I’m bored.
Bored with the lack of footy action and bored with all the rumours I keep reading, where I know 99% of them are at best pure conjecture and at worst complete rubbish.
That said, at least some of our latest rumoured targets are worth reading about.
Idrissa Gueye, seems a useful sort of player, in that he’s a holding midfielder type, who’s apparently beginning to get forward more and have the occasional crack at goal.
I have to admit that he sounds similar to the type of player Fabian Delph was supposed to be when we signed him (as a box to box type) and you have to wonder if he’s going to play with Delph or instead of him?
I don’t really have a clue on that, but if they are to play together, the thought of one marauding forward and the other protecting the defence, with them interchanging, definitely appeals, to me anyway.
I like the thought of Gueye and it’s seemingly a done deal, with him having signed for a fee of £9 million and awaiting a work permit.
Which reminds me. It had previously been suggested that he’s been living in France since he was young, which I would have thought means he’s a naturalised Frenchman. Now I’m not convinced that’s the case.
Going back to the “complete rubbish” comment, this is where Delph comes into it.
Even if we assume that the rumoured £10 or even £8 million buyout clause is true, there is no way, in my opinion that Delph will be going anywhere for that kind of money.
The latest rumours I’m reading are that he’s Manchester City bound, with a wage of £100,000 a week.
That’s all well and good (for the player) and depending on what type of buyout clause it is, the club would probably be obliged to let Delph talk to City.
But surely you would expect another club to come in and match that sort of money?
Maybe not the wages, but at least the £8 or 10 million?
It’s a steal for an England midfielder, after all, even if some of us don’t particularly rate him?
That’s where the confusion kicks in, as I’d expect the club to be more interested in any higher bid.
Who gets preference in a case like that, is beyond me, but I’d suspect it would come down to yet another sort of deal, between the buying club, Delph and the Villa.
Suffice to say, I don’t think he’ll be leaving that cheaply.
But who knows?
I’m not even convinced Delph would want to shine his backside and be another Milner, at City, but it seems Begovic is happy to do just that at Chelsea, so again, who knows?
What else?
Ah yes, we’ve apparently tabled a £9 million bid for Nice left back Jordan Amavi.
He’s supposed to be a very good player who most importantly for me, defends as well as he gets forward.
I’ve previously said I think this is at least one of the most important positions we need to look at and if we were to get him, I’d actually be a bit excited.
We supposedly face competition for his signature from Arsenal and Southampton, which is very encouraging, as the latter club in particular have a brilliant recent record in signing players.
And there’s another midfielder, in Anderlecht’s Dennis Praet.
I’m not so convinced about this one, as he’s an attacking midfielder.
What he has over Carlos Gil, I’m not sure, but it’s £10 million we’re talking about, so you would expect he has something about him.
I’ve spoken to a couple of Villa fans at work and they’ve both expressed a slight concern that we’re not being linked to strikers, but that’s most likely to be down to what happens with Benteke, in my opinion.
Which is a situation, where I genuinely think the club don’t know what’s going on.
Hence it would appear that the club are willing to spend money regardless.
I know I’ve had the arguments that the club will spend money whatever the situation of the takeover is, but I’m not at all convinced.
It seems to me the club are going to spend proper money in this window and it isn’t coming from Randy Lerner.
It’s then logical to suggest that the takeover is probably a lot closer than we think.
That’s pure conjecture on my part though.
Hey, if the papers can do it, surely I can?
Whatever, I’m liking the players we’re being linked too and am encouraged.
