Pedro Goncalves

Here's what's in Ashley Preece's Aston Villa notebook with BirminghamLive due to speak with Unai Emery later today ahead of Bournemouth tomorrow (Saturday)

[BirminghamLive](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-pochettino-transfers-stadium-25297830) spoke to a rail seating expert in Germany back in October who explained how an extra 5,000 supporters - via safe standing - could be added to the 13,500-seater Holte End to make it even more epic. Flags and stoking up an atmosphere has worked brilliantly at Newcastle with Wor Flags working alongside the club throughout the season. There was a suggestion that Villa could follow a 1.8:1 concept, meaning for every one seat in the Holte End, for example, a further 1.8 fans will be able to fit in which, in turn, will boost attendances and revenue. The group are working tirelessly to help create a proper atmosphere at Villa Park and have recently held a meeting with club officials with regards to introducing huge flags, banners and an intimidating tifo before kick-off. Villa are, though, expected to reach out to those affected in the coming months. Villa chiefs are calling on the West Midlands Combined Authority to stump up the millions needed to develop the train station so that it can cope with the additional demand of more than 8,000 spectators on match days. If it is decided that Archer, Philogene or others are sold this summer then it’d be wise for Villa to mirror what Wolves did with Goncalves, a player who’s now among the very best in Europe after an incredible 17-goal season. [The latest Aston Villa news in one place](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/all-about/aston-villa-fc) [The key piece to Aston Villa stadium redevelopment as ‘cash needed to make it happen’](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-trains-witton-travel-26493139) [Aston Villa striker search, Emi Martinez transfer reality, Kesler-Hayden, Netflix and Diego Carlos](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-news-martinez-26484946) [Gareth Southgate explains why he picked Ivan Toney ahead of Ollie Watkins in England squad](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/gareth-southgate-explains-picked-ivan-26489299) [Gareth Southgate slammed after overlooking Aston Villa pair for England squad](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/gareth-southgate-slammed-after-overlooking-26488360) He didn’t make a single appearance for their first-team and was sold to Famalicao back in Portugal for £1m in 2019. The chunk of money Wolves got from that sell-on agreement paid for a new training pitch at their Compton HQ. In short, rail seating will not be cost effective for the club but it will be a welcome addition for fans next season. [Project B6](https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/project-b6) who are close to their £1,000 target to help purchase hundreds of claret and blue flags for those in the Holte End Lower.