Aston Villa have had a 30m euro (£26m) offer for Brazilian forward Allan, 22, rejected by Palmeiras. (ESPN), external
Hull City are in talks with Aston Villa to sign 28-year-old Jamaica winger Leon Bailey on a permanent transfer. (Sky Sports), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column
Nick Mashiter
Football reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa are still awaiting the outcome of their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as they try to register Brian Madjo, who joined from Metz for £10m in January and does not turn 18 until January next year.
Under-18s cannot complete international transfers, but Villa have argued Madjo was born in London and should be exempt, despite having three caps for Luxembourg.
Fifa does allow some exemptions for minor players to make moves, including if a 16 or 17-year-old transfers within the European Union - something the UK is no longer part of.
At 6ft 4in, Madjo has already been compared to Belgium's Romelu Lukaku and his leveller against Real Sociedad to make it 2-2 after 56 minutes was simple enough but showed a predatory instinct.
He was a handful for Real, with strength and power unsettling the visiting defenders and, with Ollie Watkins still on a break following England's World Cup campaign and Tammy Abraham returning from a shoulder issue, Madjo has the chance to impress.
While he cannot play in competitive games for Villa, it leaves the tantalising prospect of the hulking youngster being unleashed in the Premier League in the new year, or earlier if the club get their way.
Nick Mashiter
Football reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesThis season will see a new version of Aston Villa under Unai Emery.
A 4-2 defeat by Real Sociedad on Tuesday will irritate their perfectionist head coach, but there is plenty of time for him to fine-tune the Europa League holders before the start of the new campaign.
With Brian Madjo, George Hemmings, Modou Cisse all likely to feature in the squad going forward there was still plenty to build on from the encounter against the La Liga side.
Trying to get Madjo and 19-year-old midfielder Hemmings to listen to instructions appeared difficult with neither player following through on Emery's desire for them to pull wider.
'Don't move' was the second-half instruction to Luka Lynch, which needed repeating several times before the 19-year-old winger stopped and then immediately collected the ball.
While Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia started against Sociedad, many of Emery's trusted lieutenants were missing.
Villa's World Cup cohort of Watkins, Ezri Konsa, John McGinn, Victor Lindelof, Emi Martinez and record buy Johan Manzambi did not feature, while France left-back Lucas Digne's move to Paris St-Germain has still to be rubber-stamped.
Only Cisse and Joao Gomes were the new arrivals in action and, even then, centre-back Cisse was signed from LASK last summer before spending the season with the Austrian side.
It was, at times, a hectic game too on Tuesday with Carlos Soler cancelling out Hemmings' opener, before Orri Oskarsson, Gorka Carrera and Inaki Ruperez netted for the La Liga side.
Winger Alejandro Garnacho was absent at Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium after his loan move from Chelsea last week, but the Argentine winger is expected to travel to Indonesia this week for Villa's tour.
The fact there are players still away - or returning from injury in Boubacar Kamara's case - means bodies are needed.
Image source, Getty ImagesVideo assistant referees should only be used to change "blatantly incorrect" decisions and clear missed incidents, say European refereeing officials.
Chief refereeing officers from all 55 European national football associations met last week with Uefa refereeing officials and a representative from the International Football Association Board (Ifab) to address recent changes to the game's laws.
Attendees said "lengthy, microscoping reviews" indicate VAR has gone beyond its original scope.
When VAR was added to the laws of the game in 2018 by football's rulemakers Ifab, its "philosophy" was "minimum interference - maximum benefit", with the intention of reducing "unfairness caused by clear and obvious errors or serious missed incidents" relating to goals, penalties, direct red cards and mistaken identity.
Uefa said that at its recent meeting that refereeing bosses agreed a return to those original aims is needed.
"It was reiterated that, in accordance with protocol, VAR must only intervene in situations of 'clear and obvious' error, ie. when a referee decision is blatantly incorrect or when the referee has missed a clear incident," Uefa said in a statement.
"VAR is not meant to re-referee the game, it is an essential support to the referees, who must remain at the centre of all decision-making.
"Lengthy, microscoping reviews are often a symptom revealing that the decision on the field was not clearly and obviously incorrect, and should therefore be limited."
