(Credit: Imago)

Oliver Walton

Tue 12 August 2025 17:32, UK

Jacob Ramsey could now choose to snub a new contract at Aston Villa to join Newcastle following bombshell news around Marco Asensio’s potential return to the Second City.

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Ramsey impressed for Aston Villa again last season, with four goals and seven assists in 45 games in all competitions despite suffering a hamstring injury that kept him out for over a month just before the turn of the year.

He has been mooted with an exit from his boyhood club this summer though, with former scout Mick Brown recently revealing that Tottenham are plotting a move to sign Ramsey, while Football Insider reported on 20 July that Nottingham Forest are interested in Ramsey’s signature with Everton also keeping tabs on him.

(Credit Imago)

According to The Athletic (12 August), Newcastle have now entered talks to sign the 24-year-old ahead of the new campaign, with no new contract signed as yet despite Villa offering him numerous extensions.

With a number of clubs interested, their report states that Newcastle’s project and the chance to work under Eddie Howe are thought to carry the greatest appeal to Ramsey, and he could be set to force a move to St James’ Park through following new developments.

Unai Emery’s pursuit of European success led Villa to complete an ambitious double loan swoop of PSG’s Asensio and Man United’s Marcus Rashford in the last January transfer window.

The Spanish midfielder made an instant impact on the Lions’ side and registered eight goals and one assist in 21 appearances in his half-season the club, leading former scout Brown to reveal to Football Insider in July that Villa wanted to sign Asensio on a permanent deal, but were set to pull the plug on a deal due to financial concerns.

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The Telegraph (12 August) have now revealed that Villa are exploring a deal to re-sign Asensio from PSG, as Emery is keen to have him back at the club with permanent and loan moves both being considered as options.

(Credit Imago)

The Basque boss is said to like the 29-year-old for his versatility and ability to play in a number of positions across the forward line and in midfield, and the Telegraph understand that the French giants may consider a cut-price fee to remove him from their wage bill.

Asensio enjoyed some of the best football of his recent career at Villa Park, and would surely be open to re-joining the club to continue his stellar form, and so a deal could well materialise in the coming weeks.

If he does make the move back, however, he is sure to want to be guaranteed regular starts in both league and European competition, with his preferred position being attacking midfield, just behind the striker.

Ramsey’s primary position is also at number 10, but he played on the left-wing for Villa last term, in part due to Asensio’s arrival, and so the Spaniard’s re-signing would surely mean he is guaranteed less minutes, as Morgan Rogers would likely play on the left with Donyell Malen on the right-wing.

With that said, a move to a Champions League side with lofty ambitions like Newcastle is sure to appeal even more than ever, and Ramsey may well be set to demand a move to the Magpies over staying sat on the bench at Villa all season long.

Football Insider exclusively revealed in May that Ramsey is “unhappy” at Aston Villa and would be open to a move for more regular starts, and so it is proving that he could well leave the club very soon.

With his apparent unhappiness in mind, it seems like a pretty obvious move for the club to look to sell him this summer, especially given their precarious financial position and the fact he is an asset who will command a sizeable fee.

AppearancesGoalsAssists1671719Ramsey’s Villa career stats

Ramsey did impress last term, but was arguably more impactful in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons respectively, and he managed to start only 19 league games amid strong competition for places from both Rashford and Asensio.

The lure of Champions League football is likely what attracts him to Newcastle, and the Magpies themselves need to start making more signings following a summer full of rejections, so could well ramp up their interest in his services as the season gets underway this week.

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