Argentine international Manuel Lanzini was in the West Ham United starting XI as they returned to winning ways in the Premier League thanks to the 4-1 away win over Watford who are facing the threat of relegation from the English top flight this season. Watford are back in the Premier League this season and they could be in the division for just a season as they are facing threat from the likes of Norwich City, Burnley and Newcastle United in the race to avoid the drop. Burnley, Norwich City and Newcastle United are the bottom three teams in the Premier League relegation zone at the moment. Burnley and Newcastle United are two points off Watford, while bottom team Norwich City are just three points off the final safety spot.

England international Jack Grealish made an appearance against boyhood club Aston Villa for the first time since he sealed a British record transfer to Premier League holders Manchester City. Grealish was left on the Manchester City bench on his return to Aston Villa as he gradually works his way back to full fitness after a few weeks out through injury.

Grealish became the most expensive footballer in the history of British football in the summer when Manchester City paid the £100m release clause in his then Aston Villa contract. He had strongly been linked with a move to Manchester United before the Citizens paid a huge transfer fee to secure his transfer. The Euro 2020 finalist came on for Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus for final three minutes of the Villa game to make his tenth league appearance of the season as he helped his new team hold on to a 2-1 away win over the home team.

Aston Villa have now lost five Premier League matches in a rowfollowing the 1-0 loss at Southampton on Friday night thanks to an early goal from summer signing Adam Armstrong.

Southampton were quicker out of the blocks than their guests and they were rewarded with three minutes on the clock through Armstrong, a £15m arrival from Championship side Blackburn Rovers. The Saints signed Armstrong as a replacement for Danny Ingswho left the club to join Villa in a £20m deal. Ings was unable to return to Southampton with Aston Villa due to injury.

The Aston Villa defence failed to deal with a long ball and that led tothe half volley from Armstrong which nestled in the back of the net in the third minute. Southampton had other chances to score in the first half as Villa struggled to contain their hosts. In the end, the early goal from ex-Newcastle United striker Adam Armstrong was enough to give the Saints a lead at the end of the first 45 minutes.

Aston Villa have now lost their last three successive games in the Premier League after they were beaten at Arsenal on Friday night. In the first game of matchday nine in the English top flight this season, Aston Villa were beaten 3-1 as they paid the price for a lackadaisical first half.

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Summer signing Leon Bailey won't be in the Aston Villa squad for the Carabao Cup third round tie with hosts Chelsea on Wednesday night after he picked up an injury in the last Premier League game with Everton. Bailey is also a big doubt for Aston Villa ahead of the Premier League trip to Manchester to face Old Trafford outfit Manchester United in the early kickoff on Saturday.

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Aston Villa have, according to fresh reports, emerged as a possible destination for Manchester United winger Daniel James as speculations continue to mount on the future of the forward this summer.

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James has continued to slide down the pecking order at Old Trafford and with the imminent arrival of club legend Cristiano Ronaldo, it continues to look extremely difficult that the Welsh forward will get his desired amount of game time at Old Trafford, Ronaldo will make competition for places in the attacking setup even harder and will add to the presence of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood, Amad Diallo, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial, and Juan Mata.

Premier League club Aston Villa may have lost their star player and captain of many seasons to Manchester City this summer, but they are working hard to make sure that they sign quality players that will try to replace the attacking midfielder. They have done some outstanding business this summer in preparation for life after Grealish and with the number of players they have signed this summer, with their quality, they are expected to make a strong claim for a top-half finish in the Premier League this season. WI will take a look at the transfer businesses they have engaged in this summer, especially how they have spent the huge sum they received from City for the transfer of their star player.

Aston Villa have turned their attention to River Plate attacker Julian Alvarez after failing to prise young English player Emile Smith-Rowe from Arsenal.

Villa were unsuccessful with two bids of £25m and £30m for England u21 international Smith-Rowe and were rumoured to be preparing a third bid for the 20-year-old when Arsenal announced a new long-term deal for him thus putting doubts over his long-term to rest. He has signed a new five-year deal at the Emirates Stadium until 2026.

Aston Villa have now switched focus to River Plate starlet Alvarez with reports that his agent, Fernando Hidalgo is set to meet with the representatives from the Premier League team over a deal for the 21-year-old attacker who scored four goals and made seven others in 20 appearances for his Argentine club last season.

Aston Villa have turned their attention to River Plate attacker Julian Alvarez after failing to prise young English player Emile Smith-Rowe from Arsenal.

Villa were unsuccessful with two bids of £25m and £30m for England u21 international Smith-Rowe and were rumoured to be preparing a third bid for the 20-year-old when Arsenal announced a new long-term deal for him thus putting doubts over his long-term to rest. He has signed a new five-year deal at the Emirates Stadium until 2026.

Aston Villa have now switched focus to River Plate starlet Alvarez with reports that his agent, Fernando Hidalgo is set to meet with the representatives from the Premier League team over a deal for the 21-year-old attacker who scored four goals and made seven others in 20 appearances for his Argentine club last season.

Aston Villa have been laced on Red alert as reports are claiming that Everton are ready to sell as many as six players this summer. The players on the list are not yet identified but it is believed that Colombian attacker James Rodriguez is one of those that have been asked to look for another club this summer. Villa are on a mission to strengthen their squad and they have continued to be on the lookout for the possible players they could sign this summer in order to have a strong start to the new season and to also have a better finish than they did in the previous campaign.

After signing goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez from Arsenal in the last January transfer window, they followed up on that sensational bit of business by signing attacking midfielder Emiliano Buendia from Norwich City, one of the latest clubs that recently gained promotion to the English Premier League from the Championship last season.