So those of you who have been reading/contributing or whatever for a while will know that I’m not a fan of speculation because 95% of it is typically absolutely rubbish. But at the same time, I know some of you love it and given that I’ve just realised I haven’t written anything for over a fortnight and tomorrow is the start of the transfer window, it seems a good time to start this thread.
As per usual, we’re selling most of the team and buying a whole new premier league for our squad. Hmm.
It does seem though, that if you try and read in between the lines a couple of possible moves might prove to be reality. First is Douglas Luiz to leave at £50 million or whatever. While this is miles lower than the £80-100 million that has been talked about I think this might be a good deal for us.
I haven’t previously wanted him to go, but I now have a sneaky feeling that his agent and him have been trying to engineer a move. I know some have said his form dropped in the last couple of months, but I think it’s more than that. I think there’s been something very strange in his attitude and it was demonstrated by his sudden terrible disciplinary record. I’m going to go so far as to say that was some small form of a protest and demonstrative that he quite simply wants out.
I don’t think it’s a money thing. He wants a new challenge and his agent thinks Juventus is the place. Good. If you want to go that much, clear off. With my blessing. The club is bigger than you. I can’t say I’m particularly interested in Winston McKennie and the other lad coming our way, but we do need numbers in.
Second, is Jhon Duran to Chelsea for £50 million. That’s frankly laughable and half of that would be a good deal. I’m convinced the lad has a serious attitude problem, as much as I believe he actually has a somewhat valid reason for having it. The fact is Emery doesn’t yet deem him to be good enough to outdo Watkins and it’s as simple as that. And if he doesn’t have the patience to listen to the manager he can go. Particularly if he’s giving the manager a problem, which I think he is.
Having had another glance at the news, it appears Chelsea have agreed a £42 million fee. I’m inclined to think he could be a bargain signing for them, but if it isn’t working for him at the Villa, that’s a lovely amount of money in the pot to stave off this PSR rubbish.
Then, there’s Matty Cash. We’ve apparently slapped a £30 million price on his head. Where do these stories come from? I’d take half that if we have a replacement lined up.
And finally (although I’m sure there’s plenty of other stories) there’s Diegos Carlos, who cost us a fortune, given his age. I liked the look of him early on, but wouldn’t miss him now. That said, we need better defenders and I’m not convinced Mings is ever going to get back to where he was. Maybe we might do better keeping Carlos as a back up? No doubt he’s on big wages though, so I’ll trust the club’s judgement on that one.
Anyway, this is just a starting point. I’m sure many of you will be more interested in the speculation and chat about other rumours.
Me, I’m only interested in deals inked, whether in or out.
Apologies if I have things wrong. The reality is I’m not that interested.
And I know you’ll soon put me right 🙂
No Badger, I think that’s a pretty good summation of the ‘facts’ around the main players in the media headlights.
There are secondary ‘actors’ just off stage such as Coutinho (mutually agreed contract termination), Dendonker, Chambers, Olsen and Archer (as I think we have to buy him back from Sheffield following their relegation). I can also see a couple of the academy being sold – such as Iroegbunam – with possible buy back clauses. It’s clear that raising money (paper profits) from the sale of the better academy players – rather than loaning them out – is a strategy forced on Villa by PSR. Well done to the EPL on yet another short sighted aspect of PSR.
Emery said we will have to be ‘clever’ in the transfer market – hence deals like Barkley (Morgan Rodgers last season) and possibly a couple of frees. We also have two young full backs joining us who we bought and loaned out during the season.
Going to be an interesting couple of months.
I agree there’s something not right with Dougie, but he can be brilliant on his day, but his bookings…dunno what to say about that, it could have just been mental and physical fatigue kicking in, a bit like McGinn’s red card. Like many of our overused players (because we had no choice), our first half of the season was extraordinary, but the second we clung on by our fingertips but made 4th place but loads of player performances dropped! Stunning. In saying that, I’d prefer to live in Turin than Brum Sorry lads!
I’d keep Carlos. He’s had some MOTM performances for me during the last few games where he protected our few precious 3 pointers. Duran reminds me of, oh bloody hell, he played for Liverpool but was very hit and miss and always in trouble… I also agree the 2 players Juve are offering are not to my liking either.
We’ll just have to wait and see I guess.
McGinn’s fat arse is in action tonight! Come on the Scots!!!!!
Balotelli? I can see why you’d make the comparison, Bum Bum. Amazing talent but a bit of loose wiring, shall we say. Not too dissimilar to our own Stanley Victor and the late, sometimes extremely great, Dalian Atkinson. At 20 years of age, I’d still very inclined to work with Duran. And he’s worth every penny of 40 million if he does go for that. He will comfortably score 20 league goals for Chelsea if he’s first choice striker, I’ve little doubt…
Baliotelli! That’s the chap!
I was surprised to hear that Luiz might be going, not so much Duran. However, I guess that Emery is going to have to juggle a lot of things to get a decent squad for the CL. In his eyes, it may well be better to let Luiz go and to have cover in midfield and on the wing (McKennie and Iling Jr) and to bring in another mid-fielder (Gallagher?) with Barkley as cover too.
