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The latest transfer news as a rumour emerges involving Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.

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Aston Villa are reportedly considering a stunning swoop for an out-of-sorts Manchester City forward but face competition from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Despite recently embarking on a tremendous 11-match winning streak, the Villans have room for improvement in attacking areas. It was only a few months ago when Unai Emery’s side had scored just one goal in their opening five Premier League outings, and Ollie Watkins has been very hot and cold, so a new signing up top could be handy.

Villa are still walking a fine line when it comes to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) but Emery is hopeful at least some business can be done this winter. The Villans have already got a £10.5 million deal over the line for promising Gremio winger Alysson and Leon Bailey could be sold to recoup some funds if his loan at AS Roma is cut short.

Aston Villa ‘interested’ in £59m Man City attacker

One ambitious target Villa may have, if a new rumour is to be believed, is Man City’s Omar Marmoush. TEAMtalk claims the Villans are ‘interested’ in the versatile forward and are looking to challenge Tottenham - who have already lodged an enquiry - for his signature.

Representing Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, Marmoush’s focus is elsewhere at the moment. But the right move could tempt the former Eintracht Frankfurt man into changing that. It’s also worth noting that AFCON comes to an end on January 18, so Marmoush can make a decision when he’s back in England regardless.

With Villa lacking financial muscle, it comes as a surprise to see them linked with Marmoush. The only big spend Emery could sanction in the summer was the £27.5 million signing of Evann Guessand, so it would be quite something to outlay more than double that only a few months later.

That said, signing Marmoush could be a risk worth taking, especially if Villa can be confident they will earn the financial boost of qualifying for next season’s instalment of the UEFA Champions League. Marmoush, 26, was signed 18 months ago by City for around £59 million. The Egyptian has scored nine goals and provided four assists in 40 appearances.

Unai Emery confirms Harvey Elliott plan

In other Villa transfer news, Emery has finally admitted that Harvey Elliott will not be completing a permanent transfer to the club. Last summer’s Under-21 European Championship Player of the Tournament winner has not been in any of Villa’s matchday squads since the start of October, completely frozen out.

Elliott is expected to return to parent club Liverpool, who were hoping to cash in on the midfielder. Villa initially agreed to loan Elliott for the full season and sign him permanently for £35 million. Birmingham World understands that it would have been an obligation had Elliott racked up at least 10 appearances across all competitions.

Currently with only five outings in claret and blue, Elliott is unlikely to play for Villa again. Emery has confirmed as much, admitting Villa decided a while ago that they were no longer interested in bringing Elliott to the club for the long term.

"The problem we have with Harvey is this year he is on loan and in case he is playing matches, we must buy him,” Emery admitted this week. “We decided two months ago we are not convinced to sign him, spending the money we need. This is the issue."

Aston Villa are interested in signing Brennan Johnson from Tottenham Hotspur

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Aston Villa may need to prepare their transfer approach quickly once the January window opens, as they face competition for one of their winter targets.

Brennan Johnson, who is struggling for regular minutes at Tottenham Hotspur, has emerged as a 2026 target for Villa but naturally, they aren’t the only club in the picture.

Crystal Palace are eager to sign the winger in January but TEAMtalk reported earlier this week that Aston Villa have ‘made contact’ with Johnson’s representatives regarding their own potential move.

The report claims the Villans have targeted the former Nottingham Forest star to add ‘pace and versatility’ to their frontline. This update comes amid reports that Harvey Elliott will be sent back to Liverpool next month, having failed to make an impact at Villa Park.

Elliott joined the club on loan over the summer with an obligation to buy clause inserted in the deal. However, having been ditched from Emery’s plans since October, his time at Villa Park is drawing to an early close.

Aston Villa face stiff competition for Brennan Johnson

Former Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness believes Johnson’s exit from Tottenham is coming soon. Speaking to Football Insider, the Scottish businessman has weighed in on Crystal Palace’s pursuit of Johnson, along with interest from other clubs, including Championship side and promotion candidates Ipswich Town.

“I think Palace is a real option for him, and I think the one that’s making all the positive noise is Ipswich because they’ve had a real good run recently back up into the promotion places, at least the play-offs, in the Championship,” Wyness said.

“So yes, I think Brendan Johnson could be for Palace. I think he’s a talent. He’s been a little bit inconsistent at Spurs. But you know he’ll be looking as well as whether Glasner will be there or not. So that could make a decision for him as well.

