So Jhon Duran has got the move he, or more likely his agent, has longed for and signed for Al Nassr in the totally meaningless Saudi Arabian desert league.
There’s only one reason you’d want to go there and we all know what it is. Money. Boatloads of it.
I’ve seen talk of £300k a week as the basic wages. Get your head around that, just as I am as I type it. Let’s say he’s signed a 3 year deal. That would be just shy of £48 million tax free. While it’s easy to say that he’ll be a rich man wherever he goes or even if he stayed at the Villa, consider that he’ll only be 24 or so when that contract is done. Then the money is earned and he gets the choice of doing what he wants.
Seriously, would you turn that down? I’m not sure I could or would have, looking back at that age.
It is an odd one though. The Saudis are throwing money at all sports to try and improve their image, but when it comes to footy, they generally target superstars who are nearing the end of their career. Are they signing Duran because they believe they can keep him for many years or have they simply seen him as the big name throughout Europe over the last six months? If it’s the latter, we should be grateful just for that extra exposure he gave us, I suppose.
Whatever, while I quite liked Duran as a striker and much better finisher than Ollie, I have no qualms about him going.
To my mind he’s a petulant sort who will never be happy with his lot. I’m guessing that he caused Emery a world of grief with his moaning, which is why we’ve let him go. If Unai couldn’t control or mould him, I pity any other manager who has to try. On the other hand, he was seen handing out gifts to the mere low life staff in the tunnel after the Celtic game and that makes him much more my kind of guy.
While I think he’s made a mistake, where he risks his reputation (any decent striker can score lots in Saudi, surely?) I wish him well. Where he goes from here is a good question. I honestly believe that if he applies himself as much as he can, he’ll become another Harlaand and score loads wherever he ends up. But I’m inclined to think he’ll become complacent and just fade away.
The really big question is who are we looking to spend it on? I’m seeing loads of talk about attackers, but I don’t see it. Maybe one striker , but way more important are defensive players. We’re apparently interested in Rashford and I don’t see that either. Good grief, why would we? Yes, on song, he’s a great player. But he seems to have serious issues and I wouldn’t touch him with a bargepole. Then again, there’s been a few instances where I’ve thought Unai was wrong, but ultimately he’s doing a stunning job and you can’t argue with where we are.
Which is 8th in the Champion’s league table. I’m still struggling to get my head around that too. For a neutral, we’re brilliant to watch, but for a fan, we’re a nightmare. It’s a roller-coaster and while we play well at times, so we are awful at others, which leads to me being probably overly-critical. It’s just the frustration in not getting what we want and I guess that’s the difference between a fan and a more knowlegable manager who sees the bigger picture better.
And so onto the Dogheads tomorrow.
Again I’m laughing to myself, as it’s another where I don’t have a clue as to how it’s going to go.
Squad news first and Matty Cash will be out for around a month. If that doesn’t lead to us getting a Right Back in, I doubt anything will, I’ve said all along that I see this as by far the most important position that needs shoring up, but it hasn’t happened. I’m not convinced it will in this window either.
Tyronge Mings is apparently close to being available, but this game is too soon, which contradicts a report I saw saying we’ve underplayed his injury. Ross Barkley is still training on his own and is about a week away from rejoining the squad.
As for Wolves, striker Jorgen Strand Larsen is out and Joao Gomes is suspended after a red last weekend. Carlos Forbes is a big doubt and they have another three or four players unavailable.
Despite a good start under the new manager, Wolves have lost their last four games, with a GD of 1 for and 10 against, which would indicate that having a striker injured doesn’t make much difference.
This ought to be easy really, but it’s a game of jeopardy, where we’re a gift to any team on a terrible run.
I’m tempted to think we’ll tear the heads off those dogs and beat them soundly, say 3 or 4-1.
But I think we’ll look really tired again and will do well to get a win at all.
I’m going for a safe draw. 1-1.
