Any long time viewers of the site will know my position regarding the transfer windows.
I hate the speculation because the vast majority of it is utter rubbish.
That said, I know some of you love it, so I’m happy to talk about it.
Me, I’ll just remain very sceptical until it has been confirmed that a player has signed.
A typical example of what I believe is utter tosh, is a link I’ve seen to Charlie Austin, the Southampton striker.
There was me thinking he was an attacking midfielder. Did he get pushed up front some time back?
Whatever, he’s 29 and apparently on £70k a week, with two years left to run on his contract.
A cursory glance at the Premier league table tells me Southampton finshed 16th in the season just gone, which is surely at least where we’d hope to finish this season.
So, if he’s deemed not good enough for Southampton, why on earth does anyone think we’d want him?. And on those wages, when it’s blatantly obvious that we have FFP issues, now that it seems we’re under a soft transfer embargo?
For info, this is where a club agrees not to do any deals, after a request from the EFL. This would explain why the Jota and Hause deals were delayed.
But it now seems that the embargo has been lifted, as the latest news is that we’ve taken up our option to sign Hause and the Jota deal has been confirmed by Dean Smith himself.
Which is interesting, because it means that if we were under an embargo, something has happened very, very recently to allow the EFL to lift it.
I wonder what?
Or is it just that we had other irons in the fire and wanted to hold fire?
Jesus, even I’m being sucked into the speculation game now.
Anyway, while the Jota deal makes sense because Smith knows him, the Austin deal just doesn’t, in any way. At all.
Simply put, if we sign 5% of the players we’ve been linked with, the media will have done very well and better than usual.
I can’t remember the actual reason why windows were introduced, but logic tells me it was to prevent clubs reinforcing when they suffered a particular weakness, which gave the bigger clubs another advantage.
But since when have the powers that be been bothered about that?
Or maybe it was to stop “tapping-up” and undermining rival clubs at important times?
Yes, that doesn’t happen any more, does it?
I dont know, part of me wishes we could go back to the old system, as I detest reading pure guesswork.
Austin, for god’s sake?
Welcome Jota, who will be better at Villa, as he won’t have so many poor players around him.
I think we can rule out any players close to 30 years old. Purslow has already stated he wants players who can increase their market value. So Austin and Sturridge for example I would be amazed if we sign them. I would rather we go for Maupay or even Che Adams! Young and hungry and not more Micah Richards type players thank you very much. We all want Mings to sign permanent deal and we should make a good offer for Tuanzebe because I don’t think he will be a starter for Man Ure next season. Will he be happy to be a squad player at best? Also a LB, CM, winger (El Ghazi hopefully) and a couple of strikers. Anything else is to boost our squad.
Personally I don’t mind transfer window although it should close before season starts. I would however be happy for January window to be scrapped. I hate this disruption and if a club doesn’t get enough players in before season starts then that’s tough luck as far as I’m concerned.
Exactly.
Lazy, so called journo’s, please stop posting this crap!
That said, even I can’t resist looking 🙁
they heard you Holte 🙂 This year the transfer window closes on 8th August i.e. before the season starts (Prem and Championship)
I have definitely noticed the transfer rumours increasing.
Here is a list from just the last few days of all the players we are apparently trying to get. It’s funny how the type of player we are after seems to change depending on where the media think they want to position us and how much money we may have to spend…
Gary Cahill
Dwight Gayle
Daniel Sturridge
Joe Lolley
Kalvin Phillips
James Justin
Kemar Roofe
Jota (deal done)
Neil Etheridge
Valentin Rongier
Andre Ayew
Todd Kane
James Tavernier
Neal Maupay
Josh McEachron
Bradley Dack
Daniel Opare
Harry Arter
Charlie Austin
Mbwana Samatta
Fikayo Tomori
This doesn’t include the recent loan players.
If I’ve missed some then let me know. I want to see how long this list gets.
Ooh, good list. I’ll bet it gets much longer.
It’s just ridiculous, imo, but as said, some love it.
As a side note, I’ve just realised Jota’s a two year deal.
