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Aston Villa must raid the Ligue 2 and revive interest in this 21-year-old sensation – Here is why the move would be a mastermind

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Harold Moukoudi is one of the highly-rated French defenders. (Getty Images)

Aston Villa Opinion: Why Villa must reignite their interest in Harold Moukoudi

According to last September’s report from Express and Star, Le Havre defender Harold Moukoudi claimed he turned down an offer from Championship club Aston Villa.

After turning down an offer and deciding to stay put at Le Havre, Harold Moukoudi, 21, has enjoyed another stellar season in the Ligue 2. He has been a crucial cog for Le Havre at the back, playing 17 times league games and scoring two goals.

Dean Smith

However, the young Frenchman has shown no interest so far in extending his contract at the club which expires at the end of this season. With Moukoudi not featuring for Le Havre since the turn of the year and set to become a free agent in summer, Aston Villa should reignite their interest in the defender.

Aston Villa lie tenth on the table, nine points adrift of a place in the play-offs. The Villans may have played some technical, expansive style of football under Dean Smith but there hasn’t been much change in their fortunes.

It’s getting really tight at the top and Smith’s Aston Villa are struggling to produce positive results to match the attractive style of football. To put things simply, Aston Villa need to offload deadwood from the squad and pump in with young and exciting players. And Smith should start reinforcing his side with the defence, which has leaked a staggering 52 goals.

James Chester hasn’t had the best of seasons in a Villa shirt, while the likes of Tyrone Mings, Kortney Hause and Axel Tuanzebe are on loan until the end of the season. To avoid a potential burnout of options, defensive recruitments will be required and Smith would do a brilliant job if he manages to bring in Moukoudi.

Harold Moukoudi

Moukoudi is one of French football’s emerging defensive talents and his performances have already seen him attract a lot of interest from top European clubs. The Frenchman is quite comfortable with the ball at his feet and he doesn’t hesitate to play the ball out from the back.

He is quite fast and agile for a defender of his stature and his game-reading and decision-making simply belie his age. Furthermore, the Le Havre prospect is quite capable of chipping in with goals and assists with inch-perfect long balls from the back.

Verdict

To put things into perspective, Moukoudi has all the raw attributes to flourish in the pacey and physical style of football in England. He is just 21 and has a lot of scope for improvement.

Read more Aston Villa News, click here – Aston Villa Latest News

In all honesty, Aston Villa will have a task cut out to get Moukoudi’s signature in summer due to the interest he has gathered from European clubs.

But that shouldn’t dampen Smith’s pursuit of the French starlet, who has the potential to become a top centre-half in the next few years.

Aston Villa

Top 5 Aston Villa Fan Chants – Champions League Awaits For Me

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Best Aston Villa Fan Chants

Aston Villa fans create a fantastic environment in Villa Park by chanting songs, shouting and cheering. So let’s find out the top 5 Aston Villa fan chants.   

Founded in 1874, Aston Villa have ranked fifth in the all-time English top-flight table. Apart from winning major English titles, Villa won one European Cup in 1982. Villa has a fierce rivalry with Birmingham City. Traditionally their home jersey is of claret colour with sky blue sleeves.

Aston Villa fans a.k.a the Villians fill their home stadium with chants and songs whenever their team plays. So without further ado, let’s find out more about the chants.          

Latest Aston Villa Fan Chants – The Chant of the Year

After a painful quarterfinal defeat to Juventus in the 1984 European Cup, Aston Villa went 40 years without a single Champions League game. That all changed when Unai Emery shocked the whole Premier League by finishing fourth on the league table and qualifying for the holy grail of club football competition.

So, we give our chant of the year award to this funny yet peppy chant that made the Villians go crazy during the champions league nights.

  

Is This the way to Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Lazio, And Roma.

Villa Boys are taking over!

Champions League awaits for me!

lalalalalala Villa!

Lalalalalala Villa!

Lalalalalala Villa!

Champions League awaits for me!

5. Gino

This one was initially born from a tune played by the stadium DJ. This chant has been around since Dean Saunders’ time. The original version of the chant is ‘Gino’ by Dexys Midnight Runners. The Aston Villa fans have made it their own by chanting it throughout the game. The fans enjoy chanting this song in an energetic voice.    

Wo wo Deano!