And while I don’t think that is enough for a team aiming at CL qualification, I do think it’s about as much as we can expect if I’m trying not to aim too high. Hence I’d take it as better than nothing.
UTV!
I read that Rashford won’t have to move house. I don’t know where he lives but I guess in Alderley Edge or Wilmslow – the favoured locations for moneyed Mancs. The drive, even chauffeured, to BMH and back daily would be wearing. However, with his wages he could hire a chopper and pilot.
OLL, do you think it’s going to work?
Chauffeured down half the week, the other in the Belfry?
I hope he’s not allowed to take the piss like Pires did…
Mate when we signed Pires he was using Ring & Ride!
Still waiting for news of a CB. Not signing one would be Disasi-terous…
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/marcus-rashford-aston-villa-transfer-34604713
Just read the above by Andy Dunn of The Mirror and oh my days, when has a player loan deal caused such a knee jerk reaction?
Apparently this deal threatens the very integrity of the Premier League?
Funnily enough I don’t call this furore when Carlos Tevez went on loan to Manchester United from West Spam for two years, 2007 to 2009?
Two seasons in which he scored 19 (2007-8) and 15 (2008-9) goals and incidentally Man U just happening to lift the title in both those seasons.
What utter, utter garbage. Isn’t that how loans have always worked? Not your player, will go back, might want to move elsewhere, good for both sides, can’t play against parent club…that’s a LOAN! DUH! How do they get this tripe to print?!
Just to make up the numbers, Hitch? He’s offered next to nothing all season. If they can get him out, they must – there might not be any takers come the summer.
We need a full squad of players BFR and we’re not in a position to replace the players that have left let alone reduce the squad further.
At the price being banded about (£25m) we’ll still be able to move him in the summer and if he were to rediscover his mojo ………..
Defensive transfers so far this window:-
OUT:
Carlos
Swinkels
Nedeljkovic
IN:
Garcia
So with our current injuries we have:
Digne and Maatsen at LB
Konsa and Bogarde at CB
Garcia at RB
Bravo to our recruitment 👏👏👏👏
6 1/2 hours left to salvage our season!
Bit of a mess isn’t it 🙂
Sky are really struggling – the BIG news of the day – Tel changes his mind and decides to go to Spurs. 19 year old on loan (no option) who doesn’t play in Bayern’s first team – Yawn!
Daniel Levy’s had his arms shortened even more and to be safe has deeper pockets inserted in his kegs 🙂
Surely just surely a centre half has to be at the very least loaned in. What’s clement langlet doing?
Bloody worrying this there must be someone in the bag surely
Somebody help me here. When are pau , mings and cash returning??
Pau a month, Mings imminent, Cash a couple of weeks at least, from memory.
I get the feeling Chrlsea are effing us over as we’re rivals for 4th and 4th place…
BFR commented on this earlier, they are refusing to do business with us (you can’t blame them).
Asensio has signed.
That tells me we are currently offically a big time club.
Bloomin’ eck! Top drawer player. Get the CB signed and I’ll be well impressed. Bailey may yet be off. Talk of him having a medical at Spuds…
Graeme Bailey
tbrfootball.com
Whilst a deal for Axel Disasi and Aston Villa is off the radar – TBR Football understands that they are still pushing for Juan Foyth, but looks very hard to do at this point.
They do want another defender before the deadline.
Asensio
Rashford
Unai really is going to have a go at this Champions League.
Aston Villa have reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign Axel Disasi on loan until the end of the season, according to Matt Law of The Daily Mail.
Just seen that RSS – hope it’s true.
One problem mate, Matt Law works for the Telegraph?
Might have to take it with a pinch of salt?
Exclusive: Aston Villa have an agreement in place to sign Axel Disasi on loan for the rest of the season from Chelsea. Player heading to Villa #avfc #cfc
(on his X post)
insidefutbol.com
Aston Villa are paying Chelsea a loan fee of £5m.
The deal does not have any option to buy contained in it.
