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Hello and welcome to Tuesday's LIVE coverage of Aston Villa from BirminghamLive.

We will be keeping you up to date with all the latest transfer news from Villa Park and beyond.

The countdown to the January transfer window is on, with Dean Smith 's side able to trade and make deals for players to aid their Premier League survival mission in their first campaign back in the top flight after three years in the Championship's wilderness.

There will also be all the biggest build-up to the clash with Newcastle United on Monday night - the visit off former Villa manager Steve Bruce and his side looks a crucial one in the fight for survival

So make sure you stick with us for all the latest Villa transfer news and views.

Man Utd's McGinn stance revealed

Manchester United are unlikely to move for Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn in January, according to reports.

McGinn was first linked with United in the summer after a terrific campaign helping Villa to promotion from the Championship.

It was even claimed at the time that legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson was pushing for a move having watched the Scotland international’s development closely since he moved south of the border.

No bid was forthcoming then with McGinn going on to put pen to paper on a new and improved five-year contract.

John McGinn, of Aston Villa, looks on during the friendly match at Charlton
John McGinn, of Aston Villa, looks on during the friendly match at Charlton (Image: Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Full story here.

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Green's challenge

Andre Green has been told to earn a starting spot for Preston North End by proving himself in training.

Green linked up with Preston in early August on a season-long loan designed to give him regular exposure to first-team football.

But worryingly for Aston Villa, he is yet to make a single start for the Championship side having been limited to just six appearances off the bench.

Squad competition means it’s difficult for Green – who is currently sidelined with a toe problem – to force his way up the pecking order and into Alex Neil’s plans.

Full story here.

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Lijnders explains Liverpool's Villa approach

Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders has insisted the Reds won’t let their cup meeting with Aston Villa distract them from their goal of becoming Club World Cup champions – as he hinted that’s where his side’s priorities lie.

Villa face Liverpool in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup on December 17, less than 24 hours before the Champions League holders play in the semi-final of FIFA’s worldwide competition in Qatar.

Jurgen Klopp will utilise a split squad to combat the fixture congestion with several fringe players and academy hopefuls expected to be part of the travelling side to take on Villa for a place in the final four.

The circumstances for Liverpool are far from ideal and Lijnders says a plan is being put into place.

Read more here.

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Rangers make Morelos decision amid Villa interest

Alfredo Morelos is on a shortlist of January targets for French side Saint-Etienne, according to reports in France.

And Rangers will not sanction a January departure of Morelos , who will only let the Colombian international leave for a big-money fee.

French website LeProgres report that Claude Puel’s side have sent scouts to watch Morelos, with the Rangers star also linked with the Ligue 1 boss’ old club, Leicester City.

Villa have been heavily linked with a move for the 23-year-old, who scored a 93rd minute winner for Colombia in a friendly against Peru on Saturday.

More HERE.

Alfredo Morelos celebrates scoring a goal for Rangers
(Image: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
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Rivals linked with move for Villa target

Norwich City have been linked with a move for Aston Villa summer target Jack Butland.

Villa were believed to be vying with AFC Bournemouth for the England international’s services, but both sides ended up going a different route.

Bournemouth promoted Aaron Ramsdale - signed from Sheffield United in 2017 - to number one and Villa signed Tom Heaton from Burnley in an £8 million deal.

Jed Steer stepped up from deputy to Orjan Nyland - who got injured last season - to help guide Dean Smith ‘s side back to the Premier League through the Championship’s play-offs.

More HERE.

(Image: Getty Images)
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United star makes key claim ahead of Villa clash

Scott McTominay has revealed what he thinks is behind Manchester United’s recent upturn in form.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side head into this weekend’s clash with Sheffield United on the back of a two-match winning run in all competitions - and then welcome Aston Villa to Old Trafford.

Apart from the 1-0 reverse at AFC Bournemouth at the beginning of this month, United have won every match since October 24 - five in total

That has seen United surge from 12th in the Premier League table after a 1-1 draw with Liverpool in October to seventh and nine points off the League’s top four.

More HERE.

