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The latest transfer news as Man Utd and Spurs are given the hurry-up to sign a £25m winger.

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Aston Villa have reportedly received an offer for Leon Bailey from Saudi Pro League newcomers Neom SC.

The Villans are expected to sacrifice Bailey this summer as they seek to ease concerns related to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR). English top-tier clubs are allowed to lose £105 million over a three-year period and Villa currently aren’t meeting that requirement, so at least one significant sale is required.

Bailey, who scored just two goals in 38 appearances across all competitions last campaign, is on the chopping block. The 27-year-old had an outstanding 2023/24 season as he scored 14 goals and provided 14 assists in 52 games, however he failed to carry such momentum into the term just gone.

The 34-time Jamaica international has always been a good example of a confidence player. One month, Bailey will have a spring in his step and will be so difficult for defenders to stop, but another will often see him fail to even take on his man.

It’s a great shame it’s worked out this way but selling Bailey is ultimately one of the best ways Villa can rectify their PSR issues. Unai Emery needs players who he can rely on week in and week out and Bailey unfortunately hasn’t been anywhere near consistent enough.

The Sun reports Bailey could be on his way sooner rather than later as Villa have received a £25 million bid from Neom. It’s claimed the Saudi outfit have already spoken to Bailey’s representatives, offering a life-changing £10 million per year tax-free.

It’s been clear to see for many months now that Bailey has been growing increasingly frustrated at Villa Park, falling down the pecking order following the arrivals of Morgan Rogers, Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford. Although the latter two were only signed on loan, Bailey suffered as his minutes plummeted.

The outpouring of emotions from Bailey after Villa’s final home game of the season was telling, too. The winger was tearful as he entered the field as a late substitute and he then went on to crouch down and brush the Villa Park turf once the final whistle had been blown. Bailey appeared to be recognising his Villa days were over.

Man Utd and Spurs could react to Leon Bailey development

It’s looking increasingly likely that Bailey will be moving to Saudi Arabia but Premier League sides Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur may have something to say about that. Both teams were heavily linked with Bailey during the winter transfer window and could yet reignite their interest.

From a footballing perspective, remaining in the Premier League would probably be the best option for Bailey, but starts might not be guaranteed at United or Spurs either. It’s tricky to say where the player’s mind is at but there are definitely benefits of moving to Saudi, not least in a financial sense. Time will tell.

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The biggest update yet as West Brom close in on their new head coach.

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West Bromwich Albion are finally closing in on the appointment of their next manager following a search of nearly six weeks.

It’s been the best part of a month and a half since Tony Mowbray was relieved of his duties as Albion head coach. The Baggies, knowing their next hire could have huge implications on their quest to return to the Premier League, have been very patient in their approach.

Rather ironically, however, it appears the man who was first thrust in as the bookies’ favourite all those weeks ago will be the one West Brom appoint. That’s right, Albion are now closing in on Tottenham Hotspur assistant manager Ryan Mason.

BBC Sport reports talks are now ongoing with Mason, with discussions well underway. It’s stated that all parties are growing in confidence that an agreement can be struck, Mason now looking likely to accept his first managerial role.

There’s a hitch, however, as Mason’s Spurs contract runs until June 30 and West Brom will have to pay compensation if they want to hire him before that date. The report states Albion will need to make a formal approach to Spurs to release Mason from his contract early if an immediate start is their intention.

Barring any dramatic changes, significant progress is expected over the weekend and West Brom should be able to confirm Mason’s appointment on Monday or before. There’s also the possibility that more of Spurs’ first-team coaching staff make the move along with Mason, so the formalities of those contracts must be considered, too.

If West Brom do hire Mason, they will be effectively be following in the footsteps of local rivals Birmingham City. Blues conducted a lengthy managerial search of their own last summer and concluded that the then-Spurs assistant Chris Davies was the man for the job. Just like Mason, Davies hadn’t taken on a managerial role before then.

Albion will be hoping Mason can mirror Davies’ success as Birmingham had an incredible first season under their head coach. West Brom of course won’t be able to match the world record-breaking 111-point tally that Blues achieved in League One last term, but a play-off finish is yearned for and would be seen as a major box ticked.