“Whereas it does seem Kieran McKenna is still remaining loyal at Ipswich, and so we’ll see where that goes.”

Aston Villa target Brennan Johnson expected to leave ‘fairly soon’

Johnson joined Spurs two years ago in a £47.5 million move from Nottingham Forest. However, since his arrival, he has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter.

The 24-year-old has made just six Premier League starts this season. He’s also been limited to cameos of ten minutes or less on four occasions, while failing to make it off the bench twice.

Wyness believes Johnson needs a move where he will be encouraged in a reliable role, rather than his current situation as a rotational player at Spurs.

“As a young player, I think he seems to be a confident striker that needs that arm around the shoulder. And so he’ll be making a decision based on that,” the ex-Villa chief continued.

“But certainly I think Palace. I also heard Brentford, but I do think that Palace and Ipswich are the two front-runners. I expect him to move fairly soon.”

While other clubs have been favoured ahead of Aston Villa, it will all boil down to who presents the best personal offer that will benefit Johnson’s career moving forwards. The TEAMtalk report from this week suggests that Tottenham would be open to a sale if interested clubs can reach their valuation, which is said to be between £30-40 million.

Aston Villa have emerged as Premier League title contenders under Unai Emery and have a big January transfer window coming up

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Aston Villa have forced themselves into a strong position to make a push for the Premier League title ahead of the second half of the season. They are third behind Arsenal and Manchester City and are well in the mix. Unai Emery could look to bolster his ranks this winter.

He has the chance to sign some new players in the upcoming January transfer window. The Midlands outfit may aim to add more competition and depth to their squad, especially at the top end of the pitch. They beat Manchester United 2-1 last time out and play Chelsea away next on Saturday.

Aston Villa target Tottenham Hotspur winger Brennan Johnson

Aston Villa are battling it out with Crystal Palace to sign Tottenham Hotspur winger Brennan Johnson, according to TEAMtalk. They are being linked with a swoop for the attacker this winter. If he joined, he would inject more firepower into Emery’s starting XI and something different to what they already have.

Johnson, 24, could leave Spurs next month for more opportunities. He has fallen out of favour at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium over recent times under Thomas Frank. The Wales international, who has 42 caps to his name, has been with the London club since joining them in 2023 from Nottingham Forest and scored the winner in their Europa League final win over Manchester United in May.

He has made 106 appearances in all competitions for his current club and has scored 27 goals, 18 of which came in the last campaign. The Nottingham-born player was a regular under former head coach Ange Postecoglou but has struggled for minutes since Frank’s arrival. At this stage of his Spurs career, an exit would be far from a surprise.

Aston Villa could see him as someone to add more pace to their side. He is quick and can be very effective if used in the right way on the counter attack. In addition, he is now experienced at the top level and has proved he can score goals.

Aston Villa should propose swap deal to Tottenham Hotspur

In an attempt to pip Crystal Palace to Johnson’s signature, Aston Villa should propose a swap deal plus cash for his services. With that in mind, Leon Bailey is someone who may be of interest to Spurs. He is currently out on loan at Roma but he hasn’t been able to make an impact in Serie A.

His future in Italy is up in the air right now and his parent club must consider recalling him back to potentially sell him. He is someone who likes to cut in on his left foot from the right and he wouldn’t be a bad option for Frank to call upon if he came in through the entrance door as a replacement for Johnson. The Jamaican forward may also feel he has a point to prove after struggling to find his feet in Rome.

Bailey, 28, had spells in Belgium and Germany at Genk and Bayer Leverkusen respectively before Aston Villa came calling. He found the net on 22 occasions in 144 outings before his exit to Roma. Things haven’t gone to plan for him at Stadio Olimpico and a change of scene to Spurs would do him good.

West Brom have a decision to make regarding their managerial position as they struggle for form in the Championship

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West Brom were beaten 1-0 by Hull City at the MKM Stadium last time out. The Baggies missed a string of chances against the Tigers and slumped to an eighth away defeat on the spin. Pressure is growing on Ryan Mason amid their inconsistent form.

The Midlands outfit are positioned in 16th place in the Championship table after 22 fixtures. They are seven points off the play-offs and nine above the drop zone. Next up is a clash against Bristol City on Boxing Day as they aim to return to winning ways.

