Richarlison
January 2026
Richarlison will miss up to seven weeks after a hamstring injury suffered in the FA Cup loss to Aston Villa, adding to Spurs’ injury list. He pulled up while chasing a ball and was substituted. Frank also said Lucas Bergvall and Yves Bissouma are available, with Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie close to returning to larger minutes.
Unai Emery
January 2026
Campbell says United should consider Emery as a proven, steady option to end the club’s cycle of failed appointments after Amorim’s exit. He argues Emery can handle big-club pressure and align board and fan expectations, pointing to Emery’s recent work rebuilding Aston Villa and his track record in Europe.
Conor Gallagher
January 2026
Tottenham are reportedly positioned to hijack Aston Villa’s move for Gallagher, who may return to the Premier League after limited starts at Atletico this season. Despite strong first-season adaptation and Simeone praise, Gallagher’s reduced role has opened the door; Spurs and Villa both want midfield depth and could act quickly if Atletico entertain offers.
Micky van de Ven
January 2026
Spurs lost 2-1 to Villa and tempers flared late; van de Ven backed teammates’ reaction but warned the team cannot only show fight when trailing. Spurs went 2-0 down before half-time, improved after the break and scored through Wilson Odobert, then tensions rose after Villa celebrations. Van de Ven said Spurs must bring second-half intensity from kickoff to fix inconsistency.
Conor Gallagher
January 2026
Villa are considering a January approach for Gallagher, who has struggled for consistent starts at Atletico this season. The idea is a loan with an obligation to buy. Atletico are said to value him around £35m, and Villa would face competition from Manchester United and Tottenham, who are also monitoring midfield options.
Brian Madjo
January 2026
Villa have agreed a reported £10.4m move for 16-year-old forward Brian Madjo, with the player already in Birmingham for a medical ahead of a five-year contract. The deal was negotiated quickly and quietly, beating rival interest. The fee signals Villa’s strategy of securing elite youth early, with a long contract planned to lock his development path through 2031.
Harvey Elliott
January 2026
Harvey Elliott is unlikely to play for Aston Villa again, with Unai Emery indicating the call on his future was made months ago. The Liverpool loanee has barely featured and a permanent move now looks off. Elliott arrived with expectations of meaningful minutes and a potential permanent switch, but Villa have not used him. With the direction already decided internally, his situation now points toward a return to Liverpool and a reassessment of his next step.
Mikel Arteta
January 2026
Mikel Arteta has challenged Arsenal to finally win the Premier League after several near-misses, with the club top of the table and four points clear of Manchester City. Arsenal are also in strong positions across cups and Europe. Arsenal have combined elite defensive numbers with depth through injuries, including a 4-1 win over Aston Villa without Declan Rice. Arteta’s test is turning a mid-season lead into the trophy, after multiple past seasons ended with Arsenal losing ground late.
Enzo Maresca
December 2025
Chelsea again dropped points after leading Aston Villa, and Enzo Maresca admitted he cannot fully explain why his side keeps losing control of games. Joao Pedro’s first-half opener was not enough, as Villa turned it around with a decisive second-half response. Chelsea missed chances to extend the lead through Cole Palmer and Reece James, keeping Villa alive. Unai Emery’s triple change on the hour shifted momentum, and substitute Ollie Watkins scored twice. Maresca said the pattern is recurring and not random.
Chelsea
December 2025
Chelsea’s 2-1 home loss to Aston Villa ended in controversy when a water-filled bottle was hurled toward the visitors’ bench during post-match celebrations, landing near the away dugout, splashing players and staff and triggering immediate complaints from the Midlands club about fan behaviour. CCTV from Stamford Bridge is being reviewed as part of an internal investigation, with Chelsea pledging full cooperation with Premier League authorities to identify whoever threw the bottle and stressing that any supporter found responsible will face strong disciplinary measures, including potential bans from attending future home matches.