However, I’m quite relaxed as I’m sure that whatever happens, Emery and Monchi know what they need and will do the right thing.
It’s a strange feeling to know whatever happens, we’re in extremely safe hands. Weird innit!
I see the Scots we’re ripped a new one last night. I didn’t realise Nanny McPhee was involved though. Seems he got a rollocking from Clarke. Clarke is the epitome of a dour Scot. Another highly overrated Manager.
I actually think Gallagher is purely press talk. I’m sure we enquired – I just can’t see it went before, how much is he available for and walked away once quoted 40m+. I actually could see us being more interested in Matteo Guendouzi – who Emery knows, and I think he’s got a bit more than Gallagher, is cheaper too.
Sad news this morning.
BBC are reporting the sudden death, at the age if 26, of Matija Sarkic. He joined the Villa Academy and spent 5 years with the club before a move to Wolves and then Millwall.
Gone far too soon
RIP Matija, now a Holte Ender in the Sky.
And RIP Kevin Campbell as well. One of the top players of the very early 90s before the PL’s inception. Recall he had a good partnership with Ian Wright in the early days. RIP.
Just an observation on what appears to be the continual development of our transfer policy. In years gone by Villa used to buy players with very limited resale value. Where we had a young and up and coming player they were soon bought off us.
Now we appear to be able to decide who and when we sell. I believe it started with Grealish. The buy out clause was set at an astronomical amount £100m. When City activated it, Villa were able to avoid FFP for 3 years.
With those stupid FFP / PSR rules we do need to sell. But we decide who we sell rather than having them picked off by our competitors. We now appear to be entering a period of time where the players we buy are sold when we deem fit and for a profit.
If the Luiz transfer is correct, we bought him for approximately £15m and are now selling him 5 years later for €20m euros, plus a midfielder and winger/ wing back. This is good business.
Durán, if Chelsea don’t change their mind will go for £40m and cost us £17m 18 months ago. A great bit of business. As BFR rightly called it, he is like Balotteli, best shot of.
Meanwhile, Martinez, Konsa, Torres, Tilesman, McGinn, Bailey and Watkins, who would grace any other team in the premier are not for sale. And if we did decide to sell any of these players they would go for a profit. I admired the way Liverpool sold Coutinho to buy Alisson and Van Dijk, the missing pieces to become a trophy winning team. I believe we are on this journey. Sell to improve the team not weaken it.
It seems that ugly head rising again saying Tieleman wants to leave if Duran goes. A move to Turkey according to Villa news website. Always said don’t believe what so called media say but he’s done this before wanting move being unhappy at Villa.
The media is messing with our heads.
Is this another cartel arrangement to try and derail any team trying to break the ‘Sky 6’ monopoly?
I’m quickly moving into Badger’s camp – hating the transfer window and all the rubbish click bait c**p written by so called journalists.
Like Badger I’m now only interested in the OS announcement of done deals.
Indeed Hitch.
Bill, why would Tielemans be so bothered about Duran going? Answer, he wouldn’t.
If he wants to go and I don’t believe it’s true, he can F off for me. He’s been carried for a while and took a long time to come into any kind of form. I expect he knows it too, so the story is gash, imo.
Don’t believe the truth, as the old Oasis album says.
Can anyone else get 10/10 on this?
https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2024/june/14/quiz–fixture-release-day/
3/10.
My memory is shocking for actual events in games.
Ask me what wages players were on 10 years ago and I’m your man.
Who’s watching England and who’s already bored?
OK – I’ll get my coat 🙂
Bellingham is some player
Is it wrong I didn’t celebrate Englands goal? It’s a prolonged period of Southgates football that’s made me feel this way.
Holte I’m with you.
Great anticipation by Bellingham but apart from that England’s football has been sterile, boring and useless. Serbia look far more likely and are playing a more direct and entertaining style of football.
With u Holte. Cannot get excited about this England team…Sad really.
Serbia have realised that England have nothing – which they haven’t.
Serbia are poor but making England look average at best. Having watched Germany, Spain and Italy, we have no chance of winning this tournament. Southgate has great players but somehow like Gerrard, fails to get them performing as a team.
Spot on Holte.
The comms are complete rubbish as well.
We are far too slow in transition – any half decent team can pass in front of the opposition defence!
Shearer is normally a decent and objective observer but even he is being dragged down by the England hype.
Hitch, the commentary team are working harder than the players to try and make it seem England are exciting to watch.
Good call Holte.
There’s only one thing more exciting than watching England – and that’s watching paint dry!
Excellent referee – and I don’t say that very often – but he’s been spot on all evening.
As for England – complete and utter Southgate rubbish – why should we be surprised?
Lineker saying Southgate critics are fed up with the way he defends a 1-0 lead rather than show positivity to make it 2 or 3. To win tournaments we need to be braver.
The “experts” desperately trying to find something good about that performance.
In short, it was gash.
Let’s hope that “growing into it slowly” proves correct, because if we don’t , we have no chance.
Meanwhile, a bean counter is arriving from Celtic after spending 15 years there;
https://videocelts.com/2024/06/blogs/latest-news/celtic-director-quits-for-aston-villa/