Sevilla are willing to sell Ruben Vargas, 22, for 20m euros (£17m) with Aston Villa, Brighton and Newcastle among Premier League clubs interested in the 27-year-old Switzerland winger. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish), external
Paris St-Germain forward Ibrahim Mbaye's agents have made it clear the Senegal international will not be joining Villa this summer, but the 18-year-old has been offered to Liverpool and Manchester City. (Teamtalk), external
Meanwhile, PSG are interested in 23-year-old Parma and Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, who has been linked with Villa and Juventus. (Sky Sport - in Italian), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesEnglish football is set to implement a trial to try to eradicate the goalkeeper tactical timeout this season, BBC Sport can reveal.
The Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, National League and Women's Super League have agreed on the measure, pending permission from the International Football Association Board (Ifab).
Earlier this year, Ifab decided against changing the law and invited leagues to volunteer for trials.
Pro Ref, led by chief refereeing officer Howard Webb, has been in discussions with the leagues to determine how to tackle the issue. It settled on a team having to remove an outfield player from the field.
If a referee signals that the physio can come on to treat a goalkeeper, the coach will have 10 seconds to nominate another player to leave the pitch for one minute, telling the fourth official of their choice.
If no player has been selected within 10 seconds, the captain must leave the field.
Image source, Getty ImagesBBC Radio West Midlands' Richard Wilford says Aston Villa's signing of Alejandro Garnacho on loan is "potentially exciting".
The Argentine will spend the season at Villa Park and, if certain undisclosed conditions are met, the move will become permanent.
"I think he's being judged pretty harshly," Wilford said.
"Chelsea fans didn't warm to him, he is a colourful character, he maybe has taken one or two wrong steps in his time, but I actually see there a really talented player who's got a lot of experience.
"He's got a lot to prove, he's lost his Argentina place - they're going to be a regenerated squad over the course of the next four years, he's got every reason to come to Villa and knuckle down."
The 22-year-old could potentially be sold to Unai Emery's side for around £43m. Villa will be his third Premier League side since his first-team debut.
BBC West Midlands reporter Mike Taylor said "the conditions are there" for Garnacho to be "more successful" at Aston Villa than his parent club Chelsea and previous club Manchester United.
Taylor also compared Garnacho to Morgan Rogers, whose transfer to Chelsea earned Villa £117m.
"He would be signing for a third of Morgan Rogers money," said Taylor.
"Well, can he be a third as good as Morgan Rogers? Sure he can."
Nick Mashiter
Football reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa will still be seeking another top-four finish next season - when the Premier League landscape looks certain to be a lot different from last season and Villa are without many of their previous squad.
After ending their 30-year wait for a trophy with May's Europa League win, can Emery continue to produce his magic?
Last season, Villa's expected points was 48.50, which would have left them 12th - eight places below where they eventually finished.
They were one of the clear over-achievers, with only Sunderland doing better, finishing seventh instead of an expected position of 18th.
Villa did not drop out of the top four after beating Leeds last November, aided by winning 12 of 13 top-flight games between September and December.
Then came the drop off, with just six league wins after the turn of the year as they needed to rely on the failings of others - notably Chelsea - to stay in the top five.
Yet they managed it despite Boubacar Kamara's second-ending injury, John McGinn's knee problem that kept him out for 10 games and the knee issue for Youri Tielemans that sidelined him for two months.
During Tielemans' injury absence between February and April, Villa won just two of eight Premier League games - including a 4-1 defeat to Chelsea that left them on the brink of dropping out of the top four.
Without him, Villa's Premier League win ratio dropped from 53% to 41%.
It all adds to the quality of Emery's work, managing to keep Villa in the top four despite constant setbacks.
Doing it again against a summer of change will be another test of the manager's skill.
Image source, Getty ImagesAlejandro Garnacho is aiming to "get my confidence back" and "become the player I was a few years ago" during his season-long loan spell at Villa Park.
The 22-year-old's transfer from Chelsea will become permanent next summer if certain undisclosed conditions are met, with the Argentina international already agreeing a four-year contract in principle.
"This is an important club which is going up really quickly, so I can't wait to get started here," Garnacho said in his first club interview, external.
"I was looking for a club to get my confidence back, so I can try to become the player I was a few years ago in my first years at Manchester United.
"I spoke with the manager and he gave me the confidence to try to help the team here - that's why I'm here.
"It is important to play in European competitions and the Champions League is the best one, so the fact we are playing in it this season makes me really happy. Hopefully we can do something important in it."
The winger, who is Villa's fourth signing of the transfer window, already has three major honours to his name - the Copa America, FA Cup and League Cup.
"I like to play on the left wing," Garnacho continued. "I'm right-footed. I like to run, dribble and cross. I like to come inside and shoot. This is everything I will need to do to get my confidence back properly and perform on the pitch.
