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Emilio is an experienced football journalist who has worked at Football FanCast for over six years.
After graduating with first-class honours from the University of Central Lancashire in 2019, it didn't take long for Emilio to clinch his first job in journalism at Snack Media, now Valnet.
Emilio has written for a host of the company's biggest past and current football news websites - Vital Football, The Transfer Tavern and Football FanCast.
Emilio's strengths include the intricacies of football transfers, while he particularly enjoys writing about the business side of football. He has covered Tottenham Hotspur on a weekly basis for a number of years now, developing a deep understanding of the culture and what Lilywhites fans engage with.
In his spare time, you can find Emilio travelling the world, or even in a boxing ring.
Aston Villa are preparing to replace a star player in their squad and have already approached a player who could fill his shoes, according to reports.
Villa braced for vital Premier League clash against Liverpool
Friday night at Villa Park is shaping up to be one of the occasions of the Premier League season.
The Villans host Liverpool in a straight head-to-head battle for Champions League football, with both sides level on 59 points going into the match.
Three points for either club and the job is done.
Drop them — particularly if Bournemouth beat Man City this weekend — and the final day suddenly becomes a lot more nerve-shredding than anyone would like.
It is also not the only thing on Villa's mind this fortnight.
Unai Emery's side are seven days away from a Europa League final against Freiburg in Istanbul — their first appearance in a major European showpiece since 1982.
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A stunning 4-0 home victory over Nottingham Forest in the semi-final second leg sealed the tie 4-1 on aggregate and sent Villa Park into a frenzy.
The scheduling headache that followed prompted the Premier League to move Friday's Liverpool fixture forward from Sunday.
Emery has not tried to downplay what lies ahead.
"I am so motivated, so excited for the match on Friday against Liverpool," he said.
"We have the same points. Of course, it's Liverpool and it's going to be very difficult, and it's a huge challenge, and then prepare for the final against Freiburg in 10 days. Every supporter of Aston Villa should be so proud of everything we are doing."
Striker Ollie Watkins struck a similarly defiant tone.
"We're back at Villa Park against Liverpool, we always do well there, so it's going to be difficult for them. We always make it difficult for them, and it's going to be an enjoyable last home game of the season."
They will need to be at their best. Villa's league form has dipped sharply in recent months — they have taken just 16 points from their last 15 Premier League games, and Sunday's 2-2 draw with already-relegated Burnley was not the kind of result that inspires confidence going into a six-pointer.
Liverpool, meanwhile, average two points per game from their last five, though their away record this season has been patchy — three defeats in their last four on the road.
Amid all that, there is a significant subplot developing behind the scenes.
According to TEAMtalk, Villa are now reviewing the contract situation of goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez and have begun quietly preparing for life without their 33-year-old star.
Liverpool are part of the reason.
The Reds are said to be eyeing Martinez as a potential long-term successor to Alisson, and that interest has focused minds at Villa Park.
Villa have apparently made early contact with Toulouse's Guillaume Restes, a 21-year-old goalkeeper who has established himself as one of the most exciting young shot-stoppers in Ligue 1.
His composure, distribution and command of his area have drawn widespread attention, and Villa are said to particularly like his profile.
Restes, who has been called one of French football's "top" keepers (Ben Mattinson), is not the only potential Martinez heir on their radar.
They have also run thorough checks on Robin Risser, another 21-year-old, who has kept 11 clean sheets in 32 league appearances for RC Lens this season — a return that has attracted interest from multiple Premier League clubs.
Martinez has not asked to leave and nothing has been agreed, but the planning is underway, targets have been identified, and the next goalkeeper era at Villa Park could already taking shape in the background.
First, though, there is Friday.
Win it, and Champions League football is secured, regardless of what happens in Istanbul.
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