Credit: Imago/Amazon prime

Max Wilkins

Wed 16 April 2025 21:55, UK

Aston Villa will be keen to end the season on a positive note after narrowly dropping out of the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Villans fell to an unfortunate 5-4 aggregate defeat against PSG on 15 April despite securing a famous 3-2 win at Villa Park in the second leg.

This ended the European dream for Unai Emery’s side, but there is still plenty of time remaining in the campaign as an FA Cup semi-final looms.

The Spaniard will also have one eye on the summer transfer window as Villa News rounds up all the news from 16 April.

Steven Gerrard linked with managerial return

The former Villa boss has had just one job since being sacked in B6 after an ill-fated spell after he replaced Dean Smith in the dugout.

Gerrard moved to Saudi Arabia with Al-Ettifaq in 2023, where he lasted just 55 games before being sacked by the Pro League side.

Now it looks as if a return to management with old side Rangers could be on the cards with Barry Ferguson currently in interim charge at Ibrox.

The current head coach has had an up-and-down spell in his temporary role, which has seen the odds of Gerrard’s return change in recent weeks.

The former England captain is now rated at odds of 1/2 with Bet365, up from the 15/8 that he was back in early March.

Aston Villa fans warned after PSG antics

It is fair to say that the Villa Park faithful were left fuming by the performance of referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez after their aggregate defeat against the Parisians.

The Spanish official gave multiple soft decisions and many that left the home supporters baffled throughout the quarter-final second leg.

This culimated in boos from the Trinity Road stand as he made his way towards the tunnel at full-time, but one supporter went one step too far and threw a bottle in his direction.

The incident will now be covered in UEFA’s match delegate’s report, with former FIFA official Keith Hackett telling Villa News that punishment could be incoming from UEFA.

He said: “This is not a Premier League game – it is UEFA and they often take more severe action on these matters.

“The fact that Villa are out of the competition may help their case and result in just a fine.

“A lot depends on Aston Villa’s defence submissions, outlining what action they took, if any, on the night, and if they have been able to find the culprit responsible and issued them with a stadium ban.”

Aston Villa to beat Arsenal to Sverre Nypan

The Villans look set to battle it out with Mikel Arteta’s side to sign the Rosenborg wonderkid Nypan after the North London outfit failed in their winter approach [Lyall Thomas, 15 April].

This was due to the 18-year-old’s decision to stay in Norway until the summer, where he has played more than 60 games and scored 14 goals.

The teenage attacking midfielder is one of the brightest talents in European football right now and is also of interest to LaLiga side Girona ahead of the summer.

With a move now looking entirely possible for the B6 club, Monchi may be set to pull of yet another piece of transfer excellence in the Midlands.

Rashford decision made after Rooney comments

Wayne Rooney has suggested that Rashford would be eager to play for Man United again once his loan spell at Villa Park comes to an end.

This comes after the England international put in an electric showing against PSG in the Champions League quarter-final second leg.

With that being said, Danny Murphy believes the Red Devils’ top scorer could have had a conversation with the 27-year-old regarding his future.

Speaking on talkSPORT (16 April, 10:25), the ex-Liverpool man said: “I would’ve said no [that Rashford wants to play for Man United] because all I’m thinking of is his desire to leave and find a new challenge. But Rooney probably knows him better than me.

“So if Rooney is saying that categorically or emphatically like he did last night, I would imagine he’s had a conversation with him.”