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Aston Villa had a sensational summer of business in the transfer window, bringing in five new faces to bolster Unai Emery’s high-flying squad.

Not many could have anticipated the positive effect that the Spaniard has installed at the club, taking the relegation form side of Steven Gerrard and turning them into a team finishing with a European spot.

The former Arsenal manager has excelled so far on the field, with his success translated into the market as he and Monchi teamed up to deliver some valuable new additions to the ranks at Villa Park.

The club record-breaking deal for Moussa Diaby saw the Villans spend £51.9m on the winger, with the move later proving to be highly beneficial as the Frenchman has already netted two goals in the opening four matches of the Premier League season.

Villa’s progression and rise in ambition on the pitch seemed to be reflected in the window, as big names were not only recruited but eyed by the club in what was a statement of intent for Emery’s first full term in charge.

While high-profile names walked through the doors of Villa Park, other rumoured targets weren’t delivered, with some names having the potential to be marquee deals in the club's market history.

Who were Aston Villa linked to over the summer?

After dipping into the La Liga pool to obtain Pau Torres, it seemed for a moment that Emery would once again buy from his homeland, with two Barcelona talents linked with moves to the Midlands throughout the course of the window.

Ferran Torres was mentioned as a target for the Villans, with news in Spain suggesting that the Spaniard could make a sensational return to the Premier League as part of a loan deal to Villa Park.

The former Manchester City forward found his form in pre-season, making a move relatively impossible as the Catalan giants saw his true worth.

Another Barcelona star that could have made his way to Birmingham was Ansu Fati, who was linked to the club before making the move to Brighton on loan.

Having seen the Seagulls pull off a coup as audacious and impressive as Fati, it will have been a disappointment for Emery to have not sealed a deal for the 20-year-old, who was hunting for game time away from his boyhood club.

Within the Premier League, Jadon Sancho was another figure that was suspected to be wanted by the Midlands side.

In hindsight, the move would have been beneficial for the player as he continues to duel with Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.

A report from Football Transfers suggested that the Red Devils were open to selling the Englishman earlier in the summer, with Villa named as a club interested in the 23-year-old, who was said to be valued in the region of £60m.

The one that truly got away from the hopeful grasp of Emery was Joao Felix, who was reported to be “on their radar” by journalist Rudy Galetti via GIVEMESPORT.

Did Aston Villa nearly sign Joao Felix?

After leaving his loan spell at Chelsea, Felix was left with the keys to discover his next club, with his future at Atletico Madrid unimaginable after a falling out with Diego Simeone.

The forward was linked with a host of clubs who would have benefitted from his signature, with interest from the Premier League and Saudi Arabia noted.

A recent report from Spain, relayed by GOAL, revealed that the Portuguese turned down a potential move to Aston Villa, Manchester United and Liverpool in the bid to join Barcelona, his dream destination.

For most, dreams are an escape from reality, however, the 23-year-old made his dream a reality as he penned a loan deal with La Blaugrana, marking his return to La Liga away from the hostility at Madrid.

Signing the former Benfica starlet would have arguably been the Midlands’ biggest-ever capture, however, it wasn’t meant to be as the former Chelsea man yearned for the Spanish champions.

How much could Joao Felix have cost?

While it was a dream to have even eyed Felix, there were huge questions over his cost, with the 23-year-old on both a huge salary and with a monumental price tag.

Signed by Atleti for a staggering £113m at the age of 19, it was expected that Simeone’s side would expect a fee of a similar amount to sanction his departure.

It was reported that the Spaniards were firm on their valuation of €100m (£86m) for the versatile forward, with the magnitude of his wage being another vast obstacle that Villa would have had to consider.

From earning £3,900-per-week to making £238k-per-week at Atletico, Felix would have walked into the side at Villa Park as the club’s highest earner with ease. That said, Football Transfers placed a much more realistic expected transfer value on the play of £39m.

In football nowadays, it’s somewhat arguable that you get what you pay for, however, in the instance of a talent hailed as “generational” by development coach Aldo Sainati, the price is surely worth paying.

What could Joao Felix have offered to Aston Villa?

