Liverpool 'enter mix' as Aston Villa make transfer decisions for £109m quartet

Liverpool have reportedly entered the race to sign Greek wonderkid striker Stefanos Tzimas, a target for Aston Villa and a host of other Premier League clubs.

The 18-year-old, currently on loan at FC Nurnberg from PAOK, has enjoyed a scintillating start to the season in the German second tier, scoring eight goals and making two assists in 10 league starts. Tzimas has taken a huge step up in form after netting three times in 15 Greek Super League appearances last campaign.

Sky Germany reports Liverpool, impressed by Tzimas’ progress, have started talks with Nurnberg over a summer transfer. Although he doesn’t yet belong to the German club, they hold the right to sign him for €18 million (£15.2m) with an option to buy as part of his loan. Nurnberg’s plan has always been to sign Tzimas permanently and then sell him on for a profit.

The report also states Nurnberg have already set their summer price tag as €25 million (£21.1m) plus add-ons. Liverpool will be favourites for Tzimas’ signature as likely Premier League winners but Villa are understood to hold a very strong interest, while Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion and several Bundesliga clubs are monitoringn his situation.

Aston Villa decide on Jhon Duran future

Villa’s prized wonderkid striker Jhon Duran will remain at the club this winter despite intense transfer interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Premier League rivals, Birmingham World understands.

Although Villa were open to a sale in the summer at the right price, the stance has changed as Unai Emery and Monchi now value Duran at over £100 million. The Colombian showed hints of promise last season but his stock has sky-rocketed this campaign, with 12 goals in just seven starts across all competitions.

Ollie Watkins led the line as the first-choice striker at the start of the term but the England international recently lost his place for four games in a row. Duran, now back for Villa after a three-match suspension, will be keen to retake that spot.

Three Aston Villa players available for loan

In other Villa transfer news, The Athletic reports Emery has decided to list first-team fringe players Joe Gauci, Sil Swinkels and Kosta Nedeljkovic for loan. The trio are available to sign for six months, until the end of the 2024/25 season.

Gauci, signed from Melbourne City for around £1.2 million last February, is very much in Emery’s plans for the future but the Australian is likelier to progress with regular football. With Robin Olsen the backup to Emiliano Martinez for at least the rest of this campaign, it makes sense for Gauci to go elsewhere for game time.

Swinkels, an academy product having joined from Vitesse as a 17-year-old in 2020, will also be allowed to depart temporarily. The four-time former Netherlands Under-18 international, 21, has only featured once for Villa this season – for 90 minutes in the 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Wycombe Wanderers.

Finally, Nedeljkovic can exit until June if and when Villa sign a new right-sided defender as expected. The six-time Serbia international, 19, has made nine appearances across all competitions this term. Nedeljkovic has shown signs of living up to his £7.5 million price tag but he needs more minutes to progress at the rate desired.