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.
Very poor performance. Only Bellingham and Pickford came away with any credit. So many players were just non-existent and a typical example was Kane. He’s scored umpteen goals last season but one of the things you have to do is get somewhere near the opposition’s goal if you’re going to score. I reckon he spent the majority of the second half at the England end of the pitch giving our defenders no out ball and, not only that, he was being easily out-muscled most of the time.
So, we know that Foden, TAA, Kane etc are good players but what happens to them when they put on an England shirt?
No doubt Southgate will be happy but, once again, fans will be fearing the worst.
Have I missed something, Canadian Pete claiming Luiz has gone to Juve? Has he? Or has CP had too nuch whiskey????
Slovakia giving Belgium a lesson…Arrogant commentators saying beforehand Belgium nailed on and the rest of the group are there for window dressing. Tossers.
Not yet, he hasn’t, but I suspect it’s not looking good despite this article. A deal will be done and I think it’s a really poor one;
http://sportwitness.co.uk/italy-big-twist-douglas-luiz-mega-deal-blocked-aston-villa-transfer-wobbling/
Naa Dougie for illing and mcennie not for me so hope I’m wrong tho in unai we have to trust and we need the money I suppose
Gutted if it happens Dougie had a shit end to the season but he played a lot of football
West Ham away followed by Arsenal at VP. November looks a good month.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/scores-fixtures/2024-08
Although it would be nice to start and finish the season at VP – for a change!
At least we might avoid a 5 goal opening defeat! 🙂
Indeed. I have a possible contact for Pool tix for the grandsons. They’re itching to go to Anfield so they can tick it off a list.
Badger – that’s seven consecutive seasons where our first game has been away.
Someone is loading the dice against us.
Are QuickBooks our new shirts sponsors?
https://x.com/QuickBooksUK/status/608230861637623809/photo/1
Ha ha! Just read the date. 2015!!!! They obviously don’t update their social media very often!
Living on past glories Bum Bum 🙂
Manure last game away let’s hope we’ve already wrapped the league up by then
Iroegbunam to Everton?
I’m not sure whether to believe that, but they seem pretty certain.
Probably good business for us, as he isn’t going to feature regularly for us, but I’m surprised Everton are in for him, given their money problems are worse than ours.
http://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-everton-agree-deal-to-sign-aston-villa-star-tim-iroegbunam/
£10m is good business as he hasn’t really shown any progress this season – suffice to say Emery didn’t see him as an answer to our midfield challenges and when he was given an opportunity he didn’t really show any quality.
He was one of my picks for an exit – interesting to see whether there is a buy back clause but I doubt it.
It is decent business. We’re spending money on bringing these kids through, but now we’re making profit, which is what always led me to criticise the academy before now.
We were constantly making nothing out of them.
Were we only playing at it before?
It would seem so.
Meanwhile, a valiant effort from the Czechs, but the Portugese prove too strong.
If only I could watch an England game and think that whatever happens, we’ll win, as I thought about Portugal tonight.
Austria and Slovakia have been great to watch. Albania currently beating Croatia…
Being reported on X (formerly twitter – why do they say that ?) That Villa have agreed a deal to sign Ian Maatson from Chelsea for £35m on a six year contract. He’s a LB so, if true, who’s for the door?
My money’s on Djgne which would be a shame as I thought he played really well last season whilst Moreno was injured for abou 80% of games!
Agreed. Wrong side of 30, and on over 120k per week. Still got some good value, and could see him fetching 10m+. Good business.
PS – unlikely to sign before 30th June!
Smells of number shuffling to me. I now fully expect Duran to go the other way even if we do out one of the LBs.
So basically pretty much a swap, but the accounts showing money coming in. For Chelsea, at least.
Badger and friends
It is reported that this deal may be slightly north of £35m. In Emery and Monchi I anticipate their success rate in buying the rate players will be spot on. Just watching UTV on YouTube and a good analysis of his data. Looks like a potential top performer aged 22 and will be on a 6 year contract.
What this says to me is that Villa are confident of meeting the financial limitations to balance the books this year.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13547957/Aston-Villa-Ian-Maatsen-Chelsea.html
We all have no idea what is actually going on…
I said I wasn’t going to look at transfer speculation – that’s turned out as well as all my New Year resolutions 🙂
However, this is more a ‘between the lines’ view of the Douglas Luiz saga.
According to several reports Weston McKennie is out of the deal having asked for a salary of £4m after tax and a £2m pay off from Juve. Big sigh of relief all round – sounds like a greedy individual. Villa then asked for an alternative midfielder – refused on valuation and then, similarly refused, a young full back.
We’re now on a fourth choice midfielder who (according to reports) is well down the pecking order. Comments suggest, given Luiz’s value, neither of the two substitute players valuations should have been an issue.
The fact that Villa are still considering the deal does give weight to Villa being over a PSR barrel and suggests we need at least £20m in cash out of the deal whereas Juve don’t want to (or can’t afford) to pay more than that as without McKennie they could simply up the cash element and we can look elsewhere.
Are we at risk of being forced to ‘give’ Luiz away because of the stupid PSR rules?
Luiz shouldn’t be going. The man scores from corners for crying out loud!
No change same side to go again , looks like Southgate made new friends with same as same as . I’m hopeful he drops a goolie with this one because it’s boring football from him .
Bill – you and me on the same page.
Watching yet another boring, Southgate uninspired performance. Got a goal now let’s go to a low block and defend for 70 minutes.
Well done Denmark – look by far the better side.
One word – pathetic
Denmark totally deserved the goal and probably to be winning. Southgate and his coaching staff are pathetic and clueless. I would replace them at half time if I could.
The only other thing that is as annoying is the England commentary sympathizers. At least Micah Richards had the nerve to say replace Kane with Watkins to the gasps of everyone around.
And Thomas Frank, with honesty, says Southgate hasn’t got the balls to do it (in coded language of course!).
Southgate makes the same substitution as against Serbia – which didn’t work then!
Come on Southgate show some inspiration – you’re the manager!
Even Shearer has suggested Southgate put Watkins (a forward with blistering pace) on alongside Kane.
But we know Southgate won’t do that!
His whole approach is a low block defensive game.
We deserve to lose at this rate. Effing awful.
Bum Bum – we’re not that good