I thought it was about time we moved on from the Man city game and our somewhat disappointing end to the season and looked at better things.
So after getting Boubacar Kamara (on a free) in really early and Phillipe Coutinho (£17 million) even earlier, the club have just announced that we’ve now signed Diego Carlos from Sevilla for a rumoured £26 million.
Even better is the fact that AC Milan were also interested, but frankly couldn’t compete with what we’re supposed to have offered him in wages.
When you consider that Carlos’ supposed value on Transfermkrt is £40 million plus that looks excellent business on the face of it. The Spanish club have to comply with some FFP type rule by the end of June and we’ve obviously used it as something to beat the club down with and then offering the Brazilian defender no doubt sky high wages has obviously swung the deal. We all know how a player can sway a move if he really wants it.
It’s the same with Kamara. I’d love to know what we’re paying him, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s currently our highest paid player. £200K a week, or £40 million total, over a four year deal is pretty good business for example and hopefully he hasn’t even cost that much, which makes it an even better deal!
I’ve pretty much said all this in the replies section in the previous thread, so I kind of shot my foot in the foot there, but oh well, this is worth a new subject, I think.
I’m guessing we’ve probably committed to a £60 million spend for this season alone.
Are we spending the Grealish money, I wonder?
If so, we’ve bought an attacking mid, a defensive mid and now a defender. While I think I said previously that I thought we need 5-6 players in (or at least thought it), I think the most popular opinion from what I’d read was around four new players required.
Top players, I mean.
Squad players would be replacements for all those that will go.
So I’m guessing we are going to spend another £40 million on a striker or maybe another two cheaper players.
That’s without wages, by the way.
There’s lots of variables of course, as we could get good money for Ings, if he goes.
But whatever, it’s highly encouraging isn’t it?
We’re doing our business really quickly and even if we pause now, we’ll have players in that will do the whole pre-season. That can only be a good thing, although in all honesty, I don’t think it’s such a big deal. Almost everyone else does though, so I have to go with that, I guess.
What else is also impressing me is how this time, those that are usually totally speculating seem to be very on the ball.
I guess it makes a pleasant change from hearing the usual clickbaiters getting it totally wrong.
I’m also guessing that us paying wages that are blowing top clubs out of the water is hard to keep quiet.
I have previously voiced my concerns that we may be ending up with a “bomb squad mk11”, but I suppose what we’re doing is the right way to go if we really want to compete and get better.
You have to speculate to accumulate and I have to be appreciative of what our generous owners are doing.
UTV!
We really must be bored 🙂
Almost as bored as I am of reading how “journalists” and pundits keep telling us what’s going to happen, when the reality is they haven’t got a clue.
Latest case, Luiz, Sanson and Ings “could be in trouble”.
Any Villa fan could have written that, yet it’s supposed to have some credence because Josh Holland said it?
We’ve been talking about those sorts of players for half a season or more!
Roll on the end of the window so we don’t have to sift through this sort of rubbish in the hope of some proper news!
Been looking at “B’ham Live” every now and again over the last few days; they just keep re-cycling the same old ‘rumours’ and ‘might-be’s’ over and over.
Mind you, looking at some of the other paper websites, there’s been almost complete absence of anything to do with Villa at all.
Pretty obvious that whatever the club may be doing behind the scenes, nobody is getting even a sniff out of it.
They definitely seem to know nothing.
Is that good or bad?
I’m really not sure.
Actually, that top agent called Kamara (I think it was him) as a done deal, quite early on.
That’s the sort of stuff we want!
Yes very boring on the transfer front. Like Ardent says, we do so much behind closed doors when it comes to transfers that there probably is a lot of talks going on we will just find out when the club wants us to which can be frustrating at times when all we want is to see “Villa in advanced talks with Mbappe”… on another note Cameron Archer got his first goal for the England u21s tonight. Very pleased for him and keeps that confidence going heading in to pre season.