Who is Ryan Mason?

Currently in talks with West Brom over the vacant head coach’s job, Mason is one of four assistant managers at Spurs alongside Matt Wells, Mile Jedinak and Nick Montgomery. The 33-year-old is the youngest of Ange Postecoglou’s understudies at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and was recently involved in Spurs’ Europa League triumph that ended a 17-year trophy drought.

Before taking on the assistant manager role at Spurs, Mason was a technical coach and, before that, the head of academy coaching. He’s been with Tottenham ever since he was forced to retire from professional football in 2018, aged just 26, when he was advised to hang up his boots a year on from suffering a fractured skull.

Although he briefly took interim charge following the sacking of Jose Mourinho in 2021, Mason has never entered permanent solo management. The former midfielder could soon change that, however, with West Brom pushing for his imminent appointment.

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There are now reportedly two contenders to be West Brom’s next manager.

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West Bromwich Albion appear to be finally whittling down the candidates to fill their vacant head coach role.

The Baggies have been managerless for five weeks following the sacking of Tony Mowbray on Easter Monday, taking their time knowing their next appointment is absolutely pivotal. Albion recently missed out on the play-offs for the second time in three years due to a terrible end to the campaign, enough to see Mowbray relieved of his duties just three months into a two-and-a-half-year contract.

Mowbray’s second spell at The Hawthorns wasn’t anywhere near as successful as his initial stint 16 years ago, which included the 2007/08 Championship title. The 61-year-old, who had only just recovered from bowel cancer when he took the reins, lost eight of his 17 matches in charge, winning just five and drawing the remaining four.

Mowbray clearly retained his passion and adoration for the Baggies but football is a results business and the ownership opted to move in a different direction. It awaits to be seen exactly what that direction will be, though, as owners Bilkul have been very patient with their approach.

Ryan Mason talks progressing

Albion could be moving closer to a resolution as talks are reportedly progressing with Tottenham Hotspur first-team coach Ryan Mason. As Spurs’ season has now ended, Mason can now focus fully on West Brom’s recent approach.

TalkSPORT reported on the weekend that Mason has the option to leave Spurs for the Baggies but is yet to make a decision. It’s claimed the 33-year-old is currently weighing up whether to leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to take on his first-ever permanent head coach role.

Being offered a proper manager’s job for the first time must be a real tempter, but it won’t be easy to leave Spurs as they have just won the Europa League and have qualified for next season’s Champions League. Despite recording a catastrophic 17th-placed finish in the Premier League with a record 22 defeats, Spurs could be on the up again after ending a 17-year wait for a trophy.

Eric Ramsay still in contention

If Mason isn’t the man, then Minnesota United manager Eric Ramsay shouldn’t be ruled out. The former Manchester United and Chelsea coach has become immensely popular at the Major League Soccer club, winning 25 of his 53 matches in charge to date, drawing 11 and losing the remaining 17.

Ramsay, who recently made the headlines for guiding Minnesota to a huge 4-1 victory over Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, began his coaching career with Swansea City under-18s before moving on to an academy role at Shrewsbury Town. He then moved to Chelsea, where he was the assistant manager for the under-23 side for two years. Ramsay then left the Blues for a senior coaching role at Manchester United and a part-time gig as the Wales assistant manager.

Birmingham World understands the idea of becoming West Brom’s new boss has been floated to Ramsay directly. It awaits to be seen how keen he would be on the role as it would be a big risk leaving the United States, but he could be a genuine alternative to Mason.

As it stands, the bookies have Mason as the favourite at 1/2 but Ramsay, at 6/4, isn’t far behind at all. James Morrison, the current interim head coach at The Hawthorns is third at 10/1, then Marti Cifuentes, Russell Martin and John Mousinho all sit at 16/1.

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Tottenham Hotspur could benefit from Aston Villa’s PSR struggles with a swoop for a talented midfielder.

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Aston Villa are reportedly considering sacrificing an important player this summer to conform to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR), with Tottenham Hotspur waiting to pounce.