Michael Carrick favourite for West Brom amid Ryan Mason pressure

As per Football Insider, Michael Carrick is the ‘favourite’ to replace Mason at West Brom if he is sacked. The report has also mentioned Russell Martin as a contender should a vacancy arise. Carrick, 44, has been out of the game since his dismissal by Middlesbrough at the end of last season.

Carrick, who made 34 caps for the England national team, spent his playing days as a midfielder with the likes of West Ham, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. He made 706 appearances in all competitions and scored 34 goals. The North East-born player then hung up his boots in 2018.

He started his coaching career at Old Trafford and later had an interim spell in charge of the Red Devils before landing his first permanent managerial role in the game at Boro. The second tier side took a gamble on him back in October 2022 and he spent just under three years at the Riverside Stadium.

Carrick got his former team into the play-offs in his first campaign at the helm but they were beaten at the semi-finals stage by Coventry City. They missed out on the top six last term though and that ultimately cost him his position. He has since been weighing up his options over recent times and would be an option for West Brom if they give Mason the chop.

Who else could West Brom target?

Martin was sacked by Rangers a couple of months ago and is now unattached. He made the switch to Scotland in the summer but struggled to make an impact in Glasgow. The ex-defender has also had stints in the past at MK Dons, Swansea City and Southampton.

West Brom have been linked with Millwall’s Alex Neil recently. He arrived at The Den last year and has since done an impressive job with the Lions. His side rewarded him with a new contract recently and are currently inside the play-offs.

Other names the Baggies could consider are out of work candidates like Liam Manning, Gareth Southgate, Will Still, Gary O’Neil and Steven Gerrard. In terms of head coaches who have jobs, Paul Heckingbottom has done well at Preston and may be worth a look, whilst Brian Barry-Murphy and Dave Challinor have caught the eye in League One at Cardiff City and Stockport County respectively and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see teams higher up consider them.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery could see the Premier League man as someone to boost his attacking arsenal

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Aston Villa return to Premier League action on Sunday with a home clash against Manchester United. They will be full of confidence as they aim to keep their recent impressive run of form going for as long as possible. The Midlands club won 3-2 away at West Ham in their last game at the London Stadium.

Unai Emery's side have emerged as potential title contenders over recent weeks. They are only three points behind the league leaders Arsenal and beat them at Villa Park earlier this month. Manchester City sit only two points above in 2nd as well, with Chelsea then making up the final Champions League spot.

Aston Villa target possible swoop for Tottenham Hotspur winger Brennan Johnson

According to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa are weighing up a move for Tottenham Hotspur winger Brennan Johnson. The report adds that Crystal Palace are also admirers of the Wales international this winter. Emery has the chance to freshen up his ranks with some new signings in the upcoming January transfer window.

Johnson, 24, joined Spurs in 2023 for £48 million but has struggled for starts this season under Thomas Frank. He is under contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium until June 2029 but his future is up in the air now ahead of next month amid attention from elsewhere. The attacker has made 105 appearances for his current club in all competitions to date and has scored 27 goals, 18 of which came last term as they went on to win the Europa League.

The Nottingham-born forward rose up through Nottingham Forest's academy and was loaned out to Lincoln City in League One as a youngster to boost his development. Upon his return to the City Ground, he broke into the Reds' first-team and became a big player. He played 109 matches and found the net on 29 occasions before Spurs lured him down to London just over two years ago.

Would Tottenham Hotspur man Brennan Johnson suit Aston Villa?

If Aston Villa signed Johnson, he would inject more pace into their starting XI. He is quick and his speed would give them another dimension in attack. In addition, he would provide more competition and depth on the wing to the likes of Morgan Rogers, John McGinn, Donyell Malen and Evann Guessand, among others.

Their chances of landing him will depend on what happens with Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho though. They are on loan from Liverpool and Manchester United respectively but are both in limbo. Neither have been able to make the impact that they would have hoped to after their secured their moves earlier this year and most signs point towards their deals getting cut short soon which would open the door for alternative reinforcements.

Aston Villa's upcoming clash against Manchester United could be seen as a possible banana skin. The Red Devils drew 4-4 against AFC Bournemouth in their last game and scored goals for fun against the Cherries. On their day, the Red Devils will fancy their chances against anyone. They concede a lot though so Emery will want his players to take advantage of their leaky defence.

