Steven Gerrard must take Manchester United advice as Aston Villa face Liverpool transfer battle

Here are your latest Aston Villa headlines on Wednesday, February 23.

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in Liverpool centre-back Joe Gomez, but will face competition for his signature in the summer if Steven Gerrard opts to make a move for the England international.

Gomez was said to be of interest to Villa in January, but Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was reluctant to reduce the depth in his squad as the Reds are still fighting to win the Premier League and the Champions League this season.

The 24-year-old started his first Premier League game since November 2020 at the weekend, in Liverpool's 3-1 win over Norwich City.

Due to a knee injury, Gomez missed the majority of last season and has struggled for game time under Klopp this term following the £36million capture of Ibrahima Konate back in May.

Various reports say that Gerrard is ready to return to his former club in order to bring Gomez to Villa Park when the summer transfer window opens.

But The Athletic report that cash-rich Newcastle United will also consider an approach, but only if they remain in the Premier League and avoid relegation.

The task Steven Gerrard has on his hands at Aston Villa is starting to become clear.

After a fine start to life as Villa manager following his November move from Rangers, Gerrard's side have picked up only five points from a possible 21 in a run stretching back to the middle of December.

Villa have lost to Brentford, Newcastle United and Watford in that sequence of matches, all teams below them.

Consecutive 1-0 defeats to Watford and Newcastle have proved damaging with the relegation battlers capitalising on poor performances from Villa to secure vital wins.

Gerrard wants to take Villa back into Europe and that is