"Villa Park is one of my favourite stadiums in the league, and now it will be my new home. I'm really happy to be here and I can't wait to meet the fans."
Aston Villa are interested in signing 25-year-old Everton and England midfielder James Garner this summer. (Football Insider), external
Meanwhile, defender Ezri Konsa is are among Arsenal's targets as they look to cover for the injured William Saliba. (Sky Sports), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column
Nick Mashiter
Football reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesGarnacho arrives at Aston Villa still with more promise than pedigree.
Emery has shown faith in moving for the eight-cap Argentina international as he looks to rebuild his squad at Villa Park.
With Rogers moving to Stamford Bridge for a club-record sale of £117m, the club needed to act.
They have been fluid in the market, an important stance given their finances and the general nature of the window, and Garnacho - who also interested Roma - represented a good opportunity.
Emery wanted a pacy winger and, with the option of an initial loan with an obligation to buy if certain clauses are met, the deal also gave Villa a degree of control over finances given they must still tread lightly with the Premier League's and Uefa's financial fair play rules.
Should the move become permanent - and Garnacho has already agreed a four-year contract - then he will have achieved something other attackers have not when on loan at Villa.
Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott joined previously with varying degrees of success in their temporary moves.
Rashford's 17-game spell at Villa Park in 2024-25 led to an England return, while Sancho flattered to deceive and Emery left Elliott in limbo with his decision not to play him more to avoid triggering an obligation for a permanent transfer.
Clearly surplus to requirements at Chelsea, Garnacho does not want to return to somewhere he is not needed.
A return of one goal and four assists in 24 Premier League games for the Blues last season - or eight goals in 43 appearances in all competitions - suggests he will need to raise his game to meet the level Emery demands.
Eight assists and 16 goals in 93 games at Manchester United also shows Garnacho's end product must improve at Villa.
There is clearly talent there and it is now up to him to show it, and for Emery to harness it.
Image source, Getty ImagesAnother season, means another club for Alejandro Garnacho.
The 22-year-old's debut season at Chelsea didn't go to plan and some Aston Villa fans may not be overly excited knowing he only scored one goal in 24 league appearances for the Blues.
However, Villa boss Unai Emery said Garnacho "showed us his wish to help our project" and that he is "delighted" with the loan signing.
Garnacho, who has eight caps for Argentina but missed out on the squad for the World Cup this summer, said: "I spoke with Unai before I came here. He gave me the confidence - I'm really happy, and I can't wait to meet the fans."
Less than a year ago, Garnacho joined what he called "the best team in the world" when Chelsea announced the £40m signing of the Manchester United youngster.
Some 337 days later and the Blues have loaned the 22-year-old out to Villa.
Garnacho's time at Stamford Bridge was overseen by three different managers - Enzo Maresca, Liam Rosenior and Calum Mcfarlane.
After featuring heavily under Maresca at the start of the 2025-26 campaign, Garnacho started only seven of Rosenior's first 20 games in charge.
Overall, the forward managed managed eight goals and four assists.
Although Garnacho arguably lacked goalscoring form and a creative flair at Stamford Bridge, he wasn't short on that front during the 2024-25 campaign for Manchester United.
In a season when United were led by first Erik ten Hag and then Ruben Amorim, Garnacho scored 10 goals and assisted 11.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked you to pick one player you would like to move on this summer and one realistic target you want Aston Villa to bring in before the transfer window shuts.
Here are some of your suggestions:
Gill: Leon Bailey should be moved on. Nicolas Jackson would be a possible player to bring in, as he has worked with Unai Emery previous. I would like to see some of our younger players given more game time as well.
Stephen: Bailey needs to be moved on as he hasn't been a consistent performer. I would like to see Rafael Leao from AC Milan come in to add some pace and power to the attack. He's probably out of our price range, but a good loan option.
Rob: I'd like to see Evann Guessand moved on this summer. He just doesn't have the pace to compete in the Premier League and he loses possession too easily. Thankfully we've got cover in his position, so I'd rather we get a deal for Pervis Estupinan over the line to give us cover at left-back while we're waiting for Lucas Digne's exit to be confirmed.
Graham: In: Jonathan Rowe from Bologna. He would be my pick for a winger as he ran rings round us in the Europa League quarter-final. Out: Digne. He is already on his way to Paris St-Germain.