Villa will be paying 100 per cent of Disasi’s salary during the loan.
Just confirmed on Sky.
They’re still driving me bonkers with their anti Villa attitude – it seems they can only refer to the club through gritted teeth.
Brilliant news on Disasi though and Sky can go and bow to the altar of their rather jaded Sky 6.
UTMV
He wants to win it and believes he can. I’ve no doubt.
Ollie may have to take a back seat. You can’t afford to miss the amount of chances he does in the latter stages, in tight games, against superior opposition.
Mings would also be a worry. His clangers against Brugge and Monaco were the difference and nearly cost us.
Just been some idiot on Sky defending PSR.
Asked whether it just protected old money he said no and then said if teams (like Newcastle) want to spend to improve the squad they have to regularly get into the CL.
Then they discussed Isak and he said – no one can afford him (because of PSRj) so it’s good. That’s garbage – both Arsenal and Citeh could afford him – maybe even Liverpool and certainly Real Madrid.
What a plonker.
Catch-22 Hitch?
Exactly – but really don’t answer a question by contradicting yourself – it’s not very clever and very annoying!
Alfie, might need to review your thoughts on how attractive our club is to top players.
Unai Emery is the difference backed by brilliant owners 🙂
Both Rashford and Asensio have said that Emery is a primary reason for joining Villa.
The club have been very savvy in this window, some fantastic business IMO.
They must have got right in Disasi ear, Chelsea were adamant they wouldn’t do business with us and tried to cart him of to the Spuds but it appears he wasn’t having any of it.
Hats off to Monchi.
Good innit, Hitch!!!! 😁
Over the moon Bum Bum 🙂
CL knockout stages. Without that, it doesn’t matter how good the manager is. But we’re there because of the manager, so kind of the same thing.
Disasi deal being finalised.
If it stops here this is a cracking window. Mings, and shortly Pau back. Konsa. Disasi.
Troubleboy and headline magnet Duran sold for a fortune. A number of fringe players moved on either loaned of sold. Carlos gone. Back up for Cash.
Asensio in. Malen in. Rashford in. PSR kicked into the long grass.
What the hell do us fans know! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Bum Bum, your last point was well made. Think it had gone slightly under the radar but there was a recent media comment that Villa have no PSR issues.
We may rue Duran going but it was a brilliant bit of business, particularly selling him to a Saudi side.
Now it’s up to Emery to make good on his requests which the owners have backed 100%
I get the feeling Garcia will quickly become first choice RB.
If he makes the same impact Moreno did 3 years ago, I’ll be delighted…
Looking at the activity, Villa have far and wide outstripped everyone in their in/out dealings.
(And come on West Ham)!!!!
Reading recently about us being very within PSR and money in the bank we are ABLE to spend. If these 3 loans come good, like Tyrone, imsure they’d sign following a loan spell permanently.
After some were beginning to doubt Monchi, he’s done extremely well again and our business has been excellent.
The best deal for me?
Disasi coming to us after Chelsea were insistent we weren’t getting him at our price. I really like the feel about this lad. Totally refused to go to Spuds and has obviously bought in already.
He’s a bloody monster unit too!
Told ya Monchi would pull one out the bag Badger 😉
Kortney Hause was also a ‘monster unit.’ I will wait until we start stringing together some clean sheets. Until then, I’m reserving judgement. As far as I know, Hause is still on Villa’s books, is he not? Bizarre.
I have a couple of questions.
1) How many of the loans include an option to buy?
2) I thought we were only permitted 2 loan signings?
We actually haven’t spent a fortune compared to outgoing sales. Probably wise to see if we have European football next season before we realistically get anyone tied down. No Europe means no chance of Rashford, Ascensio or Diassi being long term as we couldn’t afford the wages.
The other 2 agreed but Diassi’s on around £80k per week so he’s well within our structure.
Holte – as I understand the rules:
No team can register more than two loan signings at any one time from another premier league club – that’s the key – and cannot register more than four loan signings in any one season.
