Knockout playoffs: vs Bayern Munich (11th) or Real Madrid (12th).
Round of 16: vs Atletico Madrid (5th) or Bayer Leverkusen (6th).
Manchester City (Ranked No 22)
Knockout playoffs: vs Bayern Munich (11th) or Real Madrid (12th).
Round of 16: vs Atletico Madrid (5th) or Bayer Leverkusen (6th).
Why there could be two all-British quarter-finals…
We won’t know the exact format of the tournament beyond the play-offs until February, when the last-16 draw is held.
But, there is a chance there could be two all-British quarter-finals.
After finishing first and eighth, should Liverpool and Aston Villa win their last-16 games they may well end up facing one another in the last eight.
Likewise one of Celtic and Manchester City will set up a potential quarter-final with Arsenal if they win their play-offs and then beat Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen.
Who are all the teams through to the next round?
Confirmed in round of 16
Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, Aston Villa.
Confirmed in knockout phase play-offs
Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, AC Milan, PSV, PSG, Benfica, Monaco, Brest, Feyenoord, Juventus, Celtic, Man City, Sporting, Club Brugge.
Eliminated
Dinamo Zagreb, Stuttgart, Shakhtar Donetsk, Bologna, Crvena Zvezda, Sturm Graz, Sparta Prague, RB Leipzig, Girona, RB Salzburg, Slovan Bratislava, Young Boys.
With the Champions League group stage coming to a close, football fans are eagerly awaiting the knockout stage draw to see who their favorite teams will face next. As Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Celtic, and Man City all look set to progress to the next round, let’s take a look at the possible permutations and potential opponents for each team.Liverpool, who are currently topping their group, could face tough opponents such as Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, or Inter Milan in the knockout stages. Arsenal, on the other hand, are likely to face teams like Barcelona, Juventus, or Atletico Madrid if they finish as runners-up in their group.
Aston Villa, making their return to the Champions League after a long absence, could potentially face PSG, Ajax, or RB Leipzig in the next round. Celtic, who have had a strong showing in the group stage, might come up against teams like Manchester United, AC Milan, or Porto in the knockout stages.
Lastly, Manchester City, one of the favorites to win the competition, could face tough opponents such as PSG, Real Madrid, or Inter Milan in the next round.
As the group stage comes to a close, football fans will be eagerly awaiting the knockout stage draw to see who their favorite teams will be facing next. Stay tuned for more updates on the Champions League permutations and potential matchups for Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Celtic, and Man City.
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Champions League permutations, Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Celtic, Man City, knockout stages, football news, UEFA Champions League, potential opponents, group stage results, round of 16 matchups, European football, top clubs, football analysis.
#Champions #League #permutations #Liverpool #Arsenal #Aston #Villa #Celtic #Man #City #play #knockout #stages #Football #NewsCarragher pide vender a Jhon Duran para que Watkins brille en Aston Villa: oferta de Al Hilal | Premier League
No hace mucho, el día que Jhon Durán le hizo un golazo al Bayern Munich en Champions League, Jamie Carragher, en un limitado español, le decía ante las cámaras: “ti amo” y “eres mi delantero ‘fevrato’.. favorito en Europa”.
Es importante recordar ese momento, solo un contexto necesario para entender lo que dice ahora del colombiano, cuando abundan, al menos en el papel, las ofertas por sus servicios.
Así le hablaba Jamie Carragher, ex futbolista y hoy comentarista en Sky Sports:
¡Véndanlo ya!
El ahora analista ha sorprendido con una opinión en contra de la gran mayoría de críticos en Inglaterra, preocupados por una salida del delantero más prometedor de la Premier League, ante una tentadora oferta del Al Hilal de Arabia Saudita. Según él, es la única manera de sacarles ventaja a él y a Ollie Watkins en Aston Villa.“Probablemente iría en contra de lo que harían la mayoría de los clubes de fútbol, porque normalmente en esa situación venderías al veterano Ollie Watkins. Uno pensaría que Durán, estará aquí por mucho tiempo”, dijo.
“Intentaría sacarles otros 10 millones de libras porque parece un gran jugador, pero creo que cuando la gente habla de tener grandes plantillas, a veces los jugadores necesitan saber que están jugando (…) Sé que los aficionados del Villa pueden decir que es un gran delantero joven, pero no creo que la dinámica vaya a funcionar. Hay que conseguir los 60 o 70 millones de libras y reinvertir en algo en el equipo”, dijo el ex Liverpool.