Chay: Any of the following can be moved on this summer: Mings, Barkley, Bailey and Gauci - mainly because of age and lack of playing time, as well as not having enough impact when playing. I would like to see Ibrahim Mbaye from Paris St-Germain join Villa. We need more attacking force since we have lost, arguably, our strongest attacking players in Tielemans and Rogers.
Nick Mashiter
Football reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa are in talks to loan Alejandro Garnacho from Chelsea, just days after the Blues made the Villans' Morgan Rogers the most expensive British footballer in history with their £117m purchase.
But what's the thought process behind the loan deal - and how does Unai Emery's previous interest in Liverpool's Harvey Elliott and Newcastle's William Osula, plus Jacob Ramsey's move to St James' Park, relate to it?
Well, Liverpool's Elliott joined Villa on loan last summer with an obligation to buy if the midfielder made 10 Premier League appearances.
By October, Unai Emery had decided he did not want to commit £35m on Elliott, who was left in limbo and ended the season with just nine appearances.
There was a feeling from some in the game that Villa's treatment of Elliott - in changing their minds about signing him - could easily put others off joining on a similar arrangement, due to potentially losing a year of their career.
In Osula's case, Villa were close to a deal last summer, but they could not finalise it because of Uefa's rules.
They sold midfielder Jacob Ramsey to the Magpies for £40m to help comply with the Premier League and Uefa's financial regulations, but then could not move for Osula as Uefa would have viewed it as a swap deal.
Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesAlejandro Garnacho's only season at Chelsea did not go to plan, a fact perhaps best illustrated by his solitary Premier League goal.
In his defence, he started only nine matches following Liam Rosenior's appointment - a 29-game period that also included Calum McFarlane's second spell as interim manager at the end of the campaign.
In total, Garnacho scored a more respectable eight goals and provided four assists in 43 appearances last season.
However, aside from two goals against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup, his other strikes came against lesser opposition, including Qarabag, Wrexham, Port Vale and Cardiff City.
It became apparent that Garnacho was beginning to lose the support of some supporters because of a perceived lack of work-rate.
There were also occasions when he was criticised for failing to track his runner, such as during the Blues' home defeat by West Ham, when he was substituted at half-time after being involved in the build-up to two opposition goals.
Sources have told BBC Sport that Garnacho remained professional and worked hard behind the scenes, which bodes well for his future.
In a late-season interview with Premier League Productions, the former Manchester United winger admitted he had done some "bad things" at Old Trafford because he was not playing enough.
Others familiar with Chelsea's dressing room dynamics said Garnacho struggled to integrate fully into the group and often cut a distant figure.
However, there is no significant controversy surrounding his departure from Stamford Bridge. The Blues simply viewed him as a player they were willing to move on as part of their efforts to improve the squad.
Read more: Garnacho, Rogers and two clubs trying to balance books
Nick Mashiter
Football reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesJust hours after Chelsea made Morgan Rogers the most expensive British footballer in history by spending £117m to sign him from Aston Villa, they are in talks to loan Alejandro Garnacho to the Villains.
Why did Villa pursue a loan with a conditional obligation to buy rather than buying Garnacho outright?
Here are the key questions answered...
How do Villa benefit from this deal?
Put simply, Villa have control - and it could reduce the cost for them this season.
By signing Garnacho on loan they do not have a longer-term commitment to a winger who has flattered to deceive at Stamford Bridge and has not enhanced his reputation.
The loan market is important to Villa.
Any obligation in a contract needs to be met to trigger a permanent deal, and Villa have used these deals with success in the past, including signing Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United before deciding against a permanent deal.
"If it is linked to the number of matches he starts then, to a certain extent, Villa are in control under those circumstances," football finance expert Kieran Maguire said.
"The rules are the rules. Some people say: 'Well, that's a loophole.' Some people will say: 'Well, they're as written and you have to treat them accordingly.'"
Read more here on Villa's attempts to balance the books here
Villa transfer being paid in seats, 35 years later. Audio, 5 minutes
Scunthorpe United & Aston Villa agreed a fee of £400,000 and 2,000 seats for Neil Cox.
Are Villa and Garnacho the perfect fit? Audio, 6 minutes
Garnacho's arrival has got fans talking, Mike Taylor & Richard Wilford have their say.
Thompson: 'We will be stronger' Audio, 4 minutes
Former Villa striker Garry Thompson on a potential squad revamp this summer.
Lambert: 'It was some occasion for the nation' Audio, 6 minutes
Former Villa & Wolves boss Paul Lambert reflects on Scotland's time at France 1998.
