Aston Villa transfer news: £50m instruction sent as Conor Gallagher interest develops

July is underway and transfer activity is definitely something Aston Villa supporters can expect to see more of as Monchi and Unai Emery continue to rebuild the squad.

Villa have already seen a number of deals take place after a transfer merry-go-round with Everton and Chelsea, and the inevitable sale of Douglas Luiz to Juventus.

That saw Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea coming in the other way as Villa look to freshen up for the new Premier League season.

Now with PSR fears allayed, the club will set about the task of building a team capable of an onslaught on the Premier League, and indeed Europe with Emery knowing that squad depth will be everything this season.

The latest Conor Gallagher developments

Conor Gallagher could yet renew his contract at Chelsea despite Aston Villa and a number of other clubs tracking the £50m-rated midfielder.

The 24-year-old has entered a precarious time in his career, because as of Monday he entered his final year currently under contract at boyhood club Chelsea. Previous reports suggested the Blues would be willing cash in if failure to come to an accord over wages persists, whilst it was by the Villa target's own admission he is in no rush over the matter.

"I’ve just been focusing on England and this is the most important thing right now, for me and the country," he said on the eve of Euro 2024. "I am a Chelsea player right now and now I am just thinking about England and the tournament."

Read more about Gallagher's situation and the Villa interest

Twelve players could leave after £70m raised for transfer budget

Villa have been one of the busiest clubs in the Premier League at the start of the summer transfer window after selling three players and recruiting another five as Monchi balances the books and bids to improve Unai Emery's squad.

The club's president of football operations Monchi and director of football Damian Vidagany have been working 12-hour days at Bodymoor Heath over the last month. Douglas Luiz departed for around £42m so the club could remain compliant with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), while Tim Iroegbunam left for Everton for up to £13m and Omari Kellyman signed for Chelsea in a deal worth £19m.

In a separate deal to Luiz's move to Juventus, Villa signed Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior for around £18.5m combined, while Ian Maatsen signed from Chelsea for £37.5m. Lewis Dobbin was the first player to sign, joining from Everton for £9m, and Ross Barkley the latest player to sign in a deal worth £5m from Luton Town.

Villa are expected to remain busy in the transfer market as Emery continues to shape his squad ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season and, of course, the club's Champions League campaign. With that said, here are players who could leave the club over the next two months...

Here's a detailed look at the situation with possible player exits

Carney Chukwuemeka faces uncertain future after £20m transfer

Carney Chukwuemeka could be on the move again this summer.

The 20-year-old joined Chelsea from Villa two years ago in a move worth £20m after he rejected the opportunity to extend his contract with the club. A year before his switch to Stamford Bridge, Chukwuemeka won the FA Youth Cup with Villa.

Chukwuemeka then made 12 Premier League appearances in the 2021/22 season after being handed his top-flight debut by Dean Smith in the final minutes of the 2-1 win over Tottenham at the end of the 2020/21 campaign.

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The midfielder was left out of the club's tour of Australia in preparation for the 2022/23 season after refusing to pen a new deal. Villa had no other choice than to sell the player with Chelsea and Barcelona both interested.

But now his future appears to be uncertain at the Blues, especially due to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall adding to the competition for the attacking midfield role.

After dealing with injury problems last season, Chukwuemeka only made nine Premier League appearances, starting twice. The Athletic have reported that Chelsea rate Chukwuemeka highly and believe his value has increased since joining from Villa for £20m in 2022.

AC Milan have expressed an interest in signing him this summer, but Chelsea have reportedly dismissed suggestions they are prepared to consider a loan with an option to buy.

Philippe Coutinho exit details revealed

Philippe Coutinho is said to be on course to leave Villa this week - though with a major alteration to the terms of the deal that many expected.

The Brazilian's future was always going to be a question that required an answer upon his return from a loan to Qatar-based side Al-Duhail last season. Not part of Unai Emery 's plans, a route out quickly emerged back to boyhood club Vasco da Gama, though these negotiations have dragged on through June and into July.

Now all parties may see a light at the end of the tunnel, as Brazilian journalist Lucas Pedrosa claims that advancements are being made in the hope of announcing the 32-year-old's latest move on Wednesday, July 3.

But, there is a catch. Part of the reason talks have been ongoing for so long have been over the terms of the transfer. Initially he was to be loaned to Vasco, then it was suggested they could not finance such a deal so work began to terminate the midfielder's Villa Park contract two years ahead of schedule, in order to seal a free move.

