I’m sure most of you know I don’t go a bundle on speculation, as it’s mostly rubbish, but there’s nothing happening unless you want to see lots of pictures of players running about in training.
I’m not into that either, because as some of you might know, my opinion says we looked total junk in the pre-season training I saw at Bodymoor Heath, just before we last won the league.
Come to think of it, that’s what probably makes me so cynical about all this type of stuff; all that matters is how we perform on the pitch and the results we get, come actual match days, in my opinion.
That said, I know some of you love the speculation stuff, so I’ll go with it for once.
Just don’t expect it too often;
First off, as some of you have already discussed, it seems Marseilles might have triggered a release clause for Idrissa Gueye.
Now for some reason, I normally had a very good memory for fees and wages supposedly paid by the Villa, but sadly that’s beginning to fade these days.
I do though have an inkling that we paid around 9 million Euros for the Senegalise, but I remember there was confusion which led to suggestions that it was actually £££’s.
If the fee was indeed in Euros, it’s hardly a loss, as 9 million Euros wasn’t far off £7 million then.
And if the truth be told, I don’t think his leaving will be that big a loss either.
I know. He was actually one of our better players last season. But that’s not saying much, is it?
I just feel that while he performed well at times and his figures look good, he was just too anonymous for too many games.
Then again, I’d be happy if he stays. He’s one of the more gritty players that will be needed this season.
The same article also mentions that Celtic might make another bid for Sinclair, but here’s another link which suggests it’ll be £3 mill, after the previous supposed bid of £2 mill.
Which part of “Villa want £6 mill” doesn’t Rodgers understand?
Of course, there will probably be a compromise and the article seems to suggest that RDM is keen to get rid/cut wages.
Regardless, £3 mill seems somewhat cheap to me, although the winger is rumoured to be on £50k+ a week.
Add it up and it’s a lot of expense for a Championship player, even though I’d suggest he’s a good option and another who could really light up our season in a lesser league than the Prem.
This might be an interesting one, as if RDM does sell him, might it be a clue that the manager doesn’t want to play specifically wide men?
Another player leaving might be Micah Richards, if HITC are correct.
£5 mill for a player who had such a poor season and is on wages of somewhere around £55-60k a week?
I’m sorry to disappoint you, but you’ve got to be kidding me and the Villa just aren’t ever that lucky.
While Sam Allardyce isn’t afraid of pushing the boat out, surely he isn’t going to fall for that one. Is he?
Incoming-wise, the Birmingham Mail suggests we might be in for Bristol City striker Jonathan Kodjia at £6.5 mill.
The article suggests that he might replace Ayew, if he leaves.
And he is French, which might make sense too.
We’ll see, but I’m not convinced, although it also makes perfect sense that RDM will indeed be after another striker, given that he’s signed a new goalie, central defender and a central midfielder.
I like that it seems to suggest he’s thinking “if the side has no bottle, get a new spine”.
Still, I’m not convinced by any of the media rattle, until it starts saying “it’s in the bag”.
It’s the cynic in me.