Deployable all over the front line, the 23-year-old is truly a master at playing the false nine role, with strengths in finishing, playmaking and the gift of innate flair.

Before the opening of the summer window, Emery identified a partner for Ollie Watkins as a target for the market when speaking to The Athletic, with Felix fitting the description perfectly.

Tipped by Cristiano Ronaldo to repeat his success in La Liga, it’s easy to forget just how early the Portuguese gem is into his career path, due to his formidable records in both Spain and Portugal.

With Premier League experience now under his belt too, the forward has become a decimal more employable by admirers in England, able to display his ability in one of the world’s best leagues.

Joao Felix Domestic League Record

All figures via Transfermarkt.

For Villa, Felix would’ve undoubtedly been the main man, and a figure adored in the Midlands which given the status of his career in Atletico could have almost certainly boosted his performance and confidence.

As for his potential role in the squad, the free-roaming forward could have added a significant amount of quality to the front line, with a spearhead of Watkins, Diaby and Felix one of monstrous capability under Emery.

Leon Bailey would be the man to make way for the Portuguese talent should he have arrived in the Midlands, a player who has failed to hit true form since arriving at Villa Park from Bayer Leverkusen.

While the Jamaican has shown glimpses of his ability in the wide areas of attack, the 26-year-old has netted only six goals in 54 Premier League appearances so far in claret and blue, suggesting that the end product is missing.

Representing Genk, Leverkusen and Villa in his domestic career, the winger has never hit ten goals in a league campaign, with his highest tally being the nine Bundesliga goals he recorded on two occasions.

For Felix, his numbers in the final third are more than assured despite being three years younger than the Villa man, with his best scoring season recording 15 Liga Portugal goals for Benfica as a teen.

To communicate the calibre between the two forwards, Felix equalled Bailey’s highest-scoring Premier League tally in his debut 16 appearances in the league, scoring four last term to match the four scored by the Jamaican in 33 appearances.

Villa could’ve quickly forgotten about their winger by signing Felix, who could have epitomised the change in direction since Emery’s arrival.

Ultimately, no club would have sufficed for the 23-year-old, who simply wanted Barcelona to be the next destination to rediscover his form.

Liverpool returned to European competition this week, but did so in the Europa League, ending a seven-year relationship with the Champions League, where three finals were reached and one was won under Jurgen Klopp's tutelage.

It's a ramification of Liverpool's woeful 2022/23 season, where the prestigious Premier League outfit fell by the wayside and finished fifth, courtesy of the "absolutely shocking" midfield's inability to perform, as was said by Reds writer Matt Ladson.

This year, the Anfield skies paint a brighter hue, with the grey, woolly clouds that lurked ominously above now wiped away by a reformed, restored centre, patched up and then some on the transfer market.

The Europa League does present several things for Klopp and co to get excited about, however, with it remaining the lone major trophy to have evaded the German's clutches since his appointment in 2015; moreover, the competition presents an opportunity for the likes of Ben Doak, Stefan Bajcetic, Jarell Quansah and co to play with regularity, nurturing their precocious abilities to the fore.

Another talented starlet who could be pushing for a senior debut is full-back Calum Scanlon, who has been riding the crest of a wave at youth level for Barry Lewtas' development squad and could be the club's next version of vice-captain, Trent Alexander-Arnold.

When did Trent Alexander-Arnold make his debut for Liverpool?

A first-rate player with the potential to cement a legacy behind only someone of Steven Gerrard's ilk, Alexander-Arnold has been a staple of the success under Klopp's stewardship and is one of Europe's foremost full-backs, if you can even restrict him to such a singular evaluation.

On October 25, 2016, the young Scouser made his senior debut for his boyhood club, starting against Tottenham Hotspur in a 2-1 victory at Anfield, just 18 days into his 18th year.

A few months later, the teenager would come off the bench against Middlesbrough in the Premier League, and so begins a journey bespeckled in gold dust, a career at the centre of Liverpool's emergence as a major player on the major scene.

With observers gushing unreserved praise for his performances at the very first stage of his senior career, Liverpool's ex-Academy director Karl Robinson remarked at his talents, saying, "He was brilliant. He was bubbly, fearless, the best player at that age."

