After taking almost half a season to start a league game last season, the Belgium midfielder has been Villa's only ever-present starter this time around. A revelation under Unai Emery, he is now very much the heartbeat of the team. His deeper role limits headline stats, but his influence has been essential for Villa.

That Villa were in Champions League contention on the final day shows they are now a side consistently able to challenge for Europe

Aston Villa 's Louie Barry has reportedly been made available for loan this summer, with a number of Sky Bet Championship clubs put on high alert. Barry, who spent last season on loan at both Stockport County and Hull City, made an early return to Villa Park in February after suffering an injury.

An Aston Villa prospect has given honest thoughts on his future following the end of the season. Aston Villa will need to regroup and go again this summer after their Premier League season ended in disappointment as a 2-0 defeat at Manchester United ensured the Villains missed out on the Champions League and will be playing Europa League football next season.

Aside from becoming the first team outside of the traditional ‘Big Six’ to qualify for the Champions League in successive seasons, Villa will lose out on a minimum of £30million in income, potentially rising upwards of £100m.

"We got the Europa League and we have to be more or less happy about the achievement. But we were close to the Champions League. We have to be happy and proud of everything we did but we always want to improve. We need to keep going and the Premier League is the most difficult league and to get Europe through the league is difficult."

Aston Villa face Manchester United on the final day of the Premier League season, knowing they need a win to have hopes of securing a spot in the Champions League again

Aston Villa have plans afoot to secure new summer deals for loan stars Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio from Man United and PSG.

Aston Villa had plenty of ups and downs during their three-year Championship stint from 2016-19.A 13th-place finish in their first season in the second tier was followed by a heartbreaking 1-0

Unai Emery's Aston Villa side are chasing a top-five spot and with it qualification for the Champions League, but the Spanish boss has now come under fire for the way he uses his players

And for a final-day decider? Most Villa supporters would pick any ground but Old Trafford, which has been the 'Theatre of Nightmares' over the past seven decades. Since 1955, Villa have won just three times - in 1983, 2009 and 2021.