I’d rather have watched that instead of wasting my time half watching the main England side.
How boring are we to watch?
We’re actually second favourites to win this tournament that noone wants.
Hmm, we’ve lost to Hungary and drawn to Germany.
I won’t be putting any money on it.
I’ve still got high hopes for Archer.
What odds he proves to be yet another who doesn’t live up to expectations?
I hope not, but the odds are not in his favour.
I don’t mean to sound pessimistic about it, but I’ll continue to make the same old point.
We always talk about our “great kids” coming through.
Yet the reality is more like we have one or two a decade who go on to make it to the top.
Hopefully we’ve turned that around and we have a gravy train of players coming through and being sold a la Southampton and West Ham etc.
We’ve certainly been told often enough of how good they currently are.
And we’re still adding to the Academy by harvesting some of the top kids in Britain. If the Academy is to be a success we need to keep feeding new talent in at the bottom,
Rory Wilson is the latest from Rangers – 16 years old and highly regarded striker (49 goals for the youth team last season) for whom, it’s reported, we are paying a £300k development fee. Gerrard should know all about him.
Also after another Scottish youngster but can’t remember his name where, it’s been suggested, we are paying a further £200k. Haven’t been able to find the report though.
On the media muppets – the sheer volume of regurgitated copy being put on line under ridiculous and misleading headlines is embarrassing. The term ‘hack’ springs to mind.
Serious journalism sacrificed on the altar of click bait income.
Definitely far too many over the years who’ve been touted as the ‘next big thing’ only to end-up spending most of their career in the lower leagues.
I’d guess the same must happen at many other clubs, ‘fantastic’ prospects at 16-18 don’t look so hot when they’re 21-23 and haven’t made 1st team regulars.
Ewan Simpson (15) from Hearts is the other youngster we are reported as having agreed a transfer – I think the development fee is £200k. He’s 16 next month and can then sign a pro contract.
I agree Ardent that there’s no guarantee that youngsters will continue their development but I do think we have significantly upgraded our strategy for the Academy up to U23’s. Continually feed promising youngsters in at the bottom through a combination of local recruitment and an aggressive acquisition policy – and if they haven’t made it by 20’ish then ship them out.
Of course the problem with the latter point is we could end up missing out on a
late developer – O’Hare at Coventry might be an example of that.
It seems from Sky reports that Targett’s loan may have included an option to purchase for £12m. Sky are reporting Newcastle are likely to conclude this deal in the next few days.
Some money for the transfer kitty?
It seems the overall deal is £15m including the loan fee. I think we paid £14m for him so a reasonable piece of business.
I still think that’s too cheap 🙂
He obviously didn’t like the idea of having to fight for a first-team berth again – so good luck & good-bye.
(Although what he’ll do if Newcastle spend some of their oil money on a £30m left-back this summer will be interesting to see..)
Good point.
I’d also be interested to know what wages he’ll be getting.
I wonder if Newcastle pay more than the Villa now?
I’d definitely have said not before their takeover, but now is probably totally different.
And we all know wages is what makes the decision for most players.
Which reminds me.
I saw an article that listed every Prem league’s teams wages compared to their club position (estimated by Keiran Maguire).
Guess who was the most places behind where they should be?
Yep, it was us at 4 places lower (10th highest wages, 14th place finish).
https://twitter.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1534282725347274762?t=auWLhq3B674AGxHJxEasXA&s=19
Cameron Archers first goal for England 💜💙
Ah, nice one Bill.
Doesn’t he make it look easy?
Clinical seems the right word for him.
See the Saudis ‘Public Wealth Fund’ – not, of course, a Government backed fund but headed by the same individual as the fund that bought the Bar Codes – are now taking golf apart. Golfers joining the break away competition now desperately trying to justify their outright greed – they’re not exactly poor anyway?
I have no problem with people earning whatever they can and entertainers get big bucks because we all pay to watch them. But this is greed on a massive scale not justified by income ‘at the gates’ but through funds pumped in by a Middle Eastern regime for political purpose.
