According to rumours in Portugal, Aston Villa is interested in two players from the Portuguese division, although it might be tough to finalise a deal in January.
During the summer transfer window, Unai Emery added five new players to the team:
“It’s top four or bust at this moment in time.” – Brian Little’s brief remarks on February 26, 2009, from the Setanta Sports TV studios would prove to be a massive understatement.
Before Aston Villa’s second-leg UEFA Cup match against CSKA Moscow, Little, the team’s hero and cup-winning manager, was seated with Brian Kerr, the former Republic of Ireland manager, and host Paul Dempsey. Little used the tennis comparison, “It’s not just advantage CSKA, it’s 40-love at the moment,” knowing that Martin O’Neill had changed his Aston Villa starting lineup EIGHT times for their last-32 cup match against the Russians.
Pau Torres, Moussa Diaby, Nicolo Zaniolo, and Clement Lenglet all completed moves to Villa Park. When the January transfer window opens, he probably wants to get even stronger.
Pedro Goncalves of Sporting and Fredrik Aursnes of Benfica are two possible targets, according to Portuguese publication Record (via Sport Witness). Aursnes is a central midfielder who has spent much of the season playing at left-back, although Goncalves is a winger who can also play in central midfield.
SEE ALSO: Aston Villa pair in
Both players are reportedly on Villa’s “agenda” for the January transfer window after being connected to the team back in the summer, according to the source. Goncalves’ contract reportedly includes a release clause worth €80 million (£69.8 million).Although that doesn’t appear to have deterred Villa, they may have difficulty completing January transfers for both players when the transfer window opens. The record further states that Sporting and Benfica will turn down Villa’s moves and will only try to close a deal in the summer of next year.
So far this season, both players have started every league game for their respective teams. Goncalves has made eight appearances and scored twice.
The 21-year-old has spent two years with Wolves in 2017 and 2019 so he does have prior experience in England. In the 2018 Carabao Cup, he played for the team for about thirty minutes in his lone first-team debut.
In the summer of 2022, Norwegian international Aursnes transferred from Feyenoord, a Dutch team, to Benfica. With a deal that expires in 2027, the Portuguese club will be well-positioned.
This is the tale of Moscow and the ensuing malaise, from the shocking team announcement to the “disastrous” supper featuring the 295 disgruntled Aston Villa supporters.
“It’s top four or bust at this moment in time.” – Brian Little’s brief remarks on February 26, 2009, from the Setanta Sports TV studios would prove to be a massive understatement.
Before Aston Villa’s second-leg UEFA Cup match against CSKA Moscow, Little, the team’s hero and cup-winning manager, was seated with Brian Kerr, the former Republic of Ireland manager, and host Paul Dempsey. Little used the tennis comparison, “It’s not just advantage CSKA, it’s 40-love at the moment,” knowing that Martin O’Neill had changed his Aston Villa starting lineup EIGHT times for their last-32 cup match against the Russians.
