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.
Cole Palmer
December 2025
Palmer started and helped Chelsea into a first-half lead through Joao Pedro, but was substituted on 72 minutes for Estevao Willian at 1-1, reacting angrily as Villa completed a 2-1 comeback win via an Ollie Watkins brace. Maresca played down Palmer’s visible frustration, praising his work on and off the ball and stressing rotation ahead of another game in 48 hours. Chelsea’s failure to protect their advantage allowed Villa to claim an 11th straight win, deepening scrutiny on the Blues’ late-game management.
Steven Gerrard
December 2025
Steven Gerrard has admitted he rejected what he called the “perfect” chance to return as Rangers manager, choosing instead to step back from frontline coaching after difficult spells at Aston Villa and Al-Ettifaq while he reassesses which opportunity truly fits his family and career priorities. Explaining his decision, Gerrard said he is enjoying time with family, part-time TV work and commercial engagements, and has already spoken with several clubs without feeling the right connection. He insists he is under no pressure to rush back, stressing his next move must be carefully chosen.
Chelsea
December 2025
Chelsea receive a major lift as Estevao and Liam Delap are passed fit to face in-form Aston Villa, with Maresca’s side aiming to extend a three-game unbeaten run after wins over Everton and Cardiff and a comeback draw away to Newcastle. With Villa arriving on a ten-game winning streak and sitting third in the table, Maresca can now call on two extra attacking options, increasing flexibility in wide and central roles as Chelsea try to match Villa’s intensity and protect their top four push.
Ruben Amorim
December 2025
Manchester United missed the chance to close on the Champions League places with a 2-1 loss at Villa Park, as Morgan Rogers punished defensive gaps and a rusty Benjamin Sesko spurned big first-half chances in his first start since returning from a knee injury. Amorim defended Yoro and Heaven against criticism over their 1v1 defending and backed Sesko to improve with more minutes, while confirming Bruno Fernandes faces “a while” out with soft-tissue damage, leaving United short of experience and reliant on young defenders in a key festive stretch.
