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Aston Villa travel to Brentford this weekend, with Unai Emery's side looking to keep their Champions League hopes alive with another win in west London.

The Villans have been in superb form in recent weeks, winning seven and drawing one of their last eight Premier League fixtures, which has put the Midlands outfit in with a great chance of securing European football for next season.

However, with six points separating Villa and the top four and just seven games remaining, Emery's side could still achieve their Champions League dream should they continue their unbeaten run until the end of the campaign.

Brentford away represents an extremely tricky game for Emery's high-fliers, and the key to picking up three points could be keeping talismanic striker Ivan Toney quiet.

For that reason, we think the Spaniard should consider unleashing Diego Carlos for the first time since August, as the former Sevilla man has not been given a runout since recovering from his long-term injury.

Should Villa unleash Carlos vs Brentford?

The 30-year-old, who earns £100k per week, would join Villa in a deal worth £26m last summer, but disaster struck on his home debut against Everton as he ruptured an Achilles tendon which has kept him out for much of the season.

However, he has returned to the bench in recent weeks and has been left to watch on as the Villans enjoy an impressive unbeaten run, but he could still play his part in helping Emery's side finish the season strongly.

Last season saw the centre-back average a strong 6.75 match rating from WhoScored for his performances in La Liga, with an average of 2.4 aerials won and 3.5 clearances per game.

Neither Ezri Konsa nor Tyrone Mings – who have been part of Emery's preferred centre-back partnership since he took over – can match that from their overall displays this season, while he also beats Konsa for clearances per game, as well as both players for aerials won.

This suggests that in the long term, he could be a better option for Emery at centre-back, and with one of the Premier League's most in-form strikers set to test Villa's defence on Saturday, it might be the perfect time to unleash Carlos.

Toney has contributed an impressive 18 goals and four assists in 29 Premier League appearances this season, while he is also crucial to Thomas Frank's side's build-up play, as he has won the third-most aerial duels per game of any Brentford player.

Carlos is a man who has been dubbed a "monster" by Ollie Watkins, and his physicality and ability in the air could see Villa silence Toney this weekend, so surely Emery must seriously consider giving him his first start since August.

The transfer that would break the internet appears to still be in full swing as Wrexham’s owners continue to tempt Gareth Bale with a move to the Welsh town.The club finally secured their way back into the Football League last weekend after defeating Boreham Wood 3-1.It capped off a remarkable two years for Phil Parkinson’s men who lost out on promotion last term, only to beat the National League points record, reaching 110 last Saturday.The scenes at the Racecourse ground were remarkable. Fans streamed onto the pitch, while owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney couldn’t contain their emotion in the stands.Since then, a spectacular move for Gareth Bale is in the works.

Will Gareth Bale join Wrexham?

A move still feels incredibly unlikely but it’s not completely out of the question.

The latest news out of the saga is that both Reynolds and McElhenney have teased the move further.

They both took to Twitter on Thursday evening to share a nifty graphic of Bale donning a Wrexham jersey while celebrating a goal.

It’s the latest in a long line of pleas from the chairmen who are doing their utmost to bring the former Real Madrid star out of retirement.

The Welsh star started this whole saga off by initially offering his congratulations to the National League outfit after they went up.

McElhenney responded by offering him a round of golf where he totally wouldn’t spend four hours trying to get him to come out of retirement.

Bale responded himself by saying it depended what course before Reynolds weighed in too. The response from the Deadpool star was typically funny.

Bale, who has multiple Champions League winners medals under his belt retired during the winter after Wales bowed out of the World Cup.

Thus, the idea of him ending up in League 2 should be unthinkable, but not to some fans who reacted after Reynolds shared the same graphic as his co-owner.

A spirited second half showing from Leeds United wasn’t enough to secure a point against Manchester City as they went down 2-1 at the Etihad this afternoon.

Sam Allardyce’s first match in charge didn’t exactly start off well, with the Whites two down at half-time having been thoroughly outplayed and out-fought during the opening 45 minutes.