It’s been known for several weeks now that the Villans are in a precarious position when it comes to PSR and one big sale - or several smaller exits - may be required to avoid a points deduction. Emiliano Martinez and Leon Bailey have been linked with moves to the Saudi Pro League to help Villa balance the books but a different first-team player has now been tipped to depart instead.

The Telegraph reports qualification for the Champions League could transform Villa’s summer for the better but a failure to finish in the Premier League top five could be catastrophic. The difference in income between the elite continental competition and the Europa League is vast, so it would be a huge aid for Villa if they can land a spot in the big time once more.

The report details that Jacob Ramsey could be a player to be sacrificed as he’s an academy product and his sale would represent pure profit for Villa. It’s mentioned that Spurs, who have a long-standing interest, could be a potential destination for the 23-year-old.

In and out of Unai Emery’s starting lineup throughout 2024/25, Ramsey has finally said farewell to his injury woes and has been gathering some momentum. The versatile midfielder, who can play on the left flank or through the centre as a number 10, has notched four goals and seven assists in 45 appearances throughout all competitions this campaign.

It’s not just been the direct goal contributions that have made an impact as Ramsey has been a real threat down the left wing, gaining confidence with every appearance. The Birmingham-born midfielder has been playing with a refreshing swagger and has formed a nice partnership with Morgan Rogers.

Who could Aston Villa sell instead of Jacob Ramsey?

Unai Emery is very reluctant to lose Ramsey as he believes he is yet to reach his high potential and can be a pivotal player for Villa moving forwards. As such, the Villans hierarchy would either seek a huge transfer fee - previously speculated at around £50 million - or try to sell alternative players, perhaps Martinez and Bailey.

There’s not an unlimited window for Villa to get their business done, however, with the PSR deadline coming up on June 30. If Villa have lost more than £105 million over the three-year period to that point, punishments will be drawn up. It’s pivotal the situation is approached appropriately.

It may not seem fair that the club are in this situation in the first place as several high-value sales have been made in the past 12 months and Villa have enjoyed deep runs in the Champions League and FA Cup. It’s the reality, however, with the high wage bill certainly not helping matters.

That’s one reason why Marcus Rashford might not sign permanently from Manchester United. Villa hold the option to sign the England international for £40 million but his £350,000-a-week demands would need to be slashed to make the deal a reality.

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Birmingham World spotted Leon Bailey send his biggest transfer hint yet after Aston Villa’s 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

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Leon Bailey was a ball of emotions after Aston Villa’s 2-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur on Friday night, and not just because of the importance of the result in the Champions League fight.

As his jubilant teammates jumped on one another in the centre circle upon the full-time whistle, Bailey was alone, knelt down, and brushing the Villa Park turf. The Jamaican, despondent as he lifted himself off the ground, pointed to the sky and eventually began a slow meander down the tunnel.

It looked as if Bailey was trying to drink in the experience one last time with his future very much in doubt. He wasn’t the only one, either, as goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, also away from the main group of celebrating Villa players, was in tears for several minutes and appeared to be saying his farewells to the Villa Park faithful.

Head coach Unai Emery refused to rule out departures for the pair during his post-match press conference, instead shifting the focus to the next game away at Manchester United. “We will see about the team, the players, but of course, they are responding on the field at the moment,” Emery said.

“They are responding and are focused on how we are preparing and playing each match. Of course, Leon Bailey is playing less because I know everybody is responding very well. They are performing well. And we are going to play Manchester for the last three points. And for us it will be very important again, to prepare, to be focused everybody.

“And of course, then we will see about everything, how we are going to try to get better for the next season, coming back.”

Will Leon Bailey leave Aston Villa this summer?

Bailey’s future has been uncertain for a while now, but his reaction after the Spurs win says everything. That wasn’t a man who believes he’ll be at the club next season. He looked as if he had accepted defeat.

It’s such a shame it’s ended up this way as Bailey has enjoyed some brilliant moments with Villa. Since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen for around £25 million in 2021, the winger has contributed 22 goals and 24 assists in 144 appearances. His 10 goals and nine assists in the Premier League last season were pivotal to Villa qualifying for the Champions League. That involvement won’t be forgotten by Villa fans.