Aston Villa must secure the signing of this top target who could prove a decisive factor in their season

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Aston Villa are set to enter the January transfer window full of hope, as the Villans know that they are closer than ever to mounting a major push for the Premier League title with their current group of players.

Manager Unai Emery will be all too aware that just one or two additions could make all the difference and push the Villans over the line – something which the club have become adept at with the winter signings of Morgan Rogers, Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio and Donyell Malen over the past two January transfer windows alone.

Just three points off league leaders Arsenal – whom they face again in their final game of 2025 – and with talk of a Villa Park title charge beginning to gather pace, the transfer window comes at the perfect time for the West Midlands side to strengthen ahead of the spring run-in.

One area of the pitch sticks out as in need of some potential extra help in January, and the Villans must fend off stiff competition to secure their top transfer target.

Aston Villa facing competition for Igor Thiago

Aston Villa remain firmly interested in Brentford striker Igor Thiago, who is becoming a man in high demand as we reach the final fortnight before the transfer window opens.

As previously reported, the Villans are not the only club after Thiago. Both Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are credited as holding a ‘serious interest’ in the 24-year-old Brazilian, who has scored 12 times already this season.

Brentford are believed to be under no pressure to sell the player, with a price tag upwards of €70million (£61m) touted for the striker, who was signed for the Bees by current Spurs head coach Thomas Frank but has flourished under new boss Keith Andrews.

Villa are in need of another striking option to complement and offer competition to Ollie Watkins, and will know that Thiago could be a game-changing signing.

Thiago could be decisive to solidify Villa’s position in the title race

Aston Villa’s resurgence over the last two-and-a-half months has lit up the Premier League, but one issue has remained despite a stunning 10 victories in 11 for Emery’s men – a goalscorer.

Morgan Rogers has shone and is their current top scorer in the league with five, while Malen has grabbed seven in all competitions including three in the Europa League. Talisman of recent years Ollie Watkins has scored just three times in 23 matches this term.

Particularly as the Villans’ European campaign ramps up a notch later in the season, Emery will need another option up front to rotate with or even replace Watkins, who ultimately has little competition for his place in the side at present.

Thiago trails just Erling Haaland in the top-flight scoring charts and could be the man to sustain Villa’s title push into the spring. The Brentford frontman has proven he knows where the back of the net is and has a 31% conversion rate, the highest in the league of any player to have scored four goals or more, according to the latest stats relayed by BBC Sport.

The former Club Brugge striker has become a lethal force in front of goal this term and his arrival at Villa Park could solidify the claims of Emery’s men to a title challenge, particularly with the likes of Rogers, John McGinn and Youri Tielemans providing him with ammunition from midfield.

Spurs and Newcastle will be tough competition as both clubs can offer Champions League football at present, but Villa look to be in the strongest position to offer a place in Europe’s premier club competition next season – and could even offer Thiago a shot at the Premier League trophy if they can keep up their eye-catching run.

Aston Villa have been credited with an interest in the Premier League attacker ahead of the January window

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Aston Villa will get the opportunity to bring in some new signings this winter. They have the chance to bolster their squad in the upcoming January transfer window ahead of the second-half of the season. The Midlands outfit will also be able to sell some players if needed next month.

That would help free up space and funds in their ranks to pave the way for potential reinforcements. Unai Emery’s side are having to juggle their Premier League duties with Europa League action in this campaign. They are back in action next Sunday against Manchester United at Villa Park.

Aston Villa face Tottenham Hotspur competition in Igor Thiago transfer chase

Aston Villa target Igor Thiago at Brentford is attracting ‘serious interest’ from Tottenham Hotspur, according to CaughtOffside. The report adds that his price tag is around the £61million mark and Newcastle United have also been mentioned as a suitor. He is under contract with the Bees until June 2029 meaning they are under no immediate pressure to sell him just yet and they can wait for the right money to come in for his signature.

Thiago, 24, joined his current club in 2024 but missed the majority of his first year in England due to injury. He has since returned with a bang and has become a key player for Keith Andrews’ side at the top end of the pitch. The forward has scored 12 goals this term and has proved to be a real handful.

The attacker fired 29 goals in 55 outings for Club Brugge before Brentford came calling. He has also had spells in the past at Cruzeiro and Ludogorets in the past. The Bees are likely to face a battle to keep hold of him down the line amid attention from elsewhere.

What now for Aston Villa target Igor Thiago ahead of January?