Making 12 appearances that season, earning an assist (the first of many), Alexander-Arnold would announce himself resoundingly the following term, netting an impressive free-kick in Champions League qualifying against Hoffenheim – which James Pearce claimed was 'reminiscent' of Gerrard – with the 2017/18 campaign resulting in a Champions League final defeat against Real Madrid, but then that was just the start.

How good is Trent Alexander-Arnold?

A superlative star with his technical ability and an ingenious creator from, often, the right flank, Alexander-Arnold has produced 277 displays for the Anfield side, scoring 16 goals and providing 73 assists.

Heralded for his "sensational" ball-striking ability by commentator Martin Tyler, the 20-cap international has been instrumental in the triumph of Klopp's reign, winning every slice of silverware at Liverpool since his debut and playing a starring role while doing so.

Who could forget the 4-0 drubbing of Barcelona en route to European glory, with the 24-year-old's razor-sharp wit bypassing a hapless La Blaugrana defence to allow Divock Origi to hammer home. 'Corner taken quickly' has become a praise perpetually embedded in Liverpool folklore.

As per FBref, the £180k-per-week phenom ranks among the top 5% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 2% for passes attempted and the top 7% for progressive passes per 90.

Indeed, a "genius" – as claimed by journalist Neil Jones – the homegrown talent epitomises everything it means to play for Liverpool, and with years ahead of him, his best days ostensibly lie ahead.

The academy crop will no doubt idolise Gerrard, but this first-class phenom is the current evidence that they can succeed at Anfield, and Scanlon will be hoping to emulate his senior peer.

Who is Calum Scanlon?

Liverpool completed the signing of 15-year-old Scanlon from Birmingham City for a reported fee of £500k, with the highly-rated youngster considered one of the most exciting prospects of his age bracket.

In March 2022, the full-back earned his maiden professional contract with the Reds, with the club's announcement stating that he 'often catching the eye as he runs at defenders out wide and delivers searching crosses into the box, while proving a strong and capable defender.'

The dynamic prodigy – who can play left-back or in a more offensive role – has now racked up 38 matches for Liverpool's youth outfits, scoring twice and supplying four assists.

Klopp has shown time and time again that he is happy to provide youngsters with chances to impress, and Scanlon could now be in line to make his senior debut this season, aged 18, and replicate the breakthrough of Alexander-Arnold.

This season, Scanlon has started all four fixtures in the Premier League 2 and scored against League Two team Morecambe in the EFL Trophy several days ago, with reporter Neil Jones remarking that he looked "so good" on the evening.

Having already cemented a spot in the Premier League 2 this term after playing just once in the competition during the 2022/23 campaign, the Birmingham-born prospect is making remarkable progress and may soon ascend to the next, high-profile level.

Scanlon's marauding style and suitability in playing further up the left channel could make him a custom-made fit for Klopp's blossoming Liverpool side, with Jones also praising the “very talented” defender.

Just like Alexander-Arnold before, he could prove to be a starring member of the squad in the future…

Real Madrid have announced a high-end Adidas collaboration, with Jude Bellingham and Zinedine Zidane linking up for the release.

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• Zidane and Bellingham link up to announce Y-3 collaboration
• English midfielder wears France legend's No.5 shirt
• Japanese designer has released seven piece travel collection

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Real Madrid have revealed a new high-end collaboration with shirt sponsor Adidas, launching a product line with club legend Zidane and current superstar Bellingham. The launch has made waves on social media.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Bellingham famously took Zidane's No.5 shirt upon joining Madrid. He has lived up to its billing so far, leading La Liga in goals, and tallying 20 involvements in 22 appearances.

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  WHAT ZINEDINE ZIDANE SAID

  The Madrid legend has expressed his admiration for Bellingham in the past: "He’s an unbelievable player who does incredible things. You could have imagined what he was going to do, but he’s surpassed all the statistics with what he’s doing.

