Aston Villa and Tottenham ‘hold talks’ amid Premier League development
Aston Villa and Tottenham are expected to have held club-to-club talks amid a recent Premier League development.
Unai Emery’s side were on the cusp of something special this season after reaching the quarter-final of the UEFA Champions League and semi-final of the FA Cup.
However, they were eliminated from Europe by Paris Saint-Germain, before being dumped out of the FA Cup after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Wembley on Saturday (26 April).
As a result, the Premier League is all that Villa have left, and it looks as though they’re keen to give themselves the best chance possible of qualifying for the Champions League after a recent development.
Aston Villa reject Tottenham request to move Premier League clash
Villa will be keen to continue pushing on this summer and have been linked with some high-profile players, such as Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne.
However, to attract this level of player, Emery’s side will likely need to qualify for the Champions League by finishing in the top five of the Premier League, which they still have every chance of doing.
| Premier League 2024/25 | Position | Points | Played |
| Manchester City | 4th | 61 | 34 |
| Chelsea | 5th | 60 | 34 |
| Nottingham Forest | 6th | 60 | 33 |
| Aston Villa | 7th | 57 | 34 |
The Villans’ last home fixture of the season is a clash with Tottenham, scheduled for Sunday, 18 May.
Spurs recently requested to move this fixture in case they reach the UEFA Europa League final, which is scheduled for Wednesday, 21 May, but Villa denied this request, in a move described as “selfish” by Keith Hackett.
However, ex-Villa scout Bryan King – speaking exclusively to Villa News – disagrees, and has suggested that Villa shouldn’t have to agree to a fixture change.
“Why should Aston Villa move their game?” King said.
“I’d imagine there would have been talks between the two clubs. However, it is hardly the other side of the world, is it? Tottenham only have to travel to Birmingham and back.
“Ange Postecoglou has been rotating his players anyway. Do we really think the 11 players who play against Aston Villa are going to be the same players that start the final if they get there?”
Aston Villa have every right to deny Tottenham request
Villa’s priority is qualifying for the Champions League, not helping Tottenham win the Europa League.
Therefore, if the West Midlands club feel as though they have a better chance of victory by playing the match on Sunday, 18 May, then they have every right to deny Tottenham’s request.