Birmingham Mail: Nathan Baker is gunning for more first-team action after sampling the delights of the Premier League. The young centre-half finished the previous campaign on a personal high by doubling his Villa appearances tally during a six-week spell in the starting XI.

Birmingham Mail: Villa's latest batch of teenagers are working hard to impress the club's new coaching staff and earn a route into the first team.

Daily Mail: Darren Bent looks set to be named Aston Villa's new team captain. Boss Paul Lambert named the England forward as his skipper for pre-season and Bent will be confirmed in the role when the Premier League campaign begins.

Daily Mail: Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton is in talks over a move to Stoke City. The Scotland full-back is being moved out of Villa after Paul Lambert spent £3m on Matthew Lowton from Sheffield United.

Daily Mail: Aston Villa were last night negotiating for a bigger fee than the £2.5m West Ham want to pay for centre-half James Collins.

The Sun: James Collins is set to rejoin West Ham today in a £2.5m move from Aston Villa.

*The extracts on this page are taken from various newspapers and media outlets. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Aston Villa.