Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa straight through to Champions League last 16; Man City and Celtic face play-off with Pep Guardiola setting up potential return to former club Bayern Munich; play-off

Arsenal made an unexpected bid for Aston Villa striker Watkins – who has contributed ten goals and five assists in 23 Premier League appearances this term – with initial reports claiming they offered £60m but it was revealed yesterday that the bid was more like £45m.

Manchester City face a blockbuster Champions League play-off tie against Real Madrid or Bayern Munich after scraping through the new league phase with a 3-1 victory over Club Brugge.

Villa and Chelsea could trade two of their most high-profile players in a massive twist from a proposed transfer at the moment

Arsenal want to sign Matheus Cunha, but it is Aston Villa who are planning to bid for the Wolves forward and also keep Ollie Watkins.

Arsenal are set for a huge financial boost after sealing their place in the top eight of the Champions League. The Gunners finished third after beating Girona 2-1 to join Liverpool in the last 16

Latest Aston Villa transfer rumours as Unai Emery faces a transfer threat from his former club Arsenal for Ollie Watkins

Liverpool will take on either Paris Saint Germain, Benfica, AS Monaco or Brest in the round of 16. Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side will await one team out of AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord or Juventus. Villa will take on either Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta, Club Brugge or Sporting Clube de Portugal.

The Reds have blocked an incredible approach for Nunez, trusted journalist Ornstein has reveaeld, leaving his suitors to pick between two other explosive striker targets

THE brand new Champions League league phase is over and we now know who will be facing who in the next round. All four of the English clubs have managed to advance from the first round with

Wolves have been relegated from the top flight in both of the previous instances in which they started a calendar year with four consecutive losses, in 1906 and 1982

Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa have learned their fates for the next stage of the Champions League following the conclusion of the league phase. Liverpool had already guaranteed a top-eight spot and a place in the last-16 having won their first seven games in this year’s competition.