The time may be right to say goodbye, however, as there’s strong interest from the Saudi Pro League and across Europe. Spurs have shown an interest in the past, too, while Manchester United held talks over signing the winger at the end of the winter transfer window.

It’ll be interesting to see whether Man Utd return for Bailey, but the Jamaican’s emotions are a clear enough signal that he’s set to be on the move to somewhere or other. The Red Devils are set for a squad overhaul this summer and could be tempted to sign Bailey if the price is right.

There’s also the Premier League profit and sustainability rules (PSR) aspect, too. Villa are currently under pressure to make at least one significant sale to avoid breaching PSR and Bailey could be sacrificed.

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Player ratings and report from Aston Villa’s pivotal 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

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Aston Villa’s Champions League charge will go down to the final day after a professional 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Friday night.

Unai Emery’s 100th Premier League match in charge of Villa will go down as a pivotal one as the Villans, albeit a little unconvincing for large stretches of the encounter, nudged past a second-string Spurs side at Villa Park. Ezri Konsa’s composed 59th-minute opener and Boubacar Kamara’s first-ever Premier League goal were enough to earn a vital three points, temporarily edging Villa into the top five.

When the team sheets came out and Spurs named captain Heung-min Son alongside fringe players and youth prospects, many expected Villa to cruise to victory. That was far from the reality, however, at least in the first half, as Tottenham were difficult to break and looked a consistent threat on the transition. Emery’s men had to battle hard for every duel and the tension was palpable heading into the interval.

Before Konsa’s decisive opener roared Villa Park into life, you could cut the atmosphere with a knife. The first 45 minutes were tense and cagey; Villa had their fair share of half chances but there was a lack of conviction. Emery often reminded his players to remain calm with assurance the goal would eventually come, but there was genuine doubt in all four corners of the ground that the big moment wouldn’t arrive.

But it did. And Villa’s number four displayed incredible composure under the greatest pressure. Captain super John McGinn whipped in a peach of an outswinging corner and Ollie Watkins nodded it back into the danger area, Konsa volleying delicately through the legs of Yves Bissouma, finding the bottom left-hand corner.

Kamara then made sure of the points as he made it 2-0, striking with fury on his weaker left foot to find the net. Morgan Rogers laid the ball off to Kamara and he was afforded acres of space on the edge of the area, invited to have a pop. That he did as he breathed a huge sigh of relief into the Villa Park faithful.

Spurs, resigned to defeat, hardly threatened in the closing stages as Villa held on. Here’s how the players rated out of 10.

Aston Villa player ratings vs Spurs

Emiliano Martinez - Preserved another clean sheet and it was fairly comfortable as he only had to make one save, denying Odobert. That’s now just four goals conceded in his last nine Premier League outings. 7

Matty Cash - Struggled to deal with Son’s pace on the transition in the first half and let the South Korean inside too easily once or twice. Received a silly yellow card for asking Peter Bankes to book Odobert, too. Improved in the second half to help Villa see out the clean sheet, though, and linked up strongly with Asensio. 6

Ezri Konsa - Scored the priceless opener, his third goal of the season in all competitions. Hardly put a foot wrong defensively, too, putting in several important tackles to stop Spurs on the transition. Perhaps should’ve controlled his emotions better when he had an argy-bargy with Tel, but that was soon forgotten. 8

Pau Torres - Displayed a great improvement, especially in possession. Swung in a great cross for Watkins early on and played some inch-perfect forward passes through tiny gaps. Still managed to find himself out of position at times, but got away with it on this occasion. 7

Ian Maatsen - Enjoyed a good battle with Moore and Spence, often coming out on top with his close ball control. Tracked back brilliantly to stop Tel on a dangerous counter attack at the start of the second half. Whipped in a few dangerous low crosses. 7

Boubacar Kamara - Bossed the midfield once again, winning his fair share of duels. Stood out when it turned edgy, calming things down with composed passing under pressure; Spurs couldn’t get near him in those moments. Capped off his fine display with his first-ever goal in this division – and it was a cracker. Bravo. 9*

