One to watch

Aston Villa target Rodrigo Bentancur is one of the best technical footballers at Juventus, according to teammate and Netherlands international Matthijs De Ligt.

Villa are looking to bring holding midfielder Bentancur to Villa Park before the closure of the January transfer window, a deal which if they can strike will round off a wonderful month of recruitment on paper, after the signings of Philippe Coutinho, Lucas Digne and Robin Olsen.

While Villa beat Everton 1-0 at Goodison Park over the weekend, Bentancur was in action for Juventus in their draw with AC Milan on Sunday.

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Domino effect

Aston Villa are understood to remain in talks to sign Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus, as Steven Gerrard aims to strengthen his squad before the transfer deadline.

Villa have completed some impressive business already this month, as Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne have both joined the club in recent weeks.

Goalkeeper Robin Olsen and young defender Kerr Smith have also been signed this January, but Villa remain active in the market in hope of competing more deals in the next few days.

Future's bright

Aston Villa co-owner Wes Edens has detailed how he hopes to have a new Major League Soccer side competing by 2026.

Last week, Edens and Villa's executive chairman Nassef Sawiris moved a step closer to bringing an expansion franchise team to Las Vegas after positive talks with MLS commissioner Don Garber, who has suggested that it would cost around £239million to licence a new MLS team.

"I think Las Vegas is, in my opinion, maybe the best market in the entire United States," Edens told the Review-Journal.

"The more time I spend there, the more I believe in the future of it as a city and as a city for sports and entertainment."

Busy week

Steven Gerrard wants to add a centre-back and a central midfielder to his ranks within the next six days as he looks to finish 2021/22 as strongly as possible.

The head coach is keen to replenish the positions left vacated by Axel Tuanzebe and Marvelous Nakamba, with the latter ruled out until April.

But what else is left to do before the transfer window closes at 11.59pm on Monday, January 31?

Here, BirminghamLive runs through what's still to happen at Bodymoor Heath...

League One calls Louie

Both Swindon Town and Doncaster Rovers are fighting it out over a move for Aston Villa’s Louie Barry before the end of the transfer window, according to reports.

Barry is now back at Villa after an unsuccessful loan spell with Ipswich Town in the first part of the season.

During his few months at Portman Road, the 18-year-old made just two league appearances playing a total of 68 minutes of League One football.

He returned to Villa at the start of the transfer window, and made a return to the club’s U23 side for the last two games, scoring and impressing in Monday night’s 4-1 win over Reading .

Dougie wanted

Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz is reportedly a transfer target for Arsenal this month.

The 23-year-old is said to be one of four midfield targets that Arsenal could pursue before the January transfer window shuts next week.

According to the Athletic, Wolves' Ruben Neves, Luiz of Villa, RB Leipzig's Tyler Adams and Bruno Guimaraes of Lyon will all be considered by Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta as he looks to strengthen his squad.

Luiz has been one of the first names on Steven Gerrard's team sheet since he took over from Dean Smith back in November and sits at the heart of the midfield. He has long been on Arsenal's radar, according to reports.

Douglas Luiz during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa at Selhurst Park
Douglas Luiz during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa at Selhurst Park

Targett-ed

Newcastle United have reportedly identified Aston Villa defender Matt Targett as a potential signing this month.

The Daily Mail claim that the big-spending Magpies are keen on a move for Targett if they fail to secure the services of Mitchel Bakker from Bayer Leverkusen.

It is being reported that Bakker is a target for the Magpies as they look to continue their efforts to strengthen Eddie Howe's squad in the January window.

Personal terms are said to be being discussed between Bakker and Newcastle with Howe's men set to part with £16 million to land the Dutchman.

Keeping tabs

Aston Villa and West Ham have been linked with a move for Montpellier forward Stephy Mavididi.

Born in Derby, Mavididi began his career at Southend United before joining Arsenal at the age of 13, where he earned a professional contract in 2015. Three years later he signed on at Italian giants Juventus and joined their reserve team.

After failing to break into the Old Lady's first-team, Mavididi joined Montpellier in June 2020 for £6million and has made 65 Ligue 1 appearances, scoring 17 goals during that time.