Velud was the guest on Canal+ Afrique’s Talents d’Afrique, where he discussed the winger’s lack of regular game time at Aston Villa this season, and his comments are relayed by Orange.

The 28-year-old spent the first-half of the last season on loan at İstanbul Başakşehir, before his stay there was cut short in January. He was reduced to a substitute’s role under Unai Emery and the situation hasn’t improved this season.

The Aston Villa man has been restricted to 41 minutes of action from five appearances. Velud has insisted that Traoré is in good shape, and that’s crucial for the national team ahead of AFCON at the start of 2024.

“In terms of health, things are much better. What he lacks today is the competitive rhythm. To do this, he needs to find playing time again. He is aware of this, he trains very hard and learns a lot. He is very good in his head, very motivated,” he said.

Apart from Traoré, several other Burkina Faso players, including AFC Bournemouth’s Dango Ouattara, have been struggling for minutes. The latter has managed only two league starts this season.

The AFCON will take place in Burkina Faso’s neighbouring country, Ivory Coast, and Velud believes this should motivate his players for the upcoming continental tournament.

“The fact that the AFCON takes place in Ivory Coast creates enormous motivation among the players, which I saw from the first match of the qualifiers. Everyone has a family member in Ivory Coast, it’s the pride of Burkina Faso that is at stake,” Velud explained.

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The attacking midfielder impressed the Red Devils and the Villans by scoring the winner in his side’s 2-1 victory at the weekend.

Wednesday’s Ekstra Bladet states Manchester United, Aston Villa, VfL Wolfsburg, Real Betis, Marseille and PSV Eindhoven are all ‘queuing up’ for the 27-year-old.

The Denmark international has scored seven goals this season and has a deal lasting until 2026. His style of play and football intelligence has seen him attract interest from several clubs.

According to the newspaper, the Danish club valued their star at €10m in the last window, and will have to ‘adjust the price tag’ if the player has to fulfil his wish to move to a top league.

With Manchester United and Aston Villa among the clubs in the picture, Ekstra Bladet say Brøndby sporting director Carsten V. Jensen shouldn’t expect more than €6m for Vallys, even though he’s ‘one of the Superliga’s absolute best players.’

That’s because it’s not often for experienced players from the Danish league to be sold to a top league for a large sum.

Jensen’s desire is for Vallys to end his career at Brøndby but the report says that’s ‘unlikely to happen’.

Hyping up interest from big Premier League clubs, whilst talking down the price doesn’t make a great deal of sense. That could raise suspicion this is more an internal issue between Brøndby and the player.

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The Villans had shown interest in the striker in the last window but were forced to end that after he suffered an injury, and the setback has had an impact on his valuation.

However, the 26-year-old hasn’t lost his appeal in England with Aston Villa, West Ham, Fulham and Brentford said to be keeping close tabs on his situation.

It’s said these four Premier League sides are ‘still vigilant and determined to obtain new information’ about the former Chelsea man.

The report says José Mourinho’s side have a desire to sell the England international to a Premier League club. Apart from Aston Villa, West Ham, Fulham and Brentford, Calciomercato.it state the Blues shouldn’t be overlooked.

The Serie A side have already signed Romelu Lukaku on loan from the west London club in the last window and their dream would be to carry out a swap deal involving Abraham and the Belgium international.

Abraham, who came up through the ranks of Chelsea’s academy, spent five years with their first team before he joined Roma in a permanent transfer in 2021.

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The attacking midfielder has impressed this season, scoring seven goals and registering one assist from 11 games. On Sunday, he starred by netting the winner in his side’s 2-1 victory over FC Nordsjælland.

Vallys’ performances have caught the attention of several clubs, including Manchester United, Aston Villa and Southampton.

It’s claimed the Premier League duo, the Saints, VfL Wolfsburg, Real Betis, Marseille and PSV Eindhoven all had officials in attendance yesterday to watch the 27-year-old live in action against Nordsjælland.

Among these clubs, the report states PSV had sent their chief scout to take a closer look at the Denmark international and others.

When describing his latest performance, Ekstra Bladet say Vallys showcased his qualities to the scouts who were in attendance and he’s the ‘epitome of football intelligence at a high level.’

The Dane’s deal lasts until 2026 and Brøndby manager Jesper Sørensen has admitted that he’s not surprised other clubs have set their sights on him.

“I don’t go about my day worrying about whether we can keep Vallys. But if there is someone else who thinks Vallys is more talented than us, then I can really understand that,” he said.

Despite the likes of Manchester United, Aston Villa and Southampton watching Vallys, the newspaper questions if many big clubs would ‘put large sums of millions’ on the table for a player who turned 27 years of age in September.

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This season, Xabi Alonso has used him mainly as a defensive midfielder and at times in the middle of the pitch, and he has managed two goals and two assists from nine league games.

According to TNT Sports, Palacios’ form has drawn the attention of several clubs, including those from the Premier League, where Manchester City, Newcastle and Aston Villa are all mentioned.

It’s claimed the Premier League trio are ‘seriously considering the possibility’ to secure his services in the winter market.

Last month, the Bundesliga side rewarded the Argentina international with a new contract until 2028, and this has helped him increase his valuation.

Despite signing the renewal, the report explains that the interest from Manchester City, Newcastle and Aston Villa presents a ‘tantalising opportunity’ for both the 25-year-old and the Bundesliga side to go ahead with the transfer.

