Aston Villa star accused of ‘faking injury’ as Unai Emery ‘eyes’ summer deal for Liverpool ace

Aston Villa will be counting down the days until club football returns as they look to secure a top-half finish.

Unai Emery has steadied the ship since arriving months into the season, and he has now got the Midlands club into a position where they can snatch a top-half finish with a solid finish to the season. As things stand, Villa are in 12th place, but they are just one point behind ninth-placed Fulham as they prepare for a run of games that will see them face mid-table rivals Chelsea and Midlands rivals Leicester City and Nottingham Forest.

In the meantime, we have rounded up all the latest news surrounding Villa Park.

Oxlade-Chamberlain chase

Villa are said to be interested in a move for Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

According to reports, Liverpool don’t plan to give the former Arsenal star a new deal ahead of his current contract expiring this summer. With that in mind, The Daily Mail report Villa, as well as Brighton and Newcastle are interested in Oxlade-Chamberlain, claiming the clubs could approach the midfielder this summer.

Liverpool could give the midfielder permission to speak to other clubs before the summer, but as things stand, he is only free to speak with clubs outside England.

Cash criticised

Villa star Matty Cash has been slammed by a Polish pundit for his injury setback while playing for his national team.

Tomasz Hajto told Przeglad Sportowy via SportWitness: “I never said he faked an injury, but I think he did. I don’t want to believe that after such a few minutes, after which he went down, he didn’t want to rehabilitate himself. His injury is not a tear or torn fibres, it’s an alleged strain.

“I would stay until Monday. I would like to heal at all costs and show the manager that I care. Say: ‘I’m sorry coach, but I’m ready and with Albania, I will be the best on the pitch’. And now we find out that he is packing up and leaving.”