Aston Villa linked with £65m superstar as Steven Gerrard squad rockets in value

Here's the big Aston Villa headlines on Thursday, March 31, 2022. Aston Villa are back in match action on Saturday (3pm) against near-neighbours Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips has told his club he wants to sign a new deal despite interest from Aston Villa.

Phillips has been heavily linked with a move to Villa and their Premier League rivals Manchester United have also been mentioned as a potential destination for the England star. The 26 year-old is out of contract at the end of the 2023-24 season and has spoken before about wanting to sign a new contract with Jesse Marsch's side.

Phillips is a target for Villa as they look to upgrade their options in defensive midfield this summer. Villa boss Steven Gerrard is also targeting Brighton and Hove Albion star Yves Bissouma. The Mirror's northern football writer David Anderson has tweeted that Leeds have received a 'big boost' because Phillips has told the club's board that he wants to sign a new deal in the summer.

More HERE.

Aston Villa remain hopeful of striking a partnership deal with Portuguese club Vitoria de Guimaraes. Villa's owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens want to invest in different regions around the world to help develop the very best talent.

Chief executive Christian Purslow and Villa's sporting director Johan Lange had built a strong rapport with Vitoria's previous president Miguel Pinto Lisboa but, earlier this month, he was replaced by Antonio Miguel Cardoso following an election. Villa will now press ahead with renegotiating new plans that will see Vitoria become part of V Sports, Villa's parent company owned by Sawiris and Edens.

A source told : "Wesley Edens was serious about investing in our club. Villa have