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Villa star's brilliant apology

Anwar El Ghazi has come in for some playful stick from an Aston Villa supporter - for holding his plane up!

The Netherlands wing - who scored in May’s Championship play-off final win over Derby County - hasn’t been with his national side for the international break having not been called up by Ronald Koeman.

But he had nipped back to Amsterdam during the fortnight off the Premier League takes for European Championships qualifiers and the like - with Villa boss Dean Smith obviously allowing some time off for his players as they take stock after a hectic opening 12 matches of the Premier League season.

And Twitter user Michael Tindall recounting a brilliant episode in which El Ghazi’s tardiness caused a flight back to the United Kingdom to be delayed by ten minutes.

More HERE.

Aston Villa's Anwar El Ghazi opens the scoring against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup
(Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire)
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Newcastle 'keeper makes Villa claim

Newcastle United pair Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin retain the backing of their team-mates despite failing to score this season.

In a combined 20 appearances this season - nearly 1,500 minutes of football - the duo are yet to register.

Indeed, Almiron is yet to score since his January arrival from MLS side Atlanta United.

However, their profligacy in front of goal hasn’t coincided with a drop in form for Steve Bruce’s side.

Read more HERE.

Miguel Almiron of Newcastle United
(Image: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
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Strikers Villa could sign in January

“Possibly” was the word used by Dean Smith when asked if he’ll use the January transfer window to go out and sign a top striker.

Aston Villa missed out on a forward when the summer window slammed shut, with Smith himself saying no to signing Neal Maupay.

Goal hopes have been put into one Brazilian basket following the club-record deal for Wesley, a man who’s started every league game to date.

Four goals from 12 is a decent-enough return at an average of one in three and, if Wesley continues at that rate, he’ll end up with more than 12 strikes in what would be a good first term in the Premier League.

So who could they sign to help Wesley out, though?

Read more HERE.

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The FIFA update Villa fans will love

Aston Villa fans with a love of the popular EA Sports gaming franchise FIFA will be keen to install the latest update to this year’s iteration.

The game’s publishers, Electronic Arts, have released another update to their latest edition today - and this one includes lifelike face scans of Aston Villa’s players.

Jack Grealish is no longer a generic face - his is lifelike now along with fellow players John McGinn , Jota, Anwar El Ghazi, Wesley and Douglas Luiz.

To use these faces in the popular career mode, though, fans will need to install the update and then start a career - they won’t appear in-game in careers already in progress.

Read more HERE.

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Terry refutes Aguero transfer claim

Aston Villa assistant head coach John Terry has refuted accusations that he was behind a failed move to bring Segio Aguero to Chelsea a decade ago.

The Athletic report that Terry wasn’t keen on the Argentinian international, feeding back to Stamford Bridge chiefs that he would prefer David Villa instead.

Aguero would, of course, go on to sign for Manchester City in 2011 and fire 173 goals in 250 games - winning four Premier League titles in the process.

Terry spent every season of his illustrious career at Chelsea until he moved to Villa in 2017 - he is now Dean Smith’s assistant at Villa Park having become a fan favourite during the run to the Championship play-off final in his sole campaign as a player in B6.

More HERE.

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero
(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
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Arsenal legend blasted for Mings criticism

Aston Villa fans have hit back at Martin Keown’s comments on Tyrone Mings’ performance for England on Sunday evening.

The Villa defender was making his second appearance for the Three Lions in the 4-0 win in Kosovo, keeping back-to-back clean sheets having made his debut in a 6-0 hammering of Bulgaria in October.

Mings helped Gareth Southgate ‘s side to a top seed for when the European Championships groups are drawn for next summer’s competiition.

He is vying with Harry Maguire, John Stones, Joe Gomez, Fikayo Tomori and John Stones for a first-choice berth at centre-back.

More HERE.

Tony Adams chats with Martin Keown
(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
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Man United handed major injury boost

Former Aston Villa defender Axel Tuanzebe could return to fitness for Manchester United’s Premier League clash with his old side next month.

Villa travel to Old Trafford on December 1 (4.30pm) in their next away trip in the top flight and will be hoping to end a run of three-straight away defeats on the road.

