Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard admits he could pull plug on player transfer if he’s not vaccinated against coronavirus

STEVEN GERRARD would think twice about signing a player who is not vaccinated.

Two Aston Villa players have tested positive for coronavirus ahead of Tuesday's game at Norwich.

Villans boss Gerrard says most of his squad are double-jabbed — and revealed vaccinations would be discussed with any transfer targets next month.

Gerrard insisted: “We’re very thorough and detailed in terms of our recruitment process and we look at everything, so I’m sure it’ll come up.

“It would certainly come into conversations in the background. We’ll go across it with a fine-tooth comb.

“I think there are conversations going on in the background between the Premier League and the clubs.

“Things could change in terms of maybe testing more in the near future due to the increase in cases of the new variants that are moving around.

“Everyone has to be ready, because this Covid situation looks like it’s going downhill rather than going in a positive direction.

“Everyone has been reminded of the protocols and guidelines that are in place. We obviously want to protect ourselves, our families and the wider public by following the instructions.”

Pep Guardiola urged his Manchester City players to get their booster shots and told them to be careful amid a surge in cases.

A further 54,661 confirmed positives were announced on Monday, with the new Omicron variant accounting for 20 per cent of them.

When asked about players getting their boosters, Guardiola said: “Absolutely, the doctors suggest they have to do it.

“We speak with the players every day to say be careful, stay healthy, wear masks, social distance.

“It’s Christmas, the tendency is to party and go out — but the virus is still here.

“The virus doesn’t allow you to suffer much but cases rise day by day, so just be careful.”

But Sean Dyche insists he will not put his Burnley players under any pressure to get their vaccine top-ups.

The Turf Moor boss revealed he is triple-jabbed — and wants his Clarets to follow suit.

However, Dyche will not preach to his squad, as he said: “We’ve attempted to speak to all of our players, with the  scientific viewpoint, of course.

“We’ve got quite a high rate of vaccinated players, although there are still a few who haven’t been vaccinated or who don’t have the full three vaccinations.

“We’re advising that everyone has a choice, everyone’s got the freedom to choose. Personally, I’ve had all three jabs but I wouldn’t start preaching to others.

“They’ll have their own opinions as to what’s right or wrong and we can’t make people do these things, we can only suggest.

“Inside football, we try to do what we can and work within the rules and the guidelines to make sure the games are on.”

Brighton are the latest Premier League club to suffer an outbreak of Covid after “three or four” positive tests.

The Seagulls’ home match with Wolves tomorrow is expected to go ahead, after their last game was postponed when eight Tottenham players tested positive last week.

But Albion boss Graham Potter commented: “Antonio Conte made a good point that you test one day and the next can be positive.

“So it’s about making sure guys are not going on to the pitch with Covid that you don’t yet know about.”

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