The second half was much better, and following Rodrigo’s goal with just five minutes left, there were genuine hopes that an equaliser could be found during the dying minutes of the tie, yet it never arrived and Leeds find themselves languishing in 17th spot in the Premier League.

Allardyce struggled to get a tune out of the vast majority of his squad, with Jack Harrison arguably the worst among the starting XI, as he failed to provide any meaningful attacking output during a disappointing display.

How did Jack Harrison perform for Leeds United?

The winger hasn’t enjoyed the best of times recently. Against Fulham in April, he received a Sofascore rating of just 5.9/10, succeeding with just one dribble attempt and winning only one duel throughout the tie – and today's performance was arguably even worse.

He was only on the pitch for 65 minutes and failed to generate anything resembling a chance against the champions, which will worry Allardyce heading into the final three games of the season.

Another 5.9/10 rating from Sofascore for Harrison was the worst across the starting XI, and he took fewer touches than goalkeeper Joel Robles, who had 45 during the match compared to a paltry 15 from the winger.

Even worse was the fact that the Englishman attempted just five passes during the match and was successful with just one. Giving the ball away against City is a fatal error, and they punished Leeds this afternoon.

His failure to deliver an accurate cross or complete a single dribble was compounded by his lack of physicality against the opposition defence, as he lost every single one of his duels contested – and there is no doubt he was a passenger for Allardyce today.

The 26-year-old went missing once again and these recent poor performances will surely be a cause for concern heading into the next few weeks. Can the manager trust him against Newcastle United next weekend? After this display, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him drop to the bench as the Whites bid to avoid their battle against the drop going down to the wire.

Liverpool are "very close" to signing Sporting CP midfielder Manuel Ugarte, according to a key update from journalist Orazio Accomando.

Have Liverpool been linked with Ugarte?

It seems very clear that the Reds are focusing strongly on making a number of midfield signings this summer, following big issues in that area all season long. Their current crops of stars in that area of the pitch are either ageing, injury-prone or still inexperienced, so it is imperative that several new faces arrive.

While it looks as though Liverpool have missed out on Jude Bellingham, with a move to Real Madrid on the cards, they have been linked with various other players, from Alexis Mac Allister to Mason Mount. Another who has emerged as a target is Ugarte, who is enjoying an excellent season for Sporting.

The 22-year-old has been an influential figure in the deep-lying midfield role this season, making 39 starts in all competitions and averaging a highly impressive 4.3 tackles per game. Now, a new update has emerged regarding the Reds' interest in the Uruguayan.

Is Ugarte set to join Reds?

Taking to Twitter, DAZN reporter Accomando claimed that a move for Ugarte is now "very close", suggesting Liverpool could be set to make their first midfield signing of the summer:

"Ugarte very close to transferring to #Liverpool . The Reds are on pole for the #SportingCP talent. The player of (born in) 2001 has a clause of 60M euros."

This is a hugely encouraging update, with Ugarte someone with the ability to be a game-changing addition to Liverpool's team ahead of next season. Liverpool fans will remember Iberian journalists breaking Darwin Nunez's big move last summer well before it broke into the British press.

At 22, the tough tackling midfielder has so much energy to his game, unlikely the ageing Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, and his tenacious style could make such a difference at Anfield.

The eight-cap Uruguay international's aforementioned tackling statistics speak for themselves, but he also averaged 2.2 interceptions per match in the Champions League earlier in the campaign, and has been described as being "made of steel" by the media in Portugal.

Ugarte is exactly what Liverpool are after, as they look for an injection of tenacity in their midfield, and could come in as an immediate upgrade on Fabinho, or at the very least provide strong competition for him, should the Brazilian suddenly get back to his best next season.

Whether the move comes to fruition remains to be seen, but if the Reds could sign Ugarte and then two other more attack-minded midfielders, it will be a very successful summer transfer window.

Journalist Pete O'Rourke has revealed that Leeds United are "monitoring" Ange Postecoglou as an option for the club's next manager.

What's the latest manager news for Leeds?

It's been a rather complicated season for the Whites who began the campaign with Jesse Marsch in charge but will end it with Sam Allardyce trying to keep them afloat.