4. New York, New York

Aston Villa fans chant this song in respect of Dwight Yorke. The Trinidadian spent most of his career in Aston Villa and was known to be a lethal striker during his peak years. Scoring 77 goals and providing 11 assists in 233 matches, he left a mark on Villa fans’ memory.

The chant was initially inspired by one of Frank Sinatra’s songs. Villa fans first started this song in 1990, and it became an instant hit. This song is a proper tribute to a legend who had a significant influence on Villa and the Premier League as a whole.

Start spreading the news, he’s playing today, I want to see him score again – Dwight Yorke, Dwight Yorke. If he can score from there, he’ll score from anywhere, it’s up to you, Dwight Yorke, Dwight Yorke.                                   

3. My old man said be a City fan

This chant is a classic banter towards Aston Villa’s rival, Birmingham City. Known as the ‘Second City derby’, the Aston Villa vs Birmingham was first played in 1879. Even though we currently don’t know when the villa fans started chanting this song, this one was derived from a 1940’s old cockney tune ‘Don’t Dilly Dally (My Old Man Said Follow The Van).

The lyrics of this chant are filled with slang directed towards Birmingham fans and players. It reflects how intense the rivalry has become in recent years. 

My old man said be a city fan
and i said boll**ks you’re a c*nt,
you’re a c*nt.

We hate the blues and they f*ckin know it,
we hate the blues and were gonna show it.

With Spinksy and Birchy, Alan McInally,
there the boys who’re gonna do us fine.

And if you support the blues then
you’re a blue nose bast**d,
and you ain’t no friend of mine…

ALL TOGETHER NOW! (repeat)

2. Kum Bay Ya

This chant from Villa fans is a tribute to Paul McGrath. The Irishman spent years guarding the backline of Aston Villa. The central defender gained a God-like status among the fans of the club. McGrath appeared a total of 220 times for the lions.

Proving to be one of the best centre-backs to ever play in the Villa jersey, McGrath helped the team win 2 English League Cups. Villa fans have remembered the Irishman’s contributions to the club’s history, and they show their gratitude by singing this chant. 

Paul McGrath my lord, Paul McGrath, Paul McGrath my lord, Paul McGrath, Paul McGrath my lord, Paul McGrath, oh lord, Paul McGrath

1. Allez Allez Allez

This one is Aston Villa’s own version of ‘Allez Allez Allez Allez’. This one is so powerful that it lifts the mood of the stadium all alone. The original version of ‘Allez Allez Allez’ was a 1985 hit from Italian disco duo Righeira, ‘L’Estate Sta Finendo’ (Summer Is Ending).

Even though several versions of ‘Allez, Allez, Allez’ have circulated over the years, Aston Villa’s version remains a classic. This one reflects the proudness of the Villa supporters. Everybody at Villa Park sings it at top of their lungs to create a highly effective environment.

Every week we follow,

The boys in claret and blue,

We conquered all of Europe – in 1982

The Villa boys from Aston, we travel near and far,

You will hear us singing,

From the stands of Villa Park,

Allez Allez Allez Allez Allez Allez

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Top 5 Aston Villa players on loan and their EA Sports FC 25 ratings

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Philippe Coutinho

A look at some of the Aston Villa players on loan and their ratings on the recently-released EA Sports FC 25.

Aston Villa are slowly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the English Premier League. In fact, they have been making massive waves in the UEFA Champions League as well, in their very first season in Europe’s premier competition. All thanks to their manager, former Arsenal boss Unai Emery.

Unai Emery, Head Coach of Villarreal CF celebrates with the UEFA Europa League Trophy following victory in the UEFA Europa League Final between Villarreal CF and Manchester United
Unai Emery (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

Emery has made Villa fans dream again, as they slowly slot in as a top 5 club in the English Premier League. After impressive performances in recent seasons, they have quite a strong squad now, so much so that, they have a staggering 15 players out on loan. Let’s take a deeper look into the same.

Here are 5 Aston Villa players on loan and also their ratings on EA Sports FC 25:

Philippe Coutinho

The Brazilian midfield magician is still at the club. Having joined the club in 2022, after a loan spell there in the early part of 2022, Coutinho made quite a few appearances before going on loan to Al-Duhail in 2023. He is now on loan to Vasco da Gama, the Brazilian club he played for back in 2008 (to 2010). Since Vasco da Gama isn’t available as a playable team on EA Sports FC 25, Coutinho doesn’t feature in the game.

