Image source, Getty Images Injury-hit Aston Villa have suffered another blow, with captain John McGinn facing a number of weeks on the sidelines. The midfielder has not travelled to Turkey for Thursday's Europa League game at Fenerbahce, while goalkeeper Emi Martinez and Boubacar Kamara are also out. Reports suggest key midfielder Kamara is out for the season after coming off with a knee injury against Tottenham last week, with the club yet to provide an update.
The Leeds United striker scored six times in five matches across the festive period, helping his side beat Chelsea and Crystal Palace as they remained unbeaten throughout the month. Calvert-Lewin is the first player to win the Premier League Player of the Month award while playing for a newly promoted club since Teemu Pukki in August 2019, when current Leeds boss Daniel Farke was in charge of Norwich City.
Aston Villa have completed a deal worth around €12m (£10m) to sign 17-year-old striker Brian Madjo from Metz. Madjo started Metz' first two Ligue 1 games of the season but has been limited to three appearances off the bench since then. Born in London, Madjo has played nine games for England's under-17s, scoring four goals, having switched allegiance back to the country of his birth after winning three senior caps for Luxembourg last year.
Aston Villa are reportedly prepared to part ways with midfielder Ross Barkley this month, as the club looks to navigate financial constraints while sustaining a surprise Premier League title charge. According to a recent report from the Daily Mail, the Aston Villa hierarchy has made the decision to listen to offers for the 32-year-old midfielder during the January window. Ross Barkley, who is currently earning reported wages of around 75,000 per week, has entered the final six months of his contract.
Ellie Roebuck signed for Aston Villa in the summer (Image credit: Getty Images) After spending a year in Barcelona, England goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck returned to the WSL in the summer with a renewed perspective and ambition. The 26-year-old signed a two-year deal with Aston Villa in July after her contract with the Catalan giants was terminated and she arrived in Birmingham knowing exactly she wants from the next phase of her career.