TNT Sports makes no mention as to who among the three English clubs are leading the race and also the fee they could offer to sign Palacios in the next window.

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Miranda’s contract runs until July 2024, and with a renewal not in sight and AC Milan showing interest, it’s not ruled out that he could change clubs in January.

The La Liga side have identified the Aston Villa left-back and Atlético Madrid’s Javi Galán as targets.

It’s said Real Betis sporting director Ramón Planes likes Galán the most and his side are closely following his situation in Madrid. His deal expires in 2026 and the report says he’s not considering leaving Los Rojiblancos at this stage.

Therefore, Planes is looking for other options and this is where Moreno could potentially fit in. The Spaniard spent over three years at Real Betis before leaving them for Aston Villa in January.

Estadio Deportivo state the 30-year-old was happy at Real Betis but Aston Villa’s offer was ‘irrefutable’, which is why he joined them.

He made 19 appearances for Unai Emery’s side in the second half of the last season and has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since May.

The report states he’s ‘having a bad time in his sporting career’, mainly due to the injury. Planes had earlier joked the Villans player had informed him that he wants to come back to the club.

“I met Àlex Moreno this summer and he told me ‘hey, I want to come back’,” Estadio quoted Planes as saying, but it’s made clear that was jovial rather than factual.

Real Betis’ potential deal for a new left-back would depend on Miranda’s exit and as things stand, Galán seems to be ahead of the Aston Villa defender in Planes’ target list.

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That’s according to Brazilian journalist Diego Firmino, who took to X, formerly Twitter to provide an update on the clubs keeping tabs on the player.

He claims the 25-year-old has already received surveys from Tottenham, Aston Villa and Marseille.

Firmino doesn’t specify if the Premier League duo, who are monitoring the left-back, have made contact with his camp, Palmeiras or both.

Operating mainly as a left-back and at times as a wing-back, the Uruguay international has scored eight goals and registered six assists from 50 games this year.

Firmino’s claim about Tottenham and Aston Villa is relayed by Bolvaip Brazil, who then share their own information on this case.

Their title says Tottenham have ‘come strong’ to hire the South American and this would indicate they are keen to get ahead of the Villans and others in the transfer race. The report further adds the South American is valued at R$ 53m [€10m].

Destiny Udogie has been starring under Ange Postecoglou this season and Piquerez would have to battle with him for a place in the starting lineup, if he ends up at Tottenham.

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Operating mainly as a right wing-back, he has managed two goals and registered three assists from nine games this season. Following his ‘stellar’ performances, an international ‘threat looms over’ the La Liga side as they could lose him in the winter market.

When discussing interested parties, Aston Villa get a mention and they reportedly have their eyes set on the 25-year-old.

The report says there are other clubs also looking at the player but the Villans have ‘taken the lead’ in the race to secure his services.

It’s claimed Unai Emery’s side are ‘one step ahead’ of others and are looking to seal a deal for the Argentina international in the next window.

Fichajes.net say Molina is currently valued at €50m and add that this figure doesn’t seem to scare Aston Villa, which would be a concern for Diego Simeone’s side.

The South American has a contract until 2027 and the outlet claims it includes a €30m release clause. With Aston Villa and other clubs showing interest in him, Atlético intend to extend his deal and raise the clause to €90m.

Despite all that talk of hefty figures, something not much over €20m should do the trick.

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They have renewed Unai Gómez’s contract until 2028 and the focus is now to tie Williams down to a new deal.

That’s according to El Correo, who also mention Aston Villa’s interest when explaining the Basque club’s plan to renew the 21-year-old’s contract.

The Athletic board have realised that the ‘greatest threat’ to their sporting future comes from Williams’ situation, considering that he has been probed by Unai Emery’s side and Barcelona.

In order to fend off the interested parties, the Spanish club have realised that the attacker’s contract renewal is a priority and all efforts must be focused on it.

There’s hope the Spain international’s renewal will be announced shortly after the two parties moved closer.

Mundo Deportivo also explain that Williams’ renewal is ‘almost close’ and Athletic hope to announce it before the end of this month.

It’s claimed Athletic started to work on his renewal after being ‘aware of the danger’ from the Premier League and the La Liga, where Aston Villa and Barcelona are keen to sign Williams.

The newspaper claims his current deal has a €50m release clause and it could remain the same with the new contract.

Mundo add there’s been suggestions that the renewal will last until 2026 and if there’s an increase in the clause, it won’t be beyond €60m.

Even if it’s at €60m, this may not be enough to fend off Aston Villa, as long as the player is in favour of joining them.

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In the summer, the attacking midfielder returned to Madrid after spending the last three years on loan at AC Milan, but he’s made only one start this season.

Fichajes.net state the 24-year-old’s expectations haven’t been met and he’s contemplating the option of leaving Los Blancos in January. When discussing the interested parties, Aston Villa are mentioned.

It’s claimed the Spain international has attracted interest from the Premier League and the Villans are the ‘latest to join the race’ to sign him.

Unai Emery seems to be driving his side’s pursuit as the report states the manager has ‘marked the Spaniard as a target’ for the future. They suggest Díaz’s future could be in the Premier League, as long as there’s positive progress in negotiations with Real Madrid.

Díaz has a deal until 2027 and Fichajes.net state he’s valued at €20m. The January window ‘promises to be exciting’ for Díaz and it needs to be seen if Aston Villa will make an attempt to sign him.

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