Indeed, after Javi Gracia took over from the American coach but failed to steady the ship, the experienced Englishman has arrived in Yorkshire with only one job.

However, after defeat at Manchester City in his first game, Allardyce has just three matches to save Leeds who currently sit 19th in the Premier League, two points from safety.

The 68-year-old has only arrived on an initial short-term deal, so there's every chance the club will be on the hunt for a new manager at the end of the campaign.

With this topic in mind, while talking on The Insider Track, O'Rourke suggested that Celtic boss Postecoglou could be a prime candidate.

He explained (19:00): "I think for Celtic fans, he's a massive hero to them for what he's done.

"Everything he's done has turned out really well for the Australian. Not just in the transfer window, but also the style of play that Celtic are playing now as well. It's really exciting for the fans as well.

"Obviously, that success has brought watching eyes from the English Premier League. Leeds United, as we've talked before, have shown interest in Postecoglou and are monitoring his position.”

Would Ange Postecoglou join Leeds?

The 57-year-old has just won the Scottish Premiership for the second consecutive time with Celtic, so he might be looking for a new challenge at this moment in his career.

However, it seems unlikely that he would abandon that success with the Bhoys and head to Leeds if the Whites aren't going to be playing in the Premier League.

Indeed, Postecoglou would hardly want to swap the Champions League football he's had this season for the Championship next term.

With that being the case, it feels as though the only way Leeds could land the Australian coach is if they can avoid the drop.

Of course, though, if that was to happen, the board may well be tempted to stick with current boss Allardyce who would have presumably pulled off a remarkable escape down at the very bottom of the table.

With all that in mind, it doesn't feel as though there is a huge chance of this interest turning into anything concrete in the summer but you never know.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly made an approach for out-of-work boss Luis Enrique, with the former Spain head coach among the candidates to fill the managerial void in north London.

What's the latest on Enrique to Spurs?

According to the Telegraph, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has already 'made contact' with the 53-year-old regarding the prospect of taking charge next season, with a successor to former boss Antonio Conte yet to be named with the end of the season fast approaching.

The report suggests that despite those talks with the Spaniard, however, there has been no update regarding any 'significant progress', with the Lilywhites also looking at Feyenoord tactician, Arne Slot.

In the case of Enrique, there have been previous claims that the Gijon-native – who left his post with La Roja following the World Cup in Qatar – could well help to tempt Tottenham talisman Harry Kane to stay put at N17.

Would Luis Enrique be a good appointment for Spurs?

The north London outfit only recently suffered a blow after reported target Xabi Alonso revealed his desire to stay put at current side, Bayer Leverkusen, with the 41-year-old having been hailed as a "forward-thinking" manager who could well have brought "fresh ideas" to the club, as per journalist Pete O'Rourke.

Moving for Alonso's compatriot in the form of Enrique could well prove something of an upgrade, however, with the latter man arguably a far more successful and experienced coach.

Lauded as the "perfect" manager by former Barcelona teammate, Pep Guardiola in the past, the one-time Celta Vigo and Roma boss has proven himself capable of claiming silverware throughout his managerial career to date, memorably winning the treble back in 2015 during his time at Camp Nou.

That stunning 2014/15 campaign ultimately saw the 4-3-3 boss named as FIFA World Coach of the Year, with it likely to prove a real coup if Spurs can tempt such a high-profile figure to join them this summer.

That wealth of winning experience is in stark contrast to that of Alonso, with the exciting, up-and-coming coach having managed just over 30 games at senior level to date, after taking charge of the Bundesliga outfit in October.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder certainly has "all the conditions to be a very good coach" – according to Jose Mourinho – although Tottenham may be craving a more ready-made figure, like Enrique, who can make an impact immediately.

As ex-Anfield star Luis Garcia stated earlier this year, Enrique "has got everything to be a success" in north London, with the 44-year-old going on to state that:

“He’s got that energy, he’s got that attitude. He’s ready to fight, I think he’s got the experience to build something very unique there at Tottenham so he could be a fantastic choice."

As such, while it may have been frustrating to see Alonso snub the chance of a return to England, Enrique would certainly be a fine alternative and upgrade for Levy.

Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek is a "top target" for AC Milan this summer, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Loftus-Cheek set to leave Chelsea?

The Blues have had an awful season in the Premier League and are now guaranteed to finish in the bottom half, which seemed unthinkable back in August when pre-season predictions were made. They have had three different managers throughout the campaign, with performances and results nowhere near good enough.

Too many players have also slipped well below their usual level and one player who has struggled to play a pivotal role is Loftus-Cheek, who has found regular minutes difficult to come by. He has only started 18 of Chelsea's league games and it has become increasingly clear that his future could lie away from Stamford Bridge.

The £120,000-a-week midfielder's current deal expires at the end of next season, meaning the 27-year-old would be able to leave the Blues on a free transfer in 2024. That is something the club likely won't want to happen and would rather receive a fee for him in the coming months.

Could Loftus-Cheek join Milan?

Taking to Twitter, Romano offered the latest update on his future, revealing that Milan are working hard on a deal to sign Loftus-Cheek this summer, seeing him as a "top target":

"Talks continue behind the scenes for Ruben Loftus-Cheek to AC Milan. He’s top target for Milan, as revealed last week. Chelsea and Milan are discussing about the fee for permanent deal, no way for loan. RLC, keen on Serie A move."

This feels like the right time for Loftus-Cheek to move on, and Milan could be ideal for him, with a move allowing him to test himself in a different league. It has worked out well for Fikayo Tomori, who left Chelsea permanently to join the Serie A giants, which is something the 10-cap England international could take inspiration from.

With Mauricio Pochettino coming in, he is sure to want to bring in his own players and get rid of the deadwood, and unless he sees Loftus-Cheek as a key figure all of a sudden, offering him an extension on his current contract makes little sense.

He has been a solid servant for Chelsea and was previously called "fantastic" by Rio Ferdinand, but now is the time for him to test himself elsewhere, with a move away from west London making sense for all parties.

Journalist Alasdair Gold has slammed the Tottenham Hotspur board for the "bewildering" decision not to try and appoint Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager.

Did Levy try to hire Pochettino again?

In the last few days, it has been confirmed that the former Spurs boss will be joining London rivals Chelsea this summer.

As per Sky Sports News, the 51-year-old Argentine will arrive as the Blues' new head coach on a two-year deal, with the option of a further year.

It will no doubt be strange for many Tottenham fans to see a man once so loved, now in the dugout of another Premier League team – who also happens to be one of their club's biggest rivals.

And what will hurt even more is the fact that they too are in need of hiring a new manager and yet Daniel Levy and the board didn't even approach Pochettino about a possible return to north London.

While speaking on his YouTube channel, Gold confirmed that it's true, "he was never sounded out" and then suggested it was a baffling decision.

He said (4:45): “I've seen people saying, you know, blaming it all on Levy, the club ENIC, whoever you want to call it, the board… for not ever making that phone call to him, which it is bewildering that he was never sounded out, definitely.

"But there you go…”

Why do Spurs fans love Pochettino?

It's no secret that a large section of the Tottenham Hotspur fanbase would have loved to see their former coach return this summer.

Indeed, earlier on in the season, during an unconvincing win over Brighton & Hove Albion, the home crowd was heard loudly singing Pochettino's name.

The Argentine was sacked back in 2019 without winning a trophy but led the side to a Champions League final and brought an attacking brand of football to the club that was appreciated by the fans.

Indeed, journalist Graham Hunter has told Chelsea supporters to expect a team that loves "possession of the ball" and is "always attacking, playing to win – not to draw."

With that in mind – and the small fact that Tottenham haven't been able to find a manager who actually wants to join – it does seem odd that Levy and co have not seriously considered  speaking to Pochettino about a possible return.

All in all, it seems as though Spurs' loss will be Chelsea's gain as he now arrives back in the Premier League while his former side remain directionless for the time being.

Tottenham Hotspur wing-back Ivan Perisic now wants to leave Spurs this summer, and specifically has a desire to re-join former side Inter Milan.

Who could leave Spurs this summer?