  "Don’t forget that he’s only 20 years old. He arrived at Real Madrid with a lot of desire, a lot of goals and he is setting the bar very high. He’s just showing everyone what he is and it’s great to see him like that. I’m a big fan of his and now we want him to win trophies with Real Madrid. It’s everything he wanted for himself.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BELLINGHAM?

  The English midfielder is set to miss two weeks of action for Los Blancos after picking up a ban for swearing at referee Gil Marzano after his team's 2-2 draw with Valencia last week. Madrid have appealed the decision.

Chelsea have been linked with marquee striker signings like Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney, but it's not only household names on the agenda in 2024, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Who have Chelsea signed?

The Blues have another busy transfer window last time around, spending huge amounts of money in the summer and strengthening across various positions. Axel Disasi was an expensive signing from Monaco, bolstering the defence in the process, while both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia were added to the midfield, arriving from Brighton and Southampton respectively. Meanwhile, Nicolas Jackson came in from Villarreal, while Cole Palmer was arguably a surprise addition from Manchester City.

As of yet, those signings have failed to work out, however, with Mauricio Pochettino's side languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table, and they need things to turn around sooner rather than later, or they could find themselves way out of the top four battle very quickly.

The January transfer window will give Chelsea the chance to bring in more new faces, assuming owner Todd Boehly provides them with the funds to make reinforcements, and it looks as though a little known new face could come in, following a new claim.

Who else are the Blues after?

Taking to X, Romano reports that Chelsea have made a move to scout exciting young Brazlian starlet Lorran, who is currently plying his trade at Flamengo, and his release clause is also revealed:

"Understand Manchester United and Chelsea scouts recently tracked Lorran, Brazilian top talent born in 2006. Release clause included in his Flamengo deal: €50m. He signed with Roc Nation Sports Brazil, the agency of JayZ — with Vinicius Jr, Paquetá, Martinelli, Endrick."

There is no question that Chelsea need to be signing players who can make an immediate impact in their squad, but it is also key that they plan for the future, rather than simply focusing on the here and now.

For that reason, Lorran should be viewed as an extremely exciting long-term acquisition who can develop greatly at Stamford Bridge, having already made a name for himself in his homeland of Brazil – evidenced by the type of talent also being recruited by the same agency.

At just 17 years of age, the Flamengo man has already made four appearances at senior level, scoring once in that time, making him the youngest goalscorer in club history in the process, which as only enhanced his reputation.

Lorran hasn't looked out place in his attacking midfield role and is also a two-cap Brazil Under-16 international, and will no doubt have aspirations of shining for his country in older age groups over the coming years. The fact that Manchester United are also in the hunt for the teenage Brazilian speaks further volumes about his talent, and if Chelsea could pip their rivals to his signature, it could feel like a real coup.

Granted, Lorran wouldn't be seen as a player who could come in and change the Blues' issues from the off, but they could be signing a potential future superstar – one who could eventually become one of the first names on the team sheet over time.

Rio Ferdinand has urged Paul Pogba to come out in public after he was hit with a four-year doping ban by Italian authorities.

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• Pogba slammed with a four-year doping ban
• Will appeal against the ban at CAS
• Ferdinand advised him to speak up

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Following a positive test for DHEA, a banned substance known to enhance testosterone levels, Pogba has been slapped with a four-year ban. Ferdinand, who himself weathered a doping controversy in 2003, has extended a hand of support to his former teammate, urging him to speak out and defend his innocence. Reflecting on his own experience, Ferdinand emphasized the importance of transparency and communication during such trying times.

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• WHAT FERDINAND SAID

  Speaking in his podcast 'Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE' he said: "I am well placed to sit here and chat about this because I have been through this,' Ferdinand said. I am not going to jump in straight away and say he is guilty as I have been in this position and I know Paul, I need to hear from him and see some facts.

  "I was told by my lawyers and the club, to let the lawyers deal with it and let it run its course and hope they do the right thing by you. If I had my time again and I was Paul Pogba now and I’m innocent, I’m chatting, I’m telling the people this is what happened.