Amadou Onana (off 88’) - Broke up the play brilliantly alongside Kamara, hardly giving Spurs any space to work with. Gave away the odd sloppy foul here and there but Emery won’t mind as he showed great determination to win back possession whenever Villa lost it. 8

John McGinn (off 90’) - Pressed relentlessly, on Spurs like a rash whenever they showed any sign of weakness. Whipped in the free-kick that Konsa headed on target in the first half and fizzed a powerful shot just over the bar. Delivered the corner that led to Konsa’s goal. 8

Morgan Rogers - Notched the assist for Kamara’s goal, albeit only with a simple pass. Not quite as involved as usual but still proved to be a handful for defenders. 7

Marco Asensio - Showed flashes of his immense quality. Played a brilliant through ball to Watkins, attempted an ambitious backheeled volley and fizzed a long shot narrowly wide, all in the first half. Then had the odd skillful moment in the second. 7

Ollie Watkins (off 86’) - Didn’t get on the scoresheet but got the assist for Konsa’s opener. Held up the ball brilliantly when required and got Gray in the book with one textbook example. Got in some great positions to see an early sighter saved and went close with a similar effort in the second period. 8

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Predicting Unai Emery’s Aston Villa lineup at home to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

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Aston Villa are on home soil for the final time this season as they play host to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Friday night.

The Villans, full of confidence after navigating two tricky 1-0 victories over Fulham and AFC Bournemouth, know they must beat Spurs under the lights at Villa Park if they are to keep their Champions League flame alight.

Unai Emery’s side, sixth with two games to go, are now outside of the top five on goal difference alone. Beating Spurs could be enough to leapfrog Chelsea and put Champions League football in the palm of their hands, so it’s a pivotal fixture.

Ange Postecoglou’s side, down in 17th place with a record 20 defeats in their 36 matches, are unlikely to pose much of a threat. Spurs will have one eye - if not both eyes - on their upcoming Europa League final as there’s no longer anything for them to play for.

Nonetheless, Villa must guard against complacency and put on a professional display. To give his side the best chance of doing that, here’s the starting XI we reckon Emery will name.

Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Spurs

GK - Emi Martinez: The two-time Yashin Trophy winner will be delighted to have kept two successive clean sheets and will be eager to make it a hat-trick.

RB - Matty Cash: Locked in and focused, Cash is ahead of Andres Garcia in the pecking order as it stands. The Poland international has been in great form recently.

CB - Ezri Konsa: One of the first names on the team sheet, Konsa has been brilliant throughout 2024/25. The defender will likely keep that status heading into next season.

CB - Tyrone Mings: Brought in for Pau Torres last time out, aerial powerhouse Mings showed why he should be starting ahead of the Spaniard. Based on form, it’s hardly a dilemma at this point.

LB - Ian Maatsen: It’s almost impossible at this point to guess who Emery will opt for at left-back, but we reckon it could be Maatsen rotating in for Lucas Digne as he has more pace to deal with the rapid Brennan Johnson.

CM - Boubacar Kamara: Pivotal to Villa for his strength and command at the base of midfield, Kamara can expect to stay in the lineup. Talks are current ongoing over a new, long-term contract.

CM - Amadou Onana: The Belgian replaced the injured Youri Tielemans against Bournemouth and did well. A dominant and physical pairing at the base of midfield could be effective yet again.

RM - Morgan Rogers: Undroppable, not many players in world football can charge forward on the ball as well as Rogers does. He’ll be eager to end a six-game wait for a goal.

LM - John McGinn: The skipper is probably the most suitable replacement for the now suspended Jacob Ramsey. McGinn doesn’t possess the same pace or flair but he’s effective on the half turn and can still beat a man effectively.

CAM - Marco Asensio: The PSG loanee is perhaps lucky to start as he hasn’t been in the best form since his electric start in claret and blue. He’ll be eager to put that right before the end of the campaign.

ST - Ollie Watkins: Now Villa’s record Premier League goalscorer having nudged ahead of Gabby Agbonlahor, Watkins can be considered a club legend. He’ll be desperate to get to the 100-goal mark.

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou loves to cause a stir in a press conference.