How astute, imo.
No doubt very good wages, but only for a short term and he won’t be a millstone around the club’s neck.
I’d love to know what he’s being paid and it has to be well over the top, for him to sign, but for me it’s a step closer to rewards being more closely linked to performance, as opposed to donkeys sat for years doing nothing.
Well done Villa and let’s hope it helps lead to a new way of thinking in the game.
And Uncle Tom Cobbley and all and ………… 🙂
Def – you can add Isaac Hayden and Jack Colback – we were linked with Hayden in January as apparently he wants to move to the Midlands for family reasons.
Is that list the race for the Conservative party leadership?
🙂
Badger interesting comments about a soft transfer embargo due to FFP. I read somewhere that technically Villa are still part of EFL until today, when we officially become part of Premiership. Whilst part of EFL, we need to tread carefully with FFP. As soon as Premiership open to us, so the cheque book opens.
Further linked to this is the change in ownership structure. With lots of sub-companies and the potential NSWE company set up to potentially buy Villa Park. Now if Derby sold their ground to their owner for £80m, how much is Villa Park worth? Especially as there are plans to expand the ground and the associated additional revenue streams it would bring.
OK – reported that we have triggered the option on El Ghazi – £8m. Wasn’t sure about him at first but I think he could do really well in the Prem
For Deferenz’ list – Callum Robinson – yep the the very same that we let go to PNE!
On a separate note ‘Villa announce record breaking sponsorship deal with W88 who were sponsors of Wolves last season. Wolves,who themselves, recently announced a similar record breaking deal cut short their two year deal with W88 after just one season. W88 are regulated in The Philippines and have wide ranging interests in Asia’
Let’s say goodbye to these player’s that helped us to get up.
Axel Tuanzebe and Tammy Abraham were both integral parts of Aston Villa’s promotion campaign last season, and from what we can gather from their social media posts over the past twenty four hours, that’s all they will be to the Villa – last season’s players.
It’s a bit ‘tin-foily’, but both players seem to place their time at Villa as something that has been and gone – thanking the club for the past season.
Yep, so we’ve given them experience, increased their value and educated them for another club, all while their respective clubs learn more about their character.
And yes, they’ve helped us achieve promotion, in all fairness.
But now we’re left with a big hole in the striker position, in particular.
it almost feels as though it wasn’t our team that got promoted, if you can understand what I mean.
It doesn’t make business sense either, which is why Purslow has said we won’t continue down that route.
I detest the whole idea of loans, as they’re only beneficial to the bigger club.
And yes, that includes us loaning out to lesser clubs too.
Yay, that’s my moan of the day out of the way.
Experience tells me you need at least one. Then you can be happy about everything else 🙂
I don’t think Maxi Gomez is on your list so you might want to add him. He’s at Celta Vigo and I really rate him but he might be a bit expensive.
Player I’d go for from La Liga is Cristhian Stuani of Girona. A fine centre forward and one of the best headers of a ball I’ve seen. He’s 32 now so he probably wouldn’t be too expensive but he’d still be good for a couple of seasons. I’d be surprised if Pitarch isn’t at least looking at him.
So Badger another couple of names to add to your list 🙂
Pat, I thought I would keep Deferenz’ list going but found I would be posting a new name every 5 minutes 🙂 proves Badger’s point doesn’t it!
Gomes sounds an exciting player (striker just 22 so fits the profile) and it appears he has been identified by one of our new Spanish scouts Juanfran (sic). The article also suggests that he has said Villa and Valencia have been in contact.
Pat a rider – ‘might be a bit expensive’ (Gomez) – reported £43m release clause!
Just reading that Saloman Rondon won’t now be signing for Newcastle. I think he’d be perfect for us.
Any thoughts?
I can’t agree on Rondon. Maybe as backup – but 12 goals is the most he’s achieved. That might be ok for a winger, but when looking at forwards, I think we already have Kodja who could do that for us. For me, he’d be in the same bracket of player.
