Aston Villa submit 'formal bid' for Sunderland star as West Brom offer 'rejected' and interest in £60m Wolves star remains

There are now less than four weeks of the summer transfer window remaining and teams across the country are hard at work preparing for the 2024/25 season. That season starts in just one week for Championship side West Brom and Birmingham City of League One, while Premier League pair Aston Villa and Wolves have a fortnight to go.

All four have big hopes for the upcoming campaign and those in charge across the board are working behind the scenes to strengthen. Below, BirminghamWorld has rounded up some of the latest transfer stories from across the Midlands.

Neto interest

Arsenal and Liverpool are among a number of clubs who remain interested in Wolves star Pedro Neto. HITC names the pair alongside Premier League rivals Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in ‘keeping informed’ over the winger’s future.

Wolves are thought to value Neto at around £60million and have little desire to sell the Portuguese international. However, talks are thought to have been held between the player’s representatives and interested parties.

Villa bid

Aston Villa have reportedly sent a ‘formal bid’ to Sunderland for their promising young striker Mason Cotcher. Fabrizio Romano reports that Cotcher is already training with the club’s youth squad in anticipation of a move.

Cotcher turned down offers of a professional contract from Sunderland and left earlier this summer, with Villa hoping to beat multiple Premier League clubs to his signature. The ‘bid’ will be in the form of training compensation which clubs are obliged to pay for under-23s who have been offered a new deal, with failure to find an agreement leading to a tribunal to decide the fee.

Albion bid rejected

West Brom are thought to have had a bid for Barnsley’s Callum Styles rejected. Sky Sports names the Baggies as one of several keen on signing the 24-year-old Hungarian international.

Albion have recently been put under an EFL-imposed business plan but remain active in the transfer window, albeit they must run potential purchases by the league’s body. They remain interested in Styles despite being knocked back initially, with other clubs from the Championship and MLS also keen on a deal.

Birmingham wide target

Birmingham City are thought to be weighing up a potential move for NEC Nijmegen winger Sontje Hansen. Dutch outlet Voetbal International names Birmingham as one of two English clubs monitoring the 22-year-old, alongside Leeds United.

Hansen joined NEC as a free agent from Ajax last summer and went on to register six goals and seven assists in 38 appearances. The Dutch youth international is thought to command a ‘high transfer fee’ with three years remaining on his contract.