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Whether it be on purpose or completely by mistake, Postecoglou often says something controversial in his meetings with the media. The words themselves may not even be contentious at times, but the head coach’s tone - whether it be serious, sarcastic or otherwise - usually prompts a response.

Postecoglou certainly caused a reaction after last weekend’s 2-0 home loss to Crystal Palace, as he attempted to excuse and reason his team’s awful position in the Premier League standings. Spurs are currently 17th with a whopping 20 defeats in 36 matches, a club record in a top-tier league campaign. Postecoglou has blamed injuries and the progression to the Europa League final adding fixture congestion, expecting supporters and journalists to understand.

“Yeah, look and I get it and people are banging the drum about this record with defeats, but if people don’t see there is a correlation between the two (fixture congestion and poor form), I am not going to sit here. It’s not exactly Pythagoras' theorem,” Postecoglou said via Football London.

“It’s quite simple to understand we would have had much better results if we didn’t have to navigate this. So, either you understand or you don’t and beat us over the head, I get it.

“I am not happy with the way we performed today, so that’s what I look at. I think we could have performed better and irrespective of the result you can still lose a game of football and our performance level wasn't anywhere near where it should be. That's my responsibility to address.”

Postecoglou speaks the truth, to an extent, as Spurs and fellow Europa League finalists Manchester United have played more games than any other Premier League team, with 57 apiece. But it’s only a marginal difference, with the much higher-flying Arsenal (56), Aston Villa (55), and Liverpool and Manchester City (both 54) still having to navigate hectic months.

Meanwhile, when it comes to injuries, Spurs have had 22 so far this season, five fewer than bitter rivals Arsenal and just one more than Villa. Brighton & Hove Albion, also with 22, have managed just fine as they are still in the fight for a Europa Conference League place. Similar can be said for Newcastle United, who look likely to earn Champions League football despite contending with 17 injuries.

Villa fans can especially take great amusement from Postecoglou’s comments, as Unai Emery has had to deal with fixture congestion and injuries but has guided his team to European qualification with two matches to spare. It could yet get better, too, with a Champions League finish still on the cards.

All that has proved possible despite Villa’s financial disadvantage compared to the so-called ‘big six’, including Spurs. The Villans had to sell Moussa Diaby and Douglas Luiz last summer in fear of a points deduction due to a possible PSR breach, while Jhon Duran was sold in January with PSR in mind.

Granted, Spurs may have had more important players missing at times and for longer, but it’s hardly been night and day between them and Villa in this respect. The gap ahead of this Friday’s meeting between the two sides at Villa Park is 25 points and, if the hosts win, it could grow to 28. It’s just injuries and fixture congestion though, right, Ange?

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West Brom have discussed the possibility of signing a Tottenham Hotspur forward this summer.

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West Bromwich Albion have lodged an enquiry to sign Tottenham Hotspur hot prospect Jamie Donley on loan, Birmingham World understands.

The Baggies are still managerless as the hunt continues for Tony Mowbray’s successor, but that hasn’t stopped the club from beginning its summer transfer business well ahead of time. Albion turned to Spurs in January to loan in Will Lankshear for the second half of the campaign and now another of their forwards has caught the eye.

Donley, who has spent this season on loan at League One play-off qualifiers Leyton Orient, is a player West Brom have been keeping an eye on. The 20-year-old has impressed at Orient, scoring eight goals and making 10 assists in 39 League One matches this term.

It’s understood West Brom have contacted Spurs to get in there early, assessing Donley’s availability and whether the London club are willing to loan him out again. Orient will no doubt be interested in extending Donley’s spell at the club, but Spurs and the player himself may believe he’s worthy of playing at a higher level.

West Brom certainly think so, as they see Donley, who has more assists than anyone else in League One this term, as a player who could compete for a starting place in a new-look attack. It’s become apparent that there will be an extensive squad overhaul at The Hawthorns as several first-team players see their contracts expire and others are set to be sold to raise funds.

Winger Grady Diangana and attacking midfielder John Swift are both definitely departing as their deals expire on June 30, while academy product Tom Fellows has been linked with a £15 million transfer to the Premier League. Josh Maja and Daryl Dike are probably good enough to lead the line, but Albion will be wary of their poor injury records and may sign another striker for cover.

