Now Unai Emery is keen to rebuild the squad ahead of a campaign which will see the team competing in the Champions League once more, and the club have made a bid to replace one of those stars.
Aston Villa Make Offer for Estupinan
REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura
According to a report by SportMediaset, Aston Villa have tabled a bid to sign AC Milan left-back Pervis Estupinan to replace Digne.
Estupinan, who has been described as ‘phenomenal’, left the Premier League to join the Serie A side last summer but struggled to make an impact, and is now considered to be surplus to requirements by new manager Ruben Amorim.
Emery worked with the Ecuador international during their time together at Villarreal, and has identified the 28-year-old as the man he wants in his squad to replace the PSG-bound Frenchman.
Villa are understood to have tabled a bid worth between €10m-12m (£8.5m-10.2m), but Milan are holding out for a fee closer to €18m (£15.3m) to allow him to move on, having paid £17m to take him away from Brighton 12 months ago.
Talks are ongoing between the clubs to find an agreement, and all parties are working to bridge the gap in valuation, with a deal expected to happen.
It’s understood that Emery is the man driving the deal behind the scenes at Villa Park, and Milan have opened the door to his departure.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Estupinan and Emery is a Great Match
Emery knows his system and demands better than anyone else, and it’s no surprise that most of the deals he has asked for during his time in the Midlands have ended up being a success.
The Spanish manager knows Estupinan well, and the defender himself knows the demands of the Premier League and what is required to be a success in Emery’s system. At the reported fee, it’s a sensible idea for Villa to go for someone who will need limited time to adapt, while also replacing the experience and quality they are losing in Digne.
Villa have been very good at bouncing back from disappointment in the market in recent years, and this is another chance for them to show they belong in the big time with the way they get their business done on and off the pitch.
Manchester United remain in the hunt to sign a new midfielder, despite securing the signature of Andrey Santos while closing in on Youri Tielemans.
United confirmed the signing of Santos from Premier League rivals Chelsea earlier this week, becoming their first midfield addition of the summer transfer window.
The 25-year-old, described as ‘insane’, could be the third midfield option that United are looking to bring in.
The Red Devils have also been linked with moves to sign Carlos Baleba and Alex Scott, but Gomez could be the ideal option for them.
Considering Gomes was close to a £38 million move to Atletico Madrid, the Brazilian midfielder would likely be a lot cheaper than Baleba and Scott.
Taking that into account, Gomes would be the best value-for-money option out of the aforementioned trio. He could be perfect for Michael Carrick heading into the new season.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Gomes is what Man Utd need
There’s no doubt that United’s third midfielder that they bring to the club needs to be a hard-working, ball-winning addition.
Gomes fits exactly into that category, and although Baleba is similar in terms of profile, the former is likely to make a lot more sense financially.
With Wolves relegated to the Championship, they aren’t in a strong negotiating position when it comes to convincing the Brazilian to stay at the club.
There is no doubt he is capable of returning to the Premier League and performing at a high level, so he should be the third midfielder that United look to sign in the summer transfer window.
Aston Villa are one of a number of Premier League clubs closely observing Genclerbirligi Ankara midfielder Ousmane Diabate, with a view to making a move for the 18-year-old this summer, according to TEAMtalk.
Diabate joined the Turkish club in December and managed to catch the eye of several English sides in the ensuing six months, despite making just seven appearances in the remainder of the season. Compared by many to legendary France midfielder N’Golo Kante due to his defensive qualities and intelligence on the ball, the Guinean is now making waves in football analytics circles.
While Villa are yet to make direct contact with the starlet’s representatives or Genclerbirligi, they hold genuine interest in the teenage talent, as Unai Emery looks to start succession planning for some of his ageing midfielders.
Aston Villa monitoring wonderkid’s transfer status
Villa need to get younger in midfield in the coming years, with the likes of Ross Barkley, Youri Tielemans, John McGinn and Emiliano Buendia all entering the latter stages of their career.
Thus, it’s no surprise that Villa are being linked to an up-and-coming midfielder in Diabate. TEAMtalk report that the West Midlanders are meticulously monitoring the prospect’s progress in Turkey, and that they could make a move for him in the foreseeable future.
It’s said that Diabate is on terms at Genclerbirligi that would allow him to leave for a modest fee, making him an attractive option for Premier League clubs currently operating in a highly-inflated domestic market.
While the youngster is open to a move to a top-five league, his development is being carefully managed by those close to him, and they may believe a move next summer makes more sense for his career.
As glowing as the reviews of Diabate are, it’s unlikely that he’s ready to make an immediate impact in the Premier League at Villa Park.
His career to date consists of 207 senior league minutes, all of which have come in the Turkish Super Lig. He may have great potential, but he’s probably not polished and certainly isn’t the finished article.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
For Villa, Diabate would be a project signing, and they may need to allow him to go on loan first before blooding him in the intense English top flight.
With Tielemans leaving and Amadou Onana sustaining an ACL injury during the World Cup, Manzambi and a developing Diabate clearly won’t be enough for Emery’s team this summer.
Former FIFA referee and rules expert Christina Unkel has cast her verdict on whether Spain deserved their first-half penalty against France in the World Cup semi-final on Tuesday night.
While Lucas Digne clearly kicked Lamine Yamal in the penalty box, there has been some speculation over whether the teenage sensation actually handled the ball in the same incident as he fell to ground.
No retrospective action can be taken now that Mikel Oyazarbal converted the penalty in the 22nd minute, but it may remain a talking point should La Roja defend their lead and book a place in Sunday evening’s final at MetLife Stadium.
Former Referee Explains Why Yamal’s Penalty Was Allowed To Stand
Lamine Yamal vs Egypt
After analysing the footage, Unkel explained, during ITV’s live coverage (watch the incident below):
“The actual point of contact was on a part of the sleeve on Yamal, therefore it would not be considered an offence. As for the original decision for penalty, it should stand.
“Unfortunately, this is a similar incident to the one with Harry Kane, where a player has already committed to the challenge – however, they still have this onus and opportunity to avoid contact.”
