Premier League rivals 'want' Wolves star as 'massive' Aston Villa claim made

Aston Villa and Wolves are both enjoying fine campaigns despite the former suffering an FA Cup on Wednesday night. Unai Emery's men were under par as they fell to a miserable home defeat against a struggling Chelsea side, but the Premier League remains their main priority.

Villa now turn attention to a key clash with potential European rivals Manchester United, while Wolves will look to continue their good form against a Brentford side they recently beat in the cup. In the meantime, we have rounded up all the latest news surrounding both clubs.

Villa backed

Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman has been speaking about Villa's chances against United this weekend, believing Emery's men are favourites. “They’re eight points better off than Manchester United,” Goodman told Villa News. “If I’m going to be harsh on Manchester United, they should probably be more than eight points behind. Manchester United have nicked some wins they possibly haven’t deserved, and they are where they are on merit. Manchester United haven’t merited being sixth in the league on performance levels.

“If you cast your mind back to Boxing Day when Villa were two up at half-time, United then put on the best 45-minute performance of their whole campaign to turn it around. That will be fresh in the mind of Aston Villa – believe me, they’ll want revenge. They will fancy their chances at Villa Park. I’d make them favourites to win that game. I was at Bramall Lane last weekend when they demolished Sheffield United. It was way too easy. If they’d have wanted to win by 10, they could have gone close. I understand, having been in teams that have been cruising at half-time, it’s human nature to coast through the second half.

“But they’re back on track now in terms of top four, top-five finish, and that eight-point cushion on United is big – too big for Manchester United to bridge given what we’ve seen this season. I certainly see them staying in the hunt for fifth place, and that could be enough to get them into the Champions League.

"Given that eight-point gap on sixth, they have a massive, massive advantage of playing European football next season. I see Villa as favourites this weekend."

Neto attracts 'fresh interest'

Arsenal are said to be interested in a deal for Wolves star Pedro Neto. The winger, who has been a sensation for Wolves, has regularly been linked with the Gunners, who could do with more goal threats at the top end of the pitch. TeamTalk now report that the London club are ready to make a fresh move for Neto this coming summer. Wolves would likely command a very large fee for their star winger, who is under contract until 2027 as things stand.