Sport is slowly being used by politics and destroyed by money and those within it have their hands out – rather like Oliver Twist!
Football take note.
Rant over.
I saw an article on the news about half an hour ago saying one of the golfers is set to earn £120 million from joining LIV.
It’s just obscene and no surprise that they have players joining them.
Dustin Johnson £120m of appearance money for 8 events irrespective of where he finishes – former World No 1 – now banned from PGA events – who basically said in coded language of course ‘I couldn’t care less (about no longer playing PGA events) I’m here for the money’.
Like American sport in general – all about money and no true competition. I mean where else in the World can you have a World Series between two American teams where no one else takes part?
Says it all.
Apologies in a ranty mood 🙂
The thing is though Hitch, if it was offered, how many people would turn that sort of offer down?
That’s fair comment Badger but we are getting to the point that the sort of monies being paid to top sports people across many sports are now out of balance with reality.
I think that what really annoyed me was the disingenuous way in which they tried to justify their decisions.
Greg Norman said publicly Tiger Woods was offered just under a BILLION quid to play.
Targett’s £15 mill move just confirmed on the Beeb.
According to The Mirror he’s signed a four year contract worth £100k per year – no wonder he wanted to leave!
£100k a week, I assume you meant?
Wow.
Just wow.
Yeah sorry – £100k per week.
Well over the top imho.
“Yeah sorry – £100k per week”.
Over the top compared to what. Maybe a has been golfer who almost certainly will be required to ride a camel at least once a year.
Totally agreed how wage ratios have become crazy between them and us, well me and them at least.
No. Them and the remaining 99.99% of us !!
In reply to your question Gerry – I think £100k per week for Targett is an over valuation of the player, even in the current inflated market, and I couldn’t see Villa paying him those sort of wages. But then Newcastle can afford to pay silly money can’t they?
When you consider Coutinho is on £125k per week.
So Archer got another 2 tonight, that’s 3 goals in 3 games for the U21s. I watched the 2nd half until Archer came off and he really has a strikers instinct. 2 very well taken goals, one of them came from an assist from Ramsey. Could be a budding partnership? Ramsey, when he gets running with the ball looks superb, I think he will be a star.
I keep being impressed by Archer!
I am if the opinion Villa should not look to buy another forward but play him instead. Every challenge he has been presented with he has achieved and some.
*Barrow – scored a clinical hat trick.
* Chelsea – scored arguably Villa’s goal of the season.
* PNE – consistently scored
* England U21: 3 goals in 3 games
We are told emphasis has been placed on developing our own players. Here is one who should be backed. I remember Gary Shaw another one of our own making it at a young age.
I am very impressed with him to be fair, I’ve tried not to get to carried away but I do think he’s a next rising star for us. Like you say Sid, he seems to have impressed every time he’s had a chance and yes that goal against Chelsea was superb. Not to forget he finished as the EFL Trophy top goalscorer and we didn’t even make it all the way. I really want to see him get time next season, but then it’s a toss between 1 more season on loan at a club like Rangers, where he will be a regular starter (plenty others are interested too) or a 20 minute a game sub for us now and again as I can’t see Gerrard letting him play 60 to 90 minutes every week which is what he will need to get going and keep pushing on. He’s a talent that we need to keep that’s for sure.
A lot of very effusive comments in the media about Archer and a number of clubs trying to get him on loan next season.
This is one of a number of big decisions Gerrard has to make during pre season. Does Archer go out on loan for another season (or maybe half a season) before coming full on into Villa’s first team squad – and if so, which club would offer him the best opportunity to progress?
If Gerrard is after Bassey from Rangers then loaning out Archer as part of the deal might just swing it – will that encourage Gerrard to let him go for a season?
Other transfer rumours suggest Villa are prepared to listen to offers for Ings. Of the two, it seems more likely that Villa would be prepared to let Ings go rather than Watkins.