Although now Pedrosa suggests this will not be the case and Coutinho will in fact remain tied to Villa, as he is to move back to his homeland on a one year loan. Vasco reportedly attempted to secure his signing on an 18-month contract, meaning he would be available to them through to the end of their 2025 campaign, although this was not agreed upon.

Vasco do however reportedly hold priority to his permanent signing or a renewed loan in one year's time, ahead of other Brazilian clubs.

The Brazilian transfer window officially opens on July 10, from which point he will become available to his new side. Coutinho would leave Villa on loan again having made 43 appearances for the club, his last in August 2023, with six goals and three assists to his name.

READ MORE: Douglas Luiz sends heartfelt Aston Villa message after completing €50m Juventus transfer

READ MORE: Contract status of every Aston Villa player as four enter their final year

Former coach of Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea regrets their Villa move

Andrea Bonatti, who coached both Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea through Juventus' Under-19s, has expressed some regret over their joint transfer to Aston Villa.

The duo were announced as part of Unai Emery's squad on Monday in a €22m deal - Villa showing they mean business at the start of the summer. It followed on from midfielder Douglas Luiz's exit from Villa Park, moving to the Turin club in a completely separate €50m transfer.

Both signings have also shared a similar career path since each moving to Juve in 2020. Iling-Junior, a former Chelsea academy player, opted for a switch to Italy and began life there in Bonatti's U19s, or 'Primavera', team. Three years his senior, Barrenechea settled more comfortably into the club's Under-23 side, but would still feature for Bonatti in the UEFA Youth League and Juve Primavera.

Read his full thoughts on their move to B6

Villa urged to sign Denzel Dumfries

Alan Hutton hopes Aston Villa can wrap up the signing of Denzel Dumfries this summer, despite Inter Milan's latest announcement.

Unai Emery and Co have already been battling intensely on the transfer front and on the first day of July, took the list of Villa 's new recruits for the summer up to five with the announcement of three arrivals. Both Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea's double-arrival from Juventus went through, as did the highly-anticipated return of Ross Barkley from Luton Town.

Now the manager has received a message to quickly dip back into the Italian market and secure a sixth signing, Dumfries. The experienced Inter and Netherlands full-back was linked with a Villa Park switch heading into the summer.

Read what Alan Hutton had to say here

Nico Williams is the answer says former Villa man

Gabby Agbonlahor wants Villa to throw everything they have at signing Spanish sensation Nico Williams.

Euro 2024 has been no different from previous major international tournaments in that at least one player makes a name for themselves on the biggest of stages. That's not to say Williams hasn't deserved recognition for his talents at club level, but now the young winger is the hottest topic of the continent on the back of Spain's dazzling displays.

So far at the tournament he has made three appearances, playing 236 minutes and in that time scoring and assisting once each. Both came last night as Luis de la Fuente's men beat minnows Georgia 4-1 to set up a quarter-final tie with hosts Germany.

But before kick-off, Agbonlahor - covering the tournament on the ground with talkSPORT - was raving about the 21-year-old and how he hopes his former club will prioritise striking an agreement with Athletic Club for his transfer.

"I think he’s been outstanding. When you want a winger to get at a full-back, Spain have always been the team to be tiki-taka and pass, pass, pass, pass, but now they’re more direct, get it to their wingers, get at players, get to the byline,” said the former striker.

"I remember playing against right-backs because I was quick, and they were like, ‘Gabby, please go inside, please switch, stop going past me’. Defenders hate playing against pace, players that want to run at them, and that’s what he’s been doing this tournament. And I’m sure he’ll be doing it tonight against Georgia.

"£50m release clause, he’s such a young lad, 21 years of age. Imagine him, he’s one that I’d love my team to go and get, Aston Villa, but any team, he’s an outstanding talent and he’s definitely got a bright future."

At his young age, the Spaniard also has 103 La Liga appearances to his name. Helping to lead the Athletic line last season he registered five goals and 14 assists en route to their fifth-placed finish.

Recently addressing the growing speculation, he told radio station RNE : "[It] is hard to deal with, because everyone is constantly asking you what you're going to do with your future.

"I'm a 21-year-old kid who just wants to play football. I have already said that Athletic is my home. I only recently renewed [my contract]. I am very happy."

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