Aston Villa are edging ever closer to the January transfer window. The Lions had briefly shown clear signs of recovery from their miserable November and eight-game winless run with wins over Brentford, Southampton and RB Leipzig in the space of a week, but the defeat when leading at Nottingham Forest on Saturday has prompted the need for another response.

That, immediately, comes with the welcoming of Manchester City at the weekend and then the trip to Newcastle on Boxing Day, before they host Brighton on 30 December. Following that, Villa will continue their campaign into 2025 - and with it the transfer window and ability to do business.

Villa could be active. President of football operations Monchi recently confirmed that the club would be alive to all possibilities, provided they don't put themselves at risk of breaching PSR, yet there are deals potentially to be done - both in and out. Here we take a look at the very latest chatter.

READ: Grealish sent transfer advice and legacy warning ahead of Villa return

READ: Aston Villa in race to sign former Man City international teenage star

Rash rumour

Earlier this season Marcus Rashford was linked with a surprise move to Aston Villa in the January transfer window - and his omission from the match-day squad as Manchester United dramatically overcame rivals Manchester City on Sunday pointed towards an increasing possibility of the forward leaving Old Trafford next month.

Forward Rashford has 10 goal contributions in 23 games for United so far this season but his future has been under the spotlight for quite some time, now, although his wages remain a potentially significant stumbling block in any allowing any prospective departure to materalise.

Rashford, according to reports which emerged in October, was liked by Villa ahead of the January window opening, while clubs on the continent - including Marseille, Napoli, Bayern Munich and PSG - have also registered an interest in the event Rashford was to become available for a transfer.

READ MORE: Marcus Rashford to Aston Villa transfer link, Ruben Amorim admission and Man United replacement

Run it again

Vasco da Gama's club president has revealed his desire to secure the services of Aston Villa forgotten man Philippe Coutinho again after his current loan deal expires.

Coutinho has been out on loan at the Brazilian club at which he started his career, scoring three goals and getting one assist back in his country of birth.

Since Unai Emery's arrival at Villa Park, the 32-year-old has fallen out of favour at the club and played just nine times under the Spaniard in the 2022/23 season that Emery arrived in. In Emery's first summer in charge back in 2023, he was sent to Qatari club Al-Duhail for the season before joining Vasco da Gama for a second consecutive season on loan.

READ MORE: Club president reveals Aston Villa transfer decision as he makes 'difficult' admission

Between the sticks

Aston Villa have reportedly taken the lead in the race to sign goalkeeping youngster Pierce Charles who made a claim for himself as Northern Ireland's number one.

The 19-year-old shot-stopper is currently at Sheffield Wednesday where he is second choice behind James Beadle, 20, despite the former signing a long-term contract last summer.

Formerly of Manchester City's academy, Charles has only played six times in total for the Owls. However, his lack of club action has not scared off Premier League suitors who have been impressed by his international exploits. The Manchester-born 'keeper has appeared four times for Northern Ireland and scouts have come away from the Nations League games in which he has played with glowing reports.

READ MORE: Aston Villa in race to sign former Man City international teenage star

Point of no return

Pundit Troy Deeney has pondered whether Jack Grealish may need to leave Manchester City in the near future in order to reignite his career - but he has advised against a return to boyhood club Aston Villa. Grealish left Villa in 2021 after helping guide Villa back to the Premier League and aiding their re-establishing amongst the footballing elite under Dean Smith.

He left as part of a £100m deal and joined City, where he has won three Premier League titles and the Champions League, but this season he has struggled for game time and has contended with various injuries. As a result, Grealish has clocked up just 480 minutes of Premier League football this season spanning 12 appearances. He hasn't scored in 2024.

Indeed Grealish has actually been in better form for England under interim boss Lee Carsley, for who he scored goals in wins over Ireland and Finland in the Nations League. Grealish's individual form for City, though, has fluctuated while their collective form has startlingly fallen off a cliff in recent weeks.

READ MORE: Jack Grealish sent transfer advice and legacy warning ahead of Aston Villa return

Access denied

Aston Villa defender Lucas Digne has revealed that he was close to leaving the club and returning to his native France in Unai Emery's first summer transfer window at the club - only for the Spaniard to block his exit and ensure he remained at Villa Park.

Digne, who joined Villa during the January transfer window of 2022 from Everton while Steven Gerrard was manager, could well have departed just a little over a year of arriving at the club and headed back to Ligue 1 with Nice. It was just months after Emery had recruited compatriot Alex Moreno, casting doubt in Digne's mind over his playing time.

In truth, Moreno did have plenty of game time while Digne recovered from injury in the season following, but equally Emery had to lean on the Frenchman too when the shoe was on the other foot. As it has transpired, Digne has reclaimed his place in France's international squad and has outlasted Moreno, who is on loan at Nottingham Forest.

READ MORE: I was all set to leave Aston Villa but Unai Emery blocked my transfer

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