  "I think he needs to speak – whether they think it messes up the court case or not – they have given him a four-year ban, I don't think it will be two if he appeals because these people will want to make sure they get their amount of blood. He has to look after himself here."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The doping allegations against Pogba stem from a prescription of pills administered by a US doctor, aimed at addressing certain deficiencies identified in his blood tests. Despite the medical justification behind the supplements, Pogba finds himself grappling with the severity of the ban imposed by Italy's anti-doping court, which threatens to truncate his playing career. However, Pogba's legal team is gearing up to challenge the ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, banking on a thorough defence to sway the verdict in his favour.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The timing of the ban couldn't be more detrimental to Pogba's career trajectory, with the midfielder facing the prospect of missing out on crucial playing years if the suspension stands. At nearly 35 years old by the time the ban concludes, Pogba would be left grappling with the aftermath of a decision that could redefine his legacy in football.

Trying to balance European football with Premier League action, alongside cup football, can be difficult for any club at the best of times, and that's why Newcastle United spent money on adding to their squad in the summer. Yet, even after those additions, they have suffered the inevitable blow of injuries to key players.

So far this season, the Magpies have already been forced to cope without Fabian Schar for a period of time and still remain without Joe Willock. With the fixtures starting to come thick and fast, too, the last thing Eddie Howe would have wanted is another injury blow, which makes the latest update all the more frustrating.

What's the latest Newcastle injury news?

With games against Burnley and Paris Saint-Germain coming up, Howe would have wanted a full squad at his disposal, especially when welcoming the French champions to St James' Park. The former Bournemouth boss will have to deal with the hand he has been dealt, however, with Willock still out, and a fresh injury update regarding Harvey Barnes not exactly brimming with positivity.

Howe confirmed the news of the winger's injury, saying, via Fabrizio Romano: "He's going to be out for around three months. No surgery required which is good news but his foot is now in a boot. It's an injury underneath his toe."

With that said, Newcastle must now hope that the likes of Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak avoid any injuries of their own, which would leave the Magpies' attack fairly blunt. It's a major blow for Barnes, meanwhile, given that he was just getting his St James' Park career going, having made the move from Leicester City in the summer.

When he returns, the winger could dive straight into some important fixtures, however, with Newcastle potentially competing in the Champions League knockout stage.

How has Harvey Barnes performed this season?

Prior to his injury, it's fair to say that Barnes was finding his feet at Newcastle, scoring once and assisting once in seven appearances in all competitions. The winger's mixed start, combined with a major injury blow, will worry those at St James' Park, who will hope to see his best form when he returns from the sidelines.

At his best, Barnes has earned deserved praise, including from Alan Hutton, who told Football Insider: "Harvey Barnes is an excellent player, he has got that raw pace, he can score goals, he can assist. He had a little dip in form but you see him coming back. He is a live wire and I think that is what Newcastle like, these players that can get the fans off their seats.

"The likes of [Miguel] Almiron, Callum Wilson, [Alexander] Isak, they are all intelligent players that want to run forward and he does that."

With that said, it's clear that Newcastle have a player capable of changing a game for them when at his best. The Magpies will just hope that, once Barnes is back from injury, he returns in top form.

It would be fair to say that for much of this season, there has been very little for Tottenham Hotspur fans to celebrate.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have struggled for the majority of the domestic campaign, languishing in the second half of the Premier League table and already being out of both cups.

However, they’ve started to see a number of injured players return and, against Ipswich Town, picked up their third league win on the bounce.

Moreover, one of the surprise stars of this season could now replace one of Antonio Conte’s signings, who has struggled this year.

Conte's most important Spurs signings

Before we get onto the Conte signing, who could see himself replaced in the coming weeks, it’s worth looking at a few of the Italian’s Spurs signings who are still key members of the first team.

The first player who comes to mind is undoubtedly Dejan Kulusevski, who completed his 18-month loan move to N17 in January 2022.

While he has endured ups and downs in the capital, he is now arguably one of the most talented players in the entire squad and is frankly undroppable.

For example, in just 41 appearances, totalling 3030 minutes, the “world-class” dynamo, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored ten goals and provided ten assists, which comes to a goal involvement every 2.05 games, or every 151.5 minutes, and makes him the most productive player in the squad.

