Published Jun 8, 2026, 11:10 AM GMT+1

Dominic is a news journalist for Football FanCast, having graduated from the University of Huddersfield in 2022, achieving a first-class honours degree in Sports Journalism.

Since leaving university, Dominic has written for websites including GiveMeSport, Football FanCast, Transfer Tavern and Sports Mole, producing a variety of content from transfer news to match previews and reviews.

Dominic has previously worked in club media, working for FC Halifax Town, as well as working for The Halifax Courier, interviewing names such as Pete Wild, Gary Johnson and Phil Parkinson. Dominic has also interviewed the likes of Gus Poyet and Dean Saunders for Football FanCast.

A Tranmere fan, Dominic particularly enjoys writing about the EFL.

After keeping the pace with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City until the latter stages of the Premier League season, Unai Emery wants Villa to continue punching above their weight, but believes he will need to strengthen this summer in order to do so.

Emery said: “My journey and process as a coach has been based on thinking about the context of each team at every moment and asking: ‘How far can we go? Where is our final barrier?’ And trying to break it.

“Aston Villa, with our history, one European Cup, now one Europa League, what is our challenge? To win and be able to compete. I don’t know if we are going to be close to Arsenal or City, but in December we were there. We need more capacity and muscle to say ‘we are here’.”

With Morgan Rogers' future in doubt, it may be particularly important to sign a new forward this summer, and Harvey Barnes is among the targets, after Newcastle United missed out on European qualification entirely.

However, the Villans are also plotting a raid on Liverpool.

Aston Villa make approach to sign Liverpool star

That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states Aston Villa have now been in contact to sign Cody Gakpo, and Liverpool are prepared to sanction a transfer, even though they are not actively looking to cash-in on the forward.

Tottenham Hotspur, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid have also held talks regarding a deal for the Dutchman, who still has four years remaining on his £120,000-a-week Liverpool contract, which expires in 2030.

Gakpo has concerns about whether he will receive regular game time next season, following Rio Ngumoha's emergence as a first-team player, and his representatives are now 'carrying out due diligence' about potential moves elsewhere.

Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, who played with the 27-year-old at PSV Eindhoven, has suggested his former teammate is a complete player, saying: "He's settled into a massive club but it's no surprise for me. When he was here, the quality he had was unbelievable; his goals and assists, his passing, his dribbling - he had everything."

The left-winger has now spent three-and-a-half seasons in the Premier League with Liverpool, and he has remained a regular source of goals and assists.

Gakpo is a versatile forward, capable of playing on both wings and at centre-forward, and given that he has now proven himself over an extended period in the Premier League, he could be a solid addition to Emery's squad.

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