How could Spurs starlet Jamie Donley fit in at West Brom?

Donley is capable of leading the line but typically prefers to slot in just behind the striker, or as an inside forward. The Northern Ireland international has predominantly operated as a left inside forward for Orient, getting heavily involved in the build-up to attacks as well as providing a goalscoring output.

You’d think the transfer business would wait until a new head coach has been appointed but, as Mowbray brutally outlined in his final press conference, there’s very little cooperation between the recruitment team and the manager.

The transfer window doesn’t open until June 12, so West Brom should have a new boss by the time signings can be made. Mowbray’s successor probably won’t have much of a say in the transfer business anyway, however, with many of the key decisions falling to Ian Pearce, the director of football.

It awaits to be seen how successful Albion’s approach to Spurs was for Donley, but an update is expected to emerge in due course. For now, the interest is strong but the attacker remains fully focused on seeing out Orient’s campaign in the play-offs.

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Aston Villa will now be without a vital player for at least two of their remaining three games of the Premier League season.

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Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans has sustained a rare injury and could miss the rest of the season.

The 28-year-old has started all of Villa’s 35 Premier League matches this season but will miss at least two of the final three, with even the third - away at Manchester United on the final day - now a stretch. Tielemans is so often one of the most reliable in the squad for fitness, but even he isn’t immune to setbacks.

Birmingham World understands, as earlier reported by The Athletic, that Tielemans has suffered a muscular problem. It’s nothing serious but it’s enough to rule him out for around two weeks, making his return date very close to the trip to Old Trafford on Sunday, May 25. It’s the first injury he has sustained since a groin problem last April and May.

Tielemans, often utilised in a midfield double pivot alongside either Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana or John McGinn, is absolutely pivotal to the way Villa play. The Belgium international is the cornerstone, the creator, the benefactor of calm.

Last month, Tielemans became the first Villa player to start more than 50 games in a single season since Alan Wright and Mark Bosnich in 1995/96. He’s started 52 all in all across the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, only ever really afforded a rest in the Carabao Cup games back in August and September.

Emery will be gutted to lose Tielemans for two - or possibly three - pivotal matches in the race for Champions League football. Villa are still well-equipped without him, but Tielemans’ quality so often shines through, even when the Villans aren’t performing well.

After the narrow 1-0 win over Fulham, a game in which Tielemans scored the only goal, Emery spoke of his delight at his number eight’s progress. “His commitment with us is fantastic, his qualities and how we are trying to get of him in our structure is very important,” Emery told Birmingham World.

“Last year, he was adapting and progressively getting better. But he didn’t play like this year and also played in different positions too. This year he has been more consistent playing as a number eight, or a 10.

“Those positions are something he can dominate. Of course, he is a very good example how he works every day and takes a commitment with us to try to get our objective, working hard.”

Who will step up for Aston Villa in Youri Tielemans’ absence?

It’s difficult to figure out exactly who Emery will turn to while Tielemans is sidelined as he often chops and changes between a host of options at his disposal. Taking on AFC Bournemouth next before hosting Tottenham Hotspur, Villa will have to be at their best knowing they need maximum points for a realistic chance of finishing in the top five.

John McGinn is perhaps the favourite to step into the centre if Emery prefers the captain’s feisty nature and ability to escape the press on the half-turn. McGinn often starts on the left flank but could step inside, allowing Jacob Ramsey to move into the XI out wide.

Amadou Onana can’t be ruled out, either, as the £50 million summer signing offers plenty of physicality in the centre of the park. Emery has also turned to the Belgian recently when he’s wanted Kamara and Onana in the pivot, therefore moving Tielemans into the number 10 role. In this structure, Tielemans could instead be replaced by Marco Asensio.

Then there’s Ross Barkley, who has been patiently awaiting opportunities to play after a string of injury problems. The former Everton and Chelsea man is now back up to full fitness but hasn’t started a match for Villa since the 2-1 win over Leicester City on January 4. Maybe he could get a chance.