During his time in the hot seat, the former Chelsea manager welcomed Rodrigo Bentancur, who joined alongside the Swede, and Yves Bissouma, who joined the club from Brighton & Hove Albion for around £25m in June 2022.

Now, while neither one has been as effective as Kulusevski, they’ve still played prominent roles within the first team this season, with the Uruguayan making 28 appearances thus far and the Malian 32.

Finally, a player who is arguably just as important to the starting lineup but has barely played this season thanks to injury is Cristian Romero, as even though he completed his loan move to the club under Nuno Espírito Santo, it was under Conte’s management that he made his move permanent.

However, there are still two more signings made by the serial winner who are still in the first team picture, although one looks like he could be set to replace the other.

The Conte signings in competition at Spurs

In terms of surprise packages for Spurs this season, the first name that probably should come to mind is Djed Spence, who has fought his way back from being left out of the Europa League squad to being one of the most critical players in the team.

In fact, the Englishman, signed under Conte’s tenure for around £20m in July 2022, has been so impressive this term in attack and defence that he looks ready to replace another of the Italian’s signings at right-back: Pedro Porro.

In fact, with Destiny Udogie back at left-back on the weekend, that is what happened, as the former Middlesbrough player started off the right of the back four, while the £40m former Sporting CP star started on the bench.

Now, the Spanish full-back is most certainly a brilliant outlet going forward, as shown by his nine-goal involvements this season, but he has been something of a liability in defence at times, with his performance against Ipswich in the reverse fixture earlier this season earning him particular ire from journalist Mitch Fretton, who described him and Radu Dragusin as “absolute horror shows” at the back.

There have also been a few occasions this season in which he has been shown up by opposition attackers, such as in the FA Cup game against Aston Villa and by Leandro Trossard away to Arsenal.

Moreover, when we compare the 25-year-old’s underlying defensive numbers to the Englishman’s, it becomes increasingly apparent who the more reliable defender is.

For example, the “unbelievable” 24-year-old ace, as dubbed by the iconic Ian Wright, comes out on top for tackles and tackles won, all blocks, shots blocked, passes blocked, aerial duels won and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, it’s hard not to look at Spence as the better full-back at the moment, as while he might be slightly less effective going forward, he can do his primary job to a much higher standard.

So, with stories touting Porro with an exit in the past, it might be time for Daniel Levy to stick with the Englishman and cash in on the Spaniard.

Tottenham's "future £100m" star could become their biggest sale since Bale

He could be worth an awful lot of money if Spurs cash in…

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Feb 25, 2025

Jordan Henderson's return to England turned into a nightmare as Aston Villa fans booed the Ajax midfielder throughout in a damning 4-0 thrashing.

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• Henderson started for Ajax
• Midfielder received a hostile reception at Villa Park
• Dutch giants beaten comprehensively by English side

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The former Liverpool stalwart, now plying his trade with Ajax, endured a torrid reception from the Villa faithful throughout the match, marking a challenging homecoming for the midfielder during the Europa Conference League encounter. There were resounding jeers directed at him from the stands, reminiscent of the hostility he faced from England fans at Wembley back in October.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Henderson put in a dismal shift in midfield as he looked unsettled after finding himself at the receiving end of the tumultuous reception. He admitted that it was a "tough game" and believes the second goal was the turning point in the match.

• WHAT HENDERSON SAID

  Speaking to after the match Henderson said: "Tough game. It's hard to stand here and put it into words straight after the game. We've been beaten quite easily in the end which is disappointing. I felt we were in the game at the end of the first half. We conceded a second goal which was poor on our behalf and then it's always tough at that point. To go 10 men it's very difficult to come back against a good side. Injuries and everything started to go wrong. If we'd kept it at 1-0 for longer we could have hurt them but we were well beaten in the end. Villa are a good side.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Ajax were dismantled by a fiery Villa side who took just 25 minutes to open the scoring through Ollie Watkins. Leon Bailey doubled the lead and after Sivert Mannsverk was given his marching orders for the visitors, Jhon Duran and Moussa Diaby added to the scoreline to complete a resounding victory.