Aston Villa could see Thiago as someone to strengthen their attacking department. If he joined, he would give them something different to call upon. In addition, he could battle it out with Ollie Watkins for a place in Emery’s starting XI.

Spurs and Newcastle are also in the frame though meaning there will be competition for his signature. Thomas Frank knows the player well and was Brentford’s manager when he joined them. They would be able to offer him Champions League football, as could Eddie Howe’s side.

Andrews said in October: "He's clearly in a very good place, great rhythm in his game, playing with confidence, enjoying life. He's been a critical part of what we've done. It's nice to hear that he's been nominated [for Premier League Player of the Month], because he deserves it.

"He's already shown he can be a top performer in the Premier League. He gives the opposition a headache, the way he plays the game. I'm not sure many players will relish playing against him. He's very demanding of himself. Some players you have to push and some players you have to rein in - he's definitely the latter. He's in a great place and we want to keep him there.”

Aston Villa will be able to bring in some new faces in the upcoming January transfer window

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Aston Villa are back in action on Thursday night in the Europa League against Young Boys. They won 2-1 away at Leeds United last time out in the league. Attacker Morgan Rogers scored twice against the Whites at Elland Road to help his side secure a useful victory.

The Midlands outfit have risen into the top four in the Premier League. They are in the Champions League places along with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. Unai Emery’s side will be hoping to stay there come the end of the season.

Aston Villa eye River Plate prospect Lautaro Rivero

Aston Villa have joined Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid in pursuit of £18 million-rated River Plate defender Lautaro Rivero, according to El Intransigente. The report adds that the player has spoken with Emi Martinez about a potential switch to Villa Park. He is under contract until 2028 meaning he still has three years left to run down.

Rivero, 22, could be seen by Emery as someone to boost his defensive department. He is still relatively young and has potential to get better in the future. As with any acquisition from South America, patience would be required if he joined whilst he settled into life in England.

The centre-back has been on the books of River Plate for his whole career to date. He has risen up through their academy ranks and was a regular for them at various different youth levels. The Buenos Aires-born man penned a new three-year deal in July which shows he is highly-rated in Argentina.

Rivero, who has made one cap for his country so far, broke into his current club’s first-team in 2024 and has since made 16 competitive appearances in all competitions. They could now face a battle to keep hold of him amid attention from Europe. He has also been loaned out in the past to Central Cordoba to get some experience under his belt as a youngster.

Would Lautaro Rivero be a good signing for Aston Villa?

Rivero would give Aston Villa another option to pick from at the back. If he joined, he would provide them with more competition and depth in their defensive department. He would battle it out with the likes of Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings for a place in their starting XI.

They would need to see off competition from elsewhere for his signature too with Tottenham and Real Madrid mentioned as potential suitors. It would be hard to turn down the latter especially if they came calling. However, they may not be able to guarantee him regular game time which is what he needs if he leaves River Plate.

It is yet to be known what direction Aston Villa will take in the January transfer window. They could do with some back-up in attack for Ollie Watkins. Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott are facing uncertain futures and could head back to Manchester United and Liverpool respectively due to a lack of minutes which would leave some vacancies to fill.

Aston Villa are battling Tottenham and Nottingham Forest to secure the signature of a teenage prodigy

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Aston Villa have emerged as one of the leading contenders to sign rising Belgian wonderkid Nathan De Cat during the January transfer window.

The Lions, who finished last season in sixth position, are in the market for a talented midfielder that can inject a sense of youth into Villa’s ageing team. As it stands, Villa have the fifth oldest team in the league, with an average age of 27.85, according to Give Me Sport.

They are hoping to sign someone that can learn from the likes of Amadou Onana (24), Boubacar Kamara (25) and Youri Tielemans (28) in Villa’s engine room. The club are currently competing in the Europa League but have ambitions of making it back into Europe’s elite competition once again after reaching the quarter-final of the Champions League last term.

Who is Nathan De Cat?

Nathan De Cat is a 17-year-old central defensive midfielder who has already established himself as a first team regular with Belgium side Anderlecht.

The 6ft 4in midfielder made his professional debut at the age of 16, in a 0–1 Challenger Pro League away win against SL16 FC two seasons ago and was swiftly promoted into the first team squad the following summer.

Overall, De Cat has made 26 appearances for Anderlecht, scoring twice and recording one assist. He’s featured in 19 matches in total this term and has been included in the starting lineup in 16 of those instances gaining experience in the top-flight of Belgium, the Europa League qualifiers and the Conference League.