This summer could be one of the most crucial at Spurs in recent memory as chairman Daniel Levy attempts, and arguably fails, to spin many different plates.

The north Londoners, having failed to secure European football for next season, are also still on the lookout for a new manager after parting company with Antonio Conte over two months ago.

Tottenham are also said to be chasing a sporting director to replace the departed Fabio Paratici, who was forced to resign from his managing director role following a 30-month worldwide ban from football.

Amidst all of this work, Spurs are in danger of falling in behind in the transfer market, even if some reports suggest they're already pushing for James Maddison of Leicester City.

To balance the books and fund transfers of this ilk, the Lilywhites will need to offload squad members, with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, defender Davinson Sanchez and midfielder Giovani Lo Celso being among the names who could depart.

As well as the aforementioned trio, a report by Calciomercato from Italy now suggests that 2022 summer signing Perisic may soon follow.

According to their information, the Croatia legend wants to leave Spurs this summer, and is desperate to re-join Inter – who have just reached a Champions League final without him.

The outlet claims Perisic "pushes" to wear the Nerazzurri jersey again, and the 34-year-old has a "desire to say goodbye to London" after just one year.

The versatile player has apparently maintained good relations with Inter in recent months, with it now looking like he is eyeing a San Siro reunion.

Who is Ivan Perisic?

Signed by Spurs in the summer of 2022, Perisic formed one of the major contingent of signings bought to back Conte for the 22/23 campaign.

Thereafter, the former Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich star went on to make 34 Premier League appearances under Conte, Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason (WhoScored).

He also ranks in Tottenham's top ten best-performers by average match rating for last season, having registered more assists (8) than any other Spurs player in the division (WhoScored).

Perisic, called a "top class player" by journalist Siavoush Fallahi, arguably impressed and justified that tag with his contributions going forward.

Only fellow wing-back Pedro Porro averaged more crosses into the box than Perisic, and going by these numbers, Inter may well be interested in taking their former star back.

Chelsea target Dusan Vlahovic "could definitely leave" Juventus during the summer transfer window, according to an update from journalist Ben Jacobs.

Is Vlahovic excelling at Juve?

The Blues are on the lookout for a new striker in the next few months, with that area of the pitch proving to be an issue this season. Kai Havertz has often led the line, but is arguably happier in a deeper role, and he topped the west Londoners' Premier League scoring charts with just seven goals.

For that reason, an elite centre forward is needed, in order to make Chelsea more potent in the final third, and Vlahovic has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in the recent past. The £215,000-a-week striker scored 10 goals in 22 Serie A starts this season, and while it hasn't been the most productive campaign of his career, he is still a highly thought of young player.

His current Juve deals expires in the summer of 2026, but a fresh update suggests that he could well be on the move long before then.

Could Chelsea sign Vlahovic this summer?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs handed Chelsea a boost, saying that Vlahovic could "definitely" leave his current club for a new challenge this summer:

"I think Chelsea want a traditional number nine and they urgently need goals. Dusan Vlahovic is one player they've tracked for quite some time. The possibility that Vlahovic will leave Juventus hasn't become apparent after the points deduction. It's really been the case for all of 2023, and many suitors feel that there is a real possibility to get Vlahovic at value because he's just not as happy as he was at Fiorentina playing under Max Allegri.

"When you add the fact that Juve, with the points deduction, are not looking likely to get Champions League football, suddenly there is that possibility that somebody could come in. Obviously, we also have to wait and see what the other implications are from the cases against Juventus because there may be more things that impact the football club and their finances. Vlahovic could definitely move somewhere this summer."

Vlahovic could be a brilliant option for Chelsea ahead of next season, having been described as an "extraordinary" player by former Juve midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi in the past.

At 23, he is still a young player who could be a long-term addition, and his tally of 61 goals in 140 appearances in Serie A, as well as 13 in 21 caps for Serbia, speaks volumes about how prolific he can be.

The fact that Juve could be willing to sell is also a clear bonus, so if Mauricio Pochettino likes the look of him, and sees him as a strong and younger alternative to the likes of Victor Osimhen and Harry Kane, the Blues should acquire his signature and make him the focal point of their attack.