And last season’s Villa loan star Tuanzebe has issued a fitness update as he edges close to a return from a hip injury.

Tuanzebe made 35 appearances for Dean Smith’s side last season, helping the Villa Park side to promotion through the Championship’s play-offs.

Read more HERE.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
(Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
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Grealish issues Celtic transfer verdict

Jack Grealish reckons Callum McGregor would be a hit in the Premier League.

The Aston Villa captain starred alongside the Celtic midfielder for Notts County in the 2013-14 season, the pair loaned to the Meadow Lane side.

McGregor notched 12 goals while Grealish scored five, the pair helping Shaun Derry’s side survive relegation by three points.

Leicester City have been heavily linked with a move for McGregor, with his former manager at Celtic Brendan Rodgers now at the helm of the King Power Stadium.

More HERE.

Aston Villa's Jack Grealish
(Image: Lindsey Parnaby/AFP/Getty Images)
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Grealish makes McGinn transfer admission

Jack Grealish has admitted he doubted Aston Villa’s move for John McGinn.

The Villa captain says he hadn’t even heard of the midfielder when he came down from Hibernian last year.

But what a signing he turned out to be, starring last season with six goals and ten assists in the Championship for Dean Smith’s promotion-winners.

And there were individual highlights along the way, too - who can forget that stunning strike against Sheffield Wednesday or the second goal in the 2-1 defeat of Derby County in the Championship play-off final in May?

More HERE.

John McGinn and Jack Grealish of Aston Villa celebrate during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Burnley FC at Villa Park
(Image: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
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John Terry sends brilliant message to Celtic star

Aston Villa assistant head coach John Terry has sent a brilliant five-word message to Celtic star Scott Sinclair.

The pair were team-mates at Chelsea, with Sinclair joining in 2005 from boyhood club Bristol Rovers.

Former Villa loanee Sinclair spent five years at Stamford Bridge, making just five League appearances, before heading to Swansea City.

At the Liberty Stadium was where he made his name, earning a move to Manchester City as a result of his good performances for the swashbuckling Swans.

Read more HERE.

Aston Villa assistant manager John Terry before his side's Carabao Cup fourth round clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers
(Image: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
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Villa v Newcastle TV details

Aston Villa face Newcastle United on Monday hoping to pick up Premier League points for the first time in a month.

Dean Smith’s side have lost three league matches on the bounce since winning 2-1 against Brighton in October.

They were beaten 2-1 by Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux before the international break in an indifferent performance.

Read what you need to know as domestic action returns to Villa Park with the visit of Steve Bruce’s Magpies HERE.

General views of Aston Villa Football Club
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Leeds sent Villa warning as Arsenal agent drops bombshell

It’s time for the morning round-up of all the latest Villa transfer rumours...

Read them HERE.

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa
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Ten most important players of the decade

You’ve seen our Aston Villa Team of the Decade - and now it’s time for the 10 most-important players of the last 10 years.

Ever since squandering that Champions League spot in 2010 it’s been a bumpy old ride but, thankfully, Villa are back on the rise.

Villa are 12 games into life back in the Premier League and it’s been a steep, steep learning curve having taken just 11 points.

There have been glimpses of brilliance from the likes of Jack Grealish, John McGinn and new-signing Wesley but, along the way, there’s been some devastating defeats against the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool.

Our man Ashley Preece has had his say HERE.

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McGinn and Villa's stance amid United speculation

Aston Villa have been linked with a number of potential new additions ever since the summer window closed in August.

Villa, like the rest of the teams in the Premier League, are currently in the midst of the final international break of the calendar year.

The 2-1 defeat to local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers last week was their seventh in the league this season, leaving them three points outside the relegation zone.

While players have been linked with joining Villa, the rumour making the most noise at the moment is concerning a potential departure.

Read more HERE.

(Image: TIM EASTHOPE/BIRMINGHAM MAIL)
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Villa linked with defender as Sherwood sends Grealish message

Morning, Villans!

You can read your Tuesday morning round-up of all the latest Villa news and views HERE.

Dean Smith head coach of Aston Villa
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