Man Utd star makes request after Aston Villa transfer links as Steven Gerrard given major boost

Aston Villa are fully focused on matters on the pitch after the January transfer window closed on Monday night.

Steven Gerrard's side return to Premier League action next week against Leeds United and in preparation for their return, Villa will face Norwegian club Molde in a friendly this weekend after already beating Brentford 2-1 at Villa Park on Tuesday afternoon.

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Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard says he needs to 'clear' his head after a January transfer away from Old Trafford failed to materialise.

The former Birmingham City loanee was linked with a move to Villa as well as Newcastle United last month.

The Manchester Evening News claimed Villa were one of several Premier League clubs 'monitoring' the England international ahead of a possible swoop.

It was Newcastle who came closest to signing the 29-year-old England international, but the mid-season move fell through and Lingard has now asked United interim boss Ralf Rangnick for a couple of days off from training.

"He asked me and the club if we could give him a couple of days off just to clear up his mind and he will be back in the group next Monday, back for training, and be a regular part of the whole squad again," Rangnick told reporters before United's FA Cup clash against Middlesbrough.

Aston Villa will receive a huge boost before their fixture against Leeds United on February 9, after Burkina Faso lost 3-1 to Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations last night.

This, therefore, means Bertrand Traore will be returning to England and could be available for selection in the near future for Steven Gerrard.

Traore played the full 90 minutes in the semi-final fixture last night and operated as the lone striker in a 4-3-3