  Henderson and Co. are fifth in the Eredivisie, 19 points off the Champions League places, and will return to action against Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Villans will play West Ham on the same day in a Premier League encounter.

Erling Haaland says goal-line technology should be used "across the entire pitch", while also revealing what "annoys" him about modern football.

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• Haaland reveals what annoys him in football
• Wants goal-line technology across the pitch
• Frustrated by gamesmanship throw-in tactics

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Manchester City striker has called on the footballing authorities to use this technology across the entire field of play, including throw-ins, as he believes teams profit by using underhand tactics – such as "stealing" too many metres.

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  WHAT ERLING HAALAND SAID

  In an interview with Manchester City's official podcast, he said: "The first is to introduce goal line technology all over the pitch, so that you always know when the ball is out of play. But what annoys me is throw-ins.

  "If you throw this way or that way, it doesn't matter. Just make sure you have two hands on the ball. I don't even know the rules, and if I'm going to make a throw, I'll probably do it wrong. But it doesn't matter if you throw the ball straight down, straight up or whatever. I would change that.

  "And you can't steal too many meters, there should be a limit to how far you can go and a limit to how long you can take. I think it will be like that in the future."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Football has introduced goal-line technology and the video assistant referee in recent years to reduce officiating mistakes in the game, to varying levels of success. Football is a global product and making it more marketable and attractive for the viewer is key to its success going forward. A big name like Haaland could have an impact in pushing through such tweaks to the modern game.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Prolific forward Haaland will next be in action for Norway in their friendly clash with Slovenia on Tuesday before returning for City's huge clash with Premier League title rivals Arsenal on Sunday, March 31.

On and off the pitch, Leeds United have faced a turbulent time in the last year or so, with relegation combined with managerial changes and the controversy surrounding former owner Andrea Radrizzani's use of Elland Road as collateral in his takeover of Sampdoria. Since the 49ers' takeover and the appointment of Daniel Farke, however, the Whites look like a side beginning to show signs of life in the Championship, winning three of their last five games.

From the 49ers' perspective, their aim will be instant promotion back to the Premier League, which will help from both a sporting and financial point of view. Meanwhile, the new owners are reportedly about to boost the morale of the fans even further, with one off-field deal close to completion.

What's the latest Leeds United news?

Following a summer transfer window full of ups and downs, with several exits and a number of subsequent incomings, things are finally beginning to settle down for Leeds under Farke. And, as their form continues to turn around, their summer business looks all the more positive. Now that the window is closed, too, they can turn their attention to other improvements away from the pitch.

The latest Leeds United news suggests that's exactly the plan. According to Kieran Maguire, a deal for the 49ers to buy Elland Road from Radrizzani is close to completion. After Phil Hay reported this week that a deal is close, Sky Sports' football finance expert has told Football Insider it's really now just the final few details left to sort: “I’m not necessarily surprised that the 49ers have not yet taken majority control of Elland Road. I think it’s part of an ongoing process, it is nearly done and it is quickly approaching the end game.

“We’ve seen in the last couple of days that Radrizzani and his colleagues have been removed from the board of directors at Leeds United Football Club. So these things do take time and I’m sure that the 49ers Enterprises are very relaxed about the direction they’ve taken. They know that Radrizzani wants out and they want in. It’s just a case of tying up the loose ends.”

Who are the main shareholders in Leeds United?

After increasing their stake in the club, 49ers Enterprises are the full owners of Leeds United. The group is led by Paraag Marathe, who has been a leader in the sports industry for 20 years. The sale brought an end to Radrizzani's tenure, but it did not end without controversy after the Italian took over Serie A club Sampdoria, using Elland Road as collateral.

The 49ers, edging closer to buying the stadium from the former owner, look set to put an end to that issue, in what will be an early success in their ownership of the club. Once that is done, the focus can return to the action taking place on the pitch of Elland Road, and Farke's side, who are showing promising signs of improvement.

Come May, those in charge at Leeds will hope to see their club in the race for promotion, with a deal to buy Elland Road from Radrizzani all wrapped up. It certainly looks set to be an interesting few months at the club.