Yahoo News John Townley's notebook: adidas at Villa Park, Chris Heck update and Tottenham transfer battle
Work at Villa Park and in the offices at Bodymoor Heath hasn't stopped this summer as the club gears up for an exciting 2024/25 Premier League season and of course, their Champions League campaign.
Monchi and Damian Vidagany have been working 12-hour days in a bid to keep the club compliant with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) while also attempting to improve Unai Emery's squad. Douglas Luiz was sold to balance the books, while Tim Iroegubnam and Omari Kellyman have also left the club, raising around £70m across those three sales.
Ian Maatsen and Lewis Dobbin have signed on, while Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior will join in a separate deal with Juventus worth €22m. Villa will remain busy in the market with two months of the window left to make changes to Emery's squad.
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TOTTENHAM TRANSFER BATTLE
Villa have an interest in Fiorentina right-back Michael Kayode, who can also play on the left. Reports in Italy claim that Villa could face competition from Tottenham to sign the 19-year-old, who made 26 Premier League appearances last season.
Emery is already set to one teenage right-back for pre-season with 18-year-old Kosta Nedeljkovic due to report to Bodymoor Heath, following his transfer from Crvena Zvezda.
Villa's senior right-back Matty Cash has interest from both Milan clubs, but neither are willing to meet Villa's £30m valuation of him, at least at this stage.
ADIDAS LOGO AT VILLA PARK
While Emery's squad undergoes some big changes, so has Villa Park as redevelopment in and around the stadium continues this summer. The club are adding more seats to boost the capacity of Villa Park and have a wider project which will see 1,200 seats added over the next two summers.
The new seating alignment is nearly completed in the North Stand, which will feature a huge white adidas logo in the upper section.
Meanwhile, the superstore at the back of the North Stand car park will be renovated in time for the new campaign, while the Warehouse project will take a little bit more time to come to life.
Heck said: "As regards to the car park with the fan zone, this will be a new area, built right behind the players' entrance and we are changing the whole make-up to allow the fans to see the players come off the bus before every single match.
"Not only will they be able to do it in better sight lines, they will also be able to see it on large screen TVs, they will have food and beverages too. It will be first class all the way.
"The store experience will be something never seen in the Midlands. We have seen it elsewhere in the world, but the dynamic nature of retail will come to life. It will be exciting for everybody and particularly with our new partnership with Adidas and their quality of kits and lifestyle apparel."
CHRIS HECK UPDATE
Villa are focusing heavily on hospitality offerings at Villa Park, which can be a big earner for the club. Villa are spending tens of millions of pounds on hospitality renovation in three stands at Villa Park.
It includes 18 new premium offerings, including private club space and other suites across the Doug Ellis, North and Trinity Road stands.
“Premium meant [at Villa Park] you got a suite, 12 tickets and a rectangular table for a sit down like a family meal,” Heck told Telegraph. “It’s wonderful and everyone enjoys themselves but that was the only option. My thought is ‘let’s give people more options and I bet you they are going to be interested’. There is not just one type of English football fan.”
Speaking on the club's LinkedIn page, Heck gave an update: "Checking in from Villa Park, in the middle of massive construction as we prepare for our next Premier League season and of course, the Champions League after 42 years. It's a remarkable time for the club and all the history that goes with it.
"I want to give an update and everybody a glimpse of what we are doing on the Doug Ellis Stand. We are reinventing what hospitality looks like in Doug Ellis. There are three major spaces which are being renovated.
"The 150 club, which is a private club which has seats at the midfield line. Then, one of my favourite construction projects, The Aston. It's going to be an extraordinary space with great food and beverage and also the ambience will be second to none.
"Next to that is the Villans Lounge. That's a more laid back, casual environment. It will compliment the other products which are going on at Villa Park. I encourage everyone to go online and look into the details of all of these wonderful products which will be coming in just a few months."
CLARET & BLUE CATCH-UP
VILLA PARK TICKET DETAILS
The club has now confirmed ticket prices for Category A and B fixtures at Villa Park, while on-sale dates for both home and away matches will follow in due course. Here is a price breakdown plus see here for ticketing T&Cs.
Category A
1888 Seats | Price Zone 1 | Price Zone 2 | Price Zone 3 | Price Zone 4 | Wheelchair Bays | |
Adult | £92.00 | £78.00 | £72.50 | £67.50 | £55.00 | £55.00 |
Over 66 / Under 21 | £92.00 | £78.00 | £54.50 | £50.50 | £41.50 | £41.50 |
Armed Forces | £92.00 | £78.00 | £58.00 | £54.00 | £43.50 | £43.50 |
Under 18 | £92.00 | £78.00 | £37.00 | £34.00 | £28.00 | £28.00 |
Under 14 | £92.00 | £78.00 | £22.00 | £20.00 | £16.50 | £16.50 |
Category B
1888 Seats | Price Zone 1 | Price Zone 2 | Price Zone 3 | Price Zone 4 | Wheelchair Bays | |
Adult | £75.00 | £56.00 | £50.00 | £46.00 | £44.50 | £44.50 |
Over 66 / Under 21 | £75.00 | £56.00 | £32.50 | £30.00 | £29.00 | £29.00 |
Armed Forces | £75.00 | £56.00 | £40.00 | £37.00 | £35.50 | £35.50 |
Under 18 | £75.00 | £56.00 | £25.00 | £23.50 | £22.00 | £22.00 |
Under 14 | £75.00 | £56.00 | £15.50 | £14.00 | £13.50 | £13.50 |
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