Think that’s a good shout Pat 57 did they say to why?, Badger has hit the nail on the head over its a ll paper talk, or fake news. I’ll wait till I see them holding our shirt.
Yes Bill and Badger, the politics and tactics of the returning loanee come to the fore.
Axel and Tammy are under strict agents’ instructions NOT to say ‘I really enjoyed my time at Villa and I hope they sign me’. Especially if that is true.
They have to say ‘It was a good experience and I learned a lot, but now I am back at BigBoys FC I am going to be challenging for a place in the 1st team.” Adding ‘under the new manager’ or ‘in the new look defence’ to suggest they have been paying attention.
Nevertheless do not write off Villa bidding for them if Smith assesses them worthy.
From the Guardian – “Aston Villa will complete the signing of Anwar El Ghazi from Lille in the next 24 hours after triggering the option to buy the 24-year-old winger following his successful loan last season. Villa agreed a fee when El Ghazi joined on loan last August – understood to be £8m.”
Good. At £8 million he’s bargain.
As usual the talk about Rondon isn’t conclusive with some saying he’s going to Fenerbahce while others saying he might still sign for the Toon. I think he’d be a great fit for us though, he’s big and strong and can score goals. He’s had to play a lone role up front for most of last season and he showed his determination and grit. I think we might be quite an attractive proposition for him too with the service he’s likely to get from our mid-field but would the Baggies sell him to us?
We’ll see….
https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/06/07/ney-castillo-claims-aston-villa-want-maxi-gomez/
I know it’s the media and I know it’s HITC but why not if our owners want to make a real statement of intent? Oh well what’s wrong with dreaming? 🙂
Hitch,
Dream on. Gomez’s team, Celta Vigo, just avoided relegation last season so Villa won’t be a step down for him. Other and bigger clubs are also interested but would he get the same game time with them?
I don’t think that £40 million is beyond us and, at only 22 years old, he’ll hold his value. It might just depend on how persuasive Smith and Pitarch are.
Has he done enough, over a sustained period, to warrant that price tag? Depending on Vigo’s finances, I think they’d sell for less, unless a bidding was kicks off.
Likewise, Tammy. 20 million, tops. Both young players who was develop and improve. But I’ve never liked the idea of paying for ‘potential.’
I’d say he’s done enough. Celta Vigo have survived up to now due to Gomez and Iago Aspas. While it’s hard to know how well a player from abroad might do in the Prem, he certainly stood out for me.
I’ve also heard £30 million mentioned so perhaps £40 million was on the high side.
Interesting that Sky Bet are now quoting Villa at12/1 for Gomez whereas there were no quoted odds earlier this morning. I know it doesn’t mean anything other than Villa’s reported interest has been noted.
Bidding war
Baptiste Santamaria anyone?
Badger you’ll need a website just to list all the names of players that, according to the media (and some football agents), Villa are ‘interested in’.
everybody enjoying the footy break. all the rumours being linked to us. i for one cant wait for the season to start, i have always been impatient. but smith needs time to acquire the new players and mould them into his team. i totally trust him to achieve this.
i think we will be more than ready to meet the premiership challenges, when the season starts. it will be very exciting with ups and downs. but thats were we belong and we have to earn that right to stay there.
Same as you Nath, I can’t wait for it to start.
I’m having a couple of weeks off work and am bored witless, missing the footy.
From the Mail – “Aston Villa have lodged a bid for Brentford attacker Said Benrahma, according to reports. The Daily Star is citing a story in France which claims Villa have offered €10m for the winger.”
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-bid-10m-pearl-16399615
Another player that Smith is familiar with. One more for your ever growing list Badger.
The ‘pearl of Algeria’, apparently. His assists and goals stats are excellent for last season. Another in the Mahrez mould, by the sounds of it. His and El Ghazi on the flanks could cause Prem’ defences a lot of problems. Looking forward to seeing who will be the number 9 to fire the bullets loaded by the wide men…
Now, I like the look of him and think he’d be a good signing.
Only 23 too.
11 goals and 14 assists, motm 9 times last season
He seems better on the left though, which you would think El Ghazi has sewn up.