¿Cómo puede ser mejor para un club vender a su más grande promesa que salir de un veterano que está por debajo en su marca goleadora? La teoría de Carragher es que Durán está opacando y haciendo un ruido incómodo para Watkins y por eso no rinde a tope.
“No creo que se esté sacando lo mejor de Ollie Watkins, cuando sabe que va a entrar Jhon Durán a 20 minutos del final del partido, pero tiene que hacer entrar a Durán durante 20 minutos, porque de lo contrario no va a estar contento. A veces puedes tener jugadores que son muy buenos pero que están en la misma posición”, afirmó.
En su opinión, Aston Villa puede repetir una mala experiencia de Tottenham: “El Tottenham nunca pudo encontrar un delantero cuando tenía a Harry Kane porque ningún buen delantero va a esperar a Harry Kane”, aseguró.
Bueno, entonces se trata de sacrificar al colombiano, rendidor deportiva y financieramente, para proteger al jugador que ha tenido más minutos y se está viendo superado por su competidor. Curioso. Tal vez un distinto color de pasaporte cambiaría la perspectiva. La historia de nunca acabar, esa que se cerrará el 3 de febrero cuando termine la ventana del mercado de invierno. Por el futuro del colombiano, ojalá no escuchen a Carragher.
El ex jugador del Liverpool, Jamie Carragher, ha sugerido que Aston Villa debería considerar vender a Jhon Duran para permitir que Ollie Watkins brille en el equipo. El delantero inglés ha tenido un buen desempeño desde su llegada al club, pero Carragher cree que su progreso podría verse obstaculizado si Duran sigue ocupando un lugar en el equipo titular.Según informes, el club saudí Al Hilal ha presentado una oferta por Duran, lo que podría dar a Villa la oportunidad de reforzar otras áreas del equipo y permitir que Watkins tenga más oportunidades de marcar goles.
La Premier League es conocida por ser una liga competitiva y exigente, por lo que es importante que los equipos tomen decisiones estratégicas para mejorar su rendimiento. ¿Crees que Aston Villa debería aceptar la oferta de Al Hilal por Jhon Duran? ¡Déjanos saber tu opinión en los comentarios!
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Carragher, Jhon Duran, Watkins, Aston Villa, Al Hilal, Premier League, venta de jugadores, estrategias de equipo, fútbol inglés, transferencias de jugadores
#Carragher #pide #vender #Jhon #Duran #para #Watkins #brille #Aston #Villa #oferta #Hilal #Premier #LeagueReport: Villa rebuff Arsenal bid for Watkins – Arseblog News
Arsenal have reportedly had an audacious bid for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins rejected, but a second offer is expected to be lodged before the transfer window closes on Monday.
The 29-year-old England international, a boyhood Arsenal fan, has three years remaining on his current contract, giving Villa leverage in any negotiations.
Adding to that, Fabrizio Romano reports that Villa are unimpressed with the timing of the approach given it comes just hours before their crunch Champions League showdown with Celtic.
After losing Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus to long-term injuries, Mikel Arteta has made it clear that his squad needs attacking reinforcements to compete with Liverpool for the title.
With Benjamin Sesko and Alexander Isak out of reach this month, credible links to other targets have been scarce.
It makes an attempt to recruit a big name from a Premier League rival all the more surprising. Time will tell whether interim Sporting Director Jason Ayto can pull off a late deal that is likely to cost more than £60 million.
Meanwhile, Villa striker Jhon Duran has attracted interest from Saudi Arabia. Given the potential departure of Duran, it remains to be seen if Villa will sanction Watkins’ sale.
In a recent report, it has been revealed that Aston Villa has rejected a bid from Arsenal for their star striker Ollie Watkins. The Gunners were reportedly keen on bringing the 25-year-old forward to the Emirates Stadium, but Villa has made it clear that Watkins is not for sale.Despite Arsenal’s interest, Villa remains steadfast in their decision to keep hold of Watkins, who has been a key player for the club since joining from Brentford in 2020. The striker has impressed with his performances and goal-scoring ability, leading Villa to believe that he is an integral part of their squad.
It remains to be seen whether Arsenal will come back with an improved offer for Watkins, but for now, it seems that Villa is determined to keep hold of their prized asset. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
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- Arsenal transfer bid
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- Premier League transfer rumors
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#Report #Villa #rebuff #Arsenal #bid #Watkins #Arseblog #News
