Aston Villa transfer round-up: Ramsey for Lo Celso swap; West Ham want Duran; Chiesa; Yilmaz

2024/25 is shaping up to be an exciting season for Aston Villa, with a return to Champions League competition the reward for an incredible year under Unai Emery.

But before the Spaniard's side get to strut their stuff on the pitch again, there's the small matter of the transfer window to navigate.

Sure, Villa want to strengthen and build on the success of last season, but they've already had to compromise their plans somewhat to comply with the Premier League's PSR spending rules – Douglas Luiz, Omari Kellyman and Tim Iroegbunam three players to have gone who might have been kept in an ideal world.

There could be more outgoings too, based on the latest gossip doing the rounds, as well as some potentially high-profile arrivals...

Jacob Ramsey

Jacob Ramsey is one of the bright young stars to have emerged from Aston Villa's academy in recent years, becoming a first-team regular during the 2020/21 season before going on to win the club's Players' Player of the Season award in 2021/22 and Young Player of the Season award two years in a row.

He was also a prominent member of the England Under-21 side that lifted the European Championship in 2023 – though his progress was stunted last season by a combination of Villa's great form (forcing him into a substitute role more than he'd become accustomed to) and a toe injury that ruled him out for the final three months of the season.

Despite those setbacks, Ramsey's box-to-box capabilities have attracted the attention of Tottenham Hotspur, with Sky Sports reporting that a bid that could involve sending Giovani Lo Celso to Villa Park is being considered.

The Argentine knows Unai Emery well from their time working together at Villarreal, though it remains to be seen whether Villa will actually allow Ramsey to talk to Spurs given his obvious potential and the need for a bigger squad capable of competing in the Champions League.

Jhon Duran

Jhon Duran has only been at Aston Villa for 18 months and has only played 49 times for the club in all competitions, yet that hasn't stopped multiple exit links from surfacing.

First, Chelsea were sensationally linked with a move worth north of £35m, though no formal bid was ever lodged despite their need for a striker being increasingly apparent.

Now it's the turn of West Ham United, who also need fresh blood to provide competition for the ageing Michail Antonio. Sky Sports report that Duran has emerged as a primary target, with imminent contact expected to be made in order to ascertain whether Villa would be prepared to part with the 20-year-old Colombian.

Fabrizio Romano states that a £35m offer plus 10% sell-on clause has already been lodged, with personal terms already thrashed out.

Federico Chiesa

Three years ago, Federico Chiesa's stock was sky-high. The flying Italian forward had played a pivotal role in his country winning the European Championships and he was the player looked at to lead Juventus into a bright future.

But an anterior cruciate ligament sustained in January 2022 ruled him out of action for ten months, and Chiesa hasn't been able to recapture the promise he showed after arriving at Juve from Fiorentina.

Juventus are under new management now – Thiago Motta the successor to the dismissed Massimiliano Allegri – and Fabrizio Romano reports that the club are prepared to move on from Chiesa, who has just a year left on his contract.

Roma are thought to be out of the running, having been strongly linked, and Aston Villa's interest has been mentioned several times by leading Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport. Chiesa could be available for as little as €25m – potentially great value if Monchi and co look to strike.

Baris Alper Yilmaz

Villa's forward line looks pretty healthy on the surface, headlined by the likes of Ollie Watkins, Leon Bailey and Moussa Diaby.

But the Villans found out last season just how stretched a playing squad can be by playing in European competition, with lessons undoubtedly learned ahead of a first venture into Champions League competition for decades.

Links in Turkish media to Baris Alper Yilmaz, one of Euro 2024's brightest stars, may prove to be wide of the mark, but Villa are understood to appreciate the talents of a player who can play anywhere across the front line.

The issue of any potential deal may be Galatasaray's £25m asking price, but there's no doubting that Yilmaz's commitment and never say die attitude would mix well with a Villa squad whose success during 2023/24 was partly down to their tremendous work rate and endeavour.