Going to be an interesting few weeks.
Under 21 goals and a good effort from Ramsey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04syvy1HeJc
Gerry, also just noticed Ramsey captained the U21’s last night.
Doing well and looking better all the time. I think he’s going to be a special player for Villa – I was one that couldn’t see why Smith kept playing him; I was wrong – no wonder I’m rubbish at Fantasy Football 🙂
Ramsey’s going to better than Grealish (IMO) – and quite soon.
Archer will be kept at the Villa and then sent on loan for the second half of the season, imo.
No disrespect to Preston meant, but he needs to step up a level if he’s to improve.
He needs Prem experience, yet he’s not quite at that level which is why he’ll probably go back to Preston (which is better than Ranger’s level, imo)
That must be so frustrating for a player.
As for Ramsey, I think he has boatloads of potential, but needs way more consistency. Hopefully he’ll get there.
According to the Evening Mail;
“Aston Villa have been dealt a potential transfer blow after Brentford have reportedly made an ‘official approach’ to sign Bologna defender Aaron Hickey.”
I’m pretty confident that if we’d wanted him, we’d already have him in the bag.
Bloody rag papers.
Supposed to be after him last season – the all seeing Greg Evans said it was a nailed on certainty – then we bought Digne. Oops 🙂
Wouldn’t surprise me if we offered Ashley Young another year.
Interesting this but is it true? Off the blog in Scotland.
It’s the dawn of Gio van Bronckhorst’s first full season in charge and Rangers are hoping to make it one to remember for the Dutchman.
And while it’s been quiet on the incoming transfer front so far, things are set to heat up in the days ahead as the international hiatus draws to a close.
One player who has used the break to his advantage is reported Ibrox target Cameron Archer.
The 19-year-old Aston Villa striker was linked with a move to Glasgow by talkSPORT, and interest is only likely to step up after he fired in a double for England Under-21s against Albania.
Only as a potential loan Bill – possibly as part of a deal to buy Bassey.
Villa are not interested in selling him – Gerrard’s quote – ‘if you’re interested in Archer you better get out the noughts’ !
All too likely because with Pep and Gareth telling him whatever you do – don’t lose the ball Grealish is rapidly degenerating.
I see Cash scored for Poland yesterday then .
Ings offered to Man U and Arsenal on the cheap?
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1624148/Man-Utd-Arsenal-transfer-news-Premier-League-striker-Danny-Ings
if the version on B’Ham Live is to be belived (??) – they say that Gerrard is on record as being more than happy with Ings being in the 1st team squad and extremely unlikely to put him in the shop window.
Perhaps the player himself is being tempted by the likes of ManU, but something tells me this rumour is just noise.
I really think that none of the bloggers & journos actully have a clue what business Villa may be doing – no leaks as in the the days of Deadly…!
The article actually says absolutely nothing and nowhere does it say Villa have ‘offered Ings on the cheap’ to anyone. Arsenal aren’t even mentioned.
It’s not even original referring to 90 minutes as the source.
Click bait misleading headline as usual.
Ings may well be available if the right price comes in – as would a number of players but Villa would, first, have to acquire a replacement striker.
As Ardent says Gerrard has often referred to Ings as a top class striker and the impression he gives is that he wants to add a third striker to the first team squad not get rid of one.
Football Insider is saying SG is interested Oxlade-Chamberlain (dear god no) but this could possibly mean curtains for Buendia.
F**king crazy if any foundation.
RSS – about as much substance as the ‘Ings offered on the cheap’ story which, it appears, Gerrard has taken the decision to openly deny.
I’ve seen this rubbish being attributed to TalkSport (another source that likes to make-up the ‘news’ when there isn’t any…).
The only way I can see Villa being remotely interested in him would be if he was available on a free, and prepared to play for ‘realistic’ (-in football terms, at least) wages. Can’t see that happening.
You’re probably right lads – bullshit click bait and/or his agent fishing for a move?