We have three loan signings so comply with the second rule but only two come from EPL clubs so we comply with the firs as well.
Thanks Hitch, I did think of another question regarding Asensio as to whether he is eligible for Champions League with us?
Yes he is.
By 6th February we can register three (additional) players in our List A squad but it cannot exceed 25 players. We have already transferred four players from that squad – Philogene, Carlos, Buendia and Duran so we can add three. We can also register players that may have been registered for other clubs during the league phase.
Here’s the dilemma – which three players do we register?
For me it’s a no brainer – Rashford, Asensio and Disasi.
Garcia wouldn’t expect to be registered which means Emery has a man management challenge with Malen who is the only player on a permanent transfer. The challenge for Malen is to get us into the CL next season.
Can we de-register some of the lesser players is the question Hitch???
“Teams remaining in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League are allowed to register a maximum of three new eligible players after the completion of the league phase and before the start of the knockout phase.”
That’s a no then. 3 new players max it is.
That needs looking at, as it doesn’t correlate with the existence of the January window, and in effect reduces the quality of the CL product. It needs to be raised to at least 4. As shown by Villa’s work in this window.
Correct.
Way to piss on the parade, Holte! 🤣
Transfer window looking wrapped up then with
– Garcia
– Malen
– Rashford
– Asensio
– Disasi
Think we’ve got some great talent in that 5. Disasi I am a big fan of looks big, strong and hopefully can stop our trend of looking hopeless against individual bolstering stars that stand out in average teams.
Might sound boring, but attacking wise I think we definitely need to be looking to build especially with Malen. He is the one who will definitely be here next season.
What a ride the rest of this season could be?
Roll on Sunday.
Damn, Chelsea are winning! Pity a Saudi club didn’t try for Palmer because he’s the difference again.
We should have slapped a cheeky 100 million bid in for Palmer yesterday using the Duran money. Come and win the Champion’s League son, never mind little league Conference!
On the Duran money, we haven’t spent any of it yet have we? Malen with the Philogene cash, and the other’s are all loans! Does that mean a 100 million plus splurge on a couple world class players this summer? A world class central defender under the age of 32 would be top of my list, followed by the skipper’s long term replacement…
Apparently one of our new signings won’t be able to register for the CL, or so I read and it might be Malen who loses out…Anyone confirm this???
Good point about having loans so we don’t get saddled with a big wage bill and no European football, or do we keep them preparing for the season after? If Rashford does work out, he’ll have to accept a significant pay cut, otherwise it’s PSG or Saudi. They’re the only ones who’d pay top (silly) dollar…I still think there enough top class players who have enough integrity not to go to Saudi. Duran and Diaby were fools, as were Henderson and Neymar who all could still play at the top level in Europe. Greed us a powerful emotion, but the Saudi bubble will burst, just like the USA and Chinese leagues.
Hitchens has explained that a few comments previously 🙂
Ah! Will scroll back up. Cheers.
Personally for me I would give Malen a spot in CL as he is permanent and also a first come first served basis if anything although I’m not so sure that is often used in football. Furthermore, I haven’t got much to base it on although Malen has played in a Villa shirt and looked good on top of that.
Malen – permanent + more of a stable pick imo
Disasi – need a defender
Rashford – undroppable with his status imo
Unfortunately, it seems like Garcia and Asensio will miss out (IMO!).
I wish we could just register them all, if only we were Chelsea they might have just altered the rules for us!
Asensio omission?
No chance.
You can bet your bottom dollar that conversation has already been had before he signed on the dotted line.
Yep. After winning it 3 times as well?
Can we deregister players? Or has Hitch nailed that one too??? 😁
Nice to wake up and see Axel on the Official site!
What an overall cracking window. Good luck to those Villains who have moved on, but we’ve made £100m from sales, spent £26m, and still brought in 3 incredible players on loan, all a good age.