De Cat is expected to break into the Belgium squad in the near future. He has racked up 20 appearances for the nation at various age groups, ranging from Under-15 to Under-19.

He was named in the Team of the Tournament at the Under-17 European Championships over the summer, with his team reaching the semi-final before eventually falling short against France.

“He is a fighter, but loves dribbling too, and is especially fond of performing the Zidane turn,” commented Michael Yokhin via The Guardian as the outlet included him in their next Generation List.

Could Aston Villa sign Nathan De Cat in January?

According to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa are one of three Premier League sides ‘in the race’ to sign midfielder Nathan De Cat from Belgium title contenders Anderlect.

Nottingham Forest, who also secured qualification for the Europa League last term by finishing in seventh, are also interested in the young midfielder amid rising speculation about the future of in-form central midfielder Elliot Anderson.

Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur have also been credited with interest as they continue to mould a team in the image of new manager Thomas Frank after he replaced Ange Postecoglou.

Anderlecht, who are third in the Belgian Pro League and chasing the title, are keen to retain De Cat’s services but are reportedly willing to listen to offers that are somewhere in the region of £18m plus performance related add-ons.

Aston Villa continued their strong winning run at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday

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Aston Villa carried on from where they left off before the international break as Unai Emery’s side left Tottenham Hotspur with a comeback 2-1 victory over the high-flying north London side.

The result was a stark contrast from what we were seeing from the Villans in the early weeks of the season, when they looked far more toothless in front of goal. Morgan Rogers cancelled out Rodrigo Bentancur’s early strike with a sumptuous finish from range, a first of the season for the England international.

It would prove to be Emiliano Buendia who would win the game for Villa in the 77th minute. Despite being linked with a stunning move to Birmingham City over the summer, the Argentine was the decisive figure off the bench to secure a fifth consecutive win in all competitions for Villa. The club’s turnaround feels secure now, and fans will hope only to climb the table further from here.

Troy Deeney snubs Aston Villa stars in Team of the Week

Former Birmingham and Watford striker Troy Deeney has given his say on the Premier League’s outstanding players of match week eight, revealing his Team of the Week selections for BBC Sport.

Somewhat surprisingly, no Villa player makes the cut despite the team’s strong show of character to win at one of the division’s most in-form sides. Goalscorers Rogers and Buendia were snubbed as the ex-Blues star showed little sympathy to his former club’s second city rivals, picking an attacking formation with three strikers and leaving out any Villans representation.

The 37-year-old did, however, name Villa boss Emery as his manager of the week for the Spaniard’s role in his side’s comeback. Deeney said of Emery: “His team were 1-0 down at Spurs. His tactical changes turned the game in their favour for a 2-1 win.”

Deeney’s XI for TOTW (3-4-3): Dubravka; Acheampong, Maguire, Tuanzebe; James, Caicedo, Yarmoliuk, O’Reilly; Welbeck, Haaland, Mateta. Manager: Emery.

‘World-class’ - Shay Given praises Buendia’s winner on MOTD

Villa and Buendia received shed-loads of praise for their exploits from elsewhere, though, as former Villans goalkeeper Shay Given analysed the Argentine’s late winner on Match of the Day 2 on Sunday night. “It’s such a good goal, isn’t it?”, floated presenter Mark Chapman.

“This is the the best goal I think I’ve seen all season,” responded Given. “Me getting excited probably, but it comes from a corner, here, we see it come in. They clear and obviously [John] McGinn and [Matty] Cash are at the back, McGinn just nods it down to Cash. But watch this for a strike off Cash. It’s unbelievable, Mark, the technique out to [Lucas] Digne, and his two touches are incredible.

“And after that, obviously, Buendia does a bit of magic himself, onto his left-foot swinger. But you watch McGinn here, keep an eye on McGinn. He nods it back and goes, ‘Go safe, go home, go home!’, Cash goes ‘No, I’m having none of it’, I’m going to strike it out wide to Digne, two brilliant touches from him, and then obviously Buendia steps up to the party after that. It’s just an unbelievable goal.

“Look at that technique [from Cash], honest to God, I was off the sofa, I was excited. I was going ‘please be a goal, please be a goal’. It’s like a PlayStation goal, you see it on the computer. It is just world-class from Aston Villa, what a goal.”