Alex Moreno

Alex Moreno joined Aston Villa in the 2023 winter window. Having made 40 appearances for them in the league, he left for Nottingham Forest on loan in 2024. The left-back is rated an impressive 79 on EA Sports FC 25.

Leander Dendoncker

Leander Dendoncker
Leander Dendoncker during his first stint with Anderlecht (via X)

Leander Dendoncker could never recreate his Wolverhampton Wanderer’s self at Aston Villa. After joining them in 2022, he has made 36 appearances in the league for Villa so far. He first left on loan to Napoli in early 2024, before going on loan to Anderlecht in the second half of 2024 (where he currently plays). Dendoncker is rated 75 on EA Sports FC 25.

Enzo Barrenechea

Enzo Barrenechea, the Argentine was signed by Aston Villa only in 2024. Right after his arrival, he was sent on loan to Valencia (for whom he currently plays for). The defensive midfielder is rated a decent 71 on EA Sports 25.

Kaine Kesler-Hayden

It’s been over three years since Kaine Kesler-Hayden turned pro after having spent his youth career at Aston Villa. However, he has just made only 3 league apperances for the Villans. The reason – he has been on multiple loan spells ever since signing for the club. He is now out on loan to Preston North End, and is rated 66 on EA Sports FC 25.

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Race for the EPL golden boot: Players who might finish in the top 5 scorers in the 2024-25 season

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Here is an early prediction of how things might stand in the race for the EPL Golden Boot in the ongoing 2024-25 season.

The English Premier League never fails to impress. Into its third month, with seven matchdays done, the race for the top-scorer in the league is hotting up. While it may be too early to predict who will end up topping the charts of the goal scorers in the 2024-25 EPL season, the signs have begun blooming.

Here is an early prediction of who might top the goalscoring table in the ongoing EPL season:

Erling Haaland

The obvious option, and the favorite to win the 2024-25 EPL Golden Boot. The Norwegian man has raced to 10 goals already, leaving the striker in second place four goals behind. Haaland has already hit two hattricks this season and has only slowed down in recent matches, especially following the injuries of Kevin de Bruyne and Rodri.

Erling Haaland Manchester City charges
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 28: Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester City and Rb Leipzig at Etihad Stadium on November 28, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Should he stay fit this season, the Manchester City striker might end up winning the Golden Boot for the third successive time. Goals come easy for Haaland, and it shouldn’t be a surprise if he achieves this feat.

Bryan Mbeumo

The Cameroonian striker has begun well in the ongoing EPL season. Mbeumo has been a very dependable man for the Brentford faithful, often helping them across the line in dire situations.

The LeBron James-lookalike has scored 6 goals for Brentford this season, and is only behind Erling Haaland in the race for the Golden Boot. This clearly makes him one of the favorites to top the chart.

Cole Palmer

Cole Palmer was letting Nicolas Jackson bang goals in the early games for Chelsea, assisting him whenever he could. However, as the weeks went by, Palmer began taking things into his own hands. During Chelsea’s game against Brighton, Palmer went on a rampage, becoming the first player in EPL history to score 4 goals in the same half.

Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer (via BBC)

The Englishman has now scored 6 goals this season, and has also been among the top names in the assists chart.

Jhon Duran

Jhon Duran has not begun starting games for Aston Villa, but the Colombian youngster has already bagged 4 goals this season, having come on as a substitute in most of the matches.

And Duran’s goal catalogue has been pure fire. With him firing on all cylinders, it will only be a matter of time before he becomes a part of Unai Emery’s starting XI.

Kai Havertz

Although it is too much of a stretch to pick Kai Havertz to win the Golden Boot this season, the German might end up among the top scorers at least, given the form he is in. Often a target of critics, Havertz has stepped up for Arsenal whenever the club has needed goals. In the recently concluded fixture against Southampton, it was Havertz who equalized for the North London club, right after they had gone behind in the second half.

Thomas Tuchel Final Chelsea XI Kai Havertz
LUTON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: Kai Havertz of Arsenal celebrates their teams last minute winner during the Premier League match between Luton Town and Arsenal FC at Kenilworth Road on December 05, 2023 in Luton, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

If not a golden boot, Havertz can at least end up bagging his best goal haul in his EPL career.

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