Mendes links, the embargo and Bruce's targets - Aston Villa's transfer situation explained
Gregg Evans provides the latest AVFC transfer window update
Gregg Evans
Aston Villa are hoping to announce their first signing of the summer this week after the EFL relaxed their recent scrutiny over the club.
It's understood that Villa were operating under a 'soft' transfer embargo following investigations into the club's finances.
Boss Steve Bruce has been unable to register any new players because of the previous money problems under Tony Xia.
It was only two months ago that Villa missed a tax payment and there were serious concerns of administration following a struggle to pay other bills.
But the recent change of ownership has helped ease any financial fears and Villa are now close to finding a solution for their problems.
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Goalkeeper Andre Moreira has been lined up and is expected to sign on a season-long loan deal from Atletico Madrid.
BirminghamLive understands that new owners Naseef Sawiris and Wes Edens have enlisted the help of super-agent Jorge Mendes to assist in transfer dealings this season.
Moreira is indeed a client of Mendes - but Bruce is still having the final say on all incomings.
He continues to track his own targets, too, with Robert Snodgrass still on the radar following a successful campaign last season.
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Liverpool's Ben Woodburn is another player Bruce would like to sign having missed out on Harry Wilson, who joined Derby County, earlier this month.
Further good news is that James Chester and Jonathan Kodjia are now expected to stay, while Tottenham will need to lodge a bid of over £25million to prize Jack Grealish away.
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When asked if he was able to sign any players before the start of the season, Bruce told BirminghamLive:
"Yes, but we've still got problems to overcome."
And on Saturday we revealed that Villa will resist bids for their star players this summer, with Bruce adding:
"The one thing that the pair of them (Sawiris and Edens) have said it that no-body is for sale.
"That's music to my ears.
"We don't want to lose our best players."
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Woodburn was born in Nottingham, brought up in Chester, and The FA made umpteen attempts to snare him for England's youth set-up but the teenager resisted.
He instead declared for Wales courtesy of distant ancestry from Swansea.
Wales have implemented a talent identification programme which sees them keep track of every young hopeful who could later be eligible for a call-up.
Kids who can represent more than one nation are actively encouraged by Wales to go and play with other countries, as Woodburn did with England a few years ago. He returned, though, and declared for Wales.
WalesOnline reports Woodburn was first spotted playing in a Chester park as an eight-year-old by Ian Richardson, who has been a Liverpool scout for four decades and took the youngster to Anfield.
Richardson duly alerted Wales' newly-appointed Talent ID manager Gus Williams to Woodburn's ability and thus began the process that saw the youngster shine against Austria and Moldova and tipped for great things.
"Ian Richardson had told me he had seen a very good player, extremely intelligent for his age, who qualified for Wales," recalls Williams.
"When I saw him, his qualities stood out. Even at 12 he was quick, creative, skillful, had power, could score goals - exactly the same attributes we have just seen from him in the senior team.
"There was excitement even back there and naturally your eyes were drawn. Ben showed great football intelligence, was composed on the ball, almost saw the next pass ahead of anyone else. Straight away you could see something different in him."
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Club career
Woodburn joined Liverpool at under-7 level and was quickly identified as one of the Reds' most talented youngsters by academy director Frank McParland.
Jurgen Klopp handed Woodburn his Liverpool bow aged 17 years and 42 days which made him the club's third youngest ever debutant.
Three days later he became Liverpool's youngest ever goalscorer when he notched against Leeds United in the EFL Cup.
Despite regularly training with Klopp's first team and being involved in squads, Woodburn has only made 10 senior appearances.
He played five times for Wales last season and just twice for Liverpool. Woodburn was often used in the Reds' under-23 set-up where he was coached by Steven Gerrard.
Gerrard, who is revered at Anfield, said: "I am pleased with Ben because his attitude and mentality when he comes down to train at the Academy is 10 out of 10. That gives everyone a lift.
"His mates are so happy to have him around and he is smiling and playing around with them so it is a great mix.
"We all know Ben is going to play different types of football this year, he knows that and is happy with that.
"The challenge is when he comes down to this level can he approach it like a first-team game and so far he has been excellent.
"I think the reason we are getting positive performances is because everyone is bouncing off him."
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Where would he play?
Bruce has seemingly set his heart on playing 3-5-2 this season and he's played that formation in each of Villa's pre-season friendlies.
Woodburn could play in two roles in that system. He could play off the main striker or as an advanced midfielder in the three.
Woodburn isn't believed to be a direct replacement for Jack Grealish - who has attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur - but he would be comfortable in the two roles Bruce has planned for Villa's floppy-haired No.10 in his new system.
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His nickname
Woodburn's heroics for Wales - and his tender age - earned him a new nickname upon his return to Melwood.
Klopp explains: "I heard someone say 'The Prince of Wales' - I love it! I said it twice this morning… I'm not sure that he loves it too much!
"It was fantastic. We all know, and maybe we know Ben best, and he did brilliantly for us already."