Why haven’t we signed Mings? or Tuanzebe? Or Phillips?

There’s been loads of clamour for us to sign Tyrone Mings and quite rightly so.
He proved a confident, play-out type of defender that we know Dean Smith wants.
He was also vocal on the pitch, which is always important.

While I think at times he seems so relaxed he can be sloppy, which might find him caught out at Premier league level, he’ll improve.
There’s more to it for me though, in that he inspires confidence, with a seemingly never ending smile on his face and most importantly of all, the rapport he has developed with the fans, with his singing with us and even wearing the kit on his arrival home after the play-off victory.
It’s that last part that makes him a player we must sign.

So why haven’t we, yet?

It’s quite simple, really and it’s the fact that we have a matching clause, where if we match any incoming bid, we get him, simple. Well, depending on wages, of course.
And as far as I know, no-one else has bid for him yet.

We have to be clinical and wonder why if he’s that good, there’s been no other offers as yet?

We could go straight in and offer £15 million or so and get it done, but that would be really poor business.
Why do it, when there may be no other offers and we could buy him at the minimal fee that’s probably been set in the agreement (I’ll guess around £8 million)?

Not that it matters.
I’m totally convinced he wants to come to us and we’ll easily match any last minute offer that might come in.
I really wouldn’t expect Mings in before deadline day and suspect he half knows he’s coming to us, whatever happens.
We’re not just buying him for his ability.
We also want him for what he’s added to the positive feeling that we’re currently experiencing.

It’s being suggested that Axel Tuanzebe is going to sign a long term contract for Man Utd and I find it questionable, myself.
Why would he, if, as much as OGS promises to have a look at him and even hints he’ll play him, there’s nothing concrete behind it?
Man U are never going to guarantee that a young lad plays. They can’t afford too.
And I’d rate OGS as one of the favourites for the sack anyway, so his opinion possibly doesn’t count for much.
It’s probably more about trying to get the best price on Man U’s part, combined with the best wages on his agent’s part.
It all depends on Axel himself. He knows he’ll get a start for us, week in, week out.

If he doesn’t come to us, so be it. We move on and no doubt have other targets.

Phillips is a different kettle of fish and it reminds me of the Grealish situation last year.
We apparently seriously want him and it makes sense, as he’s a player I reckon could easily make the step up to the Prem. It’s an area we’re seriously light on too.
Yet, he admirably wants to stay at Leeds. You can’t fault any player for loyalty.
It would seem Leeds are going to offer him a better contract, but I very much doubt they could match the money that we could offer him and it’s the money that talks.
As much as it grates, I really hope he ignores his agent, signs that contract and stays at Leeds for another year, just as Jack did with us.
Then, if he and the team continue to do well, Leeds benefit from a higher sale price, the player gets a better offer and everyone’s a winner.

The difference from the Grealish situation though, is that Phillips is being offered the Premier league now, if we really are in for him.
Which makes it a little tricky.
A guaranteed step up in leagues has to be a tempter.

I think he’ll stay.

Whatever, I’m sure things are going on in the background and while it’s frustrating that not much is happening, things will happen.
I’m pretty sanguine about it all.

123 Comments

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  1. Hitchens60
    Hitchens60 July 5, 2019 at 10:58 pm . Reply

    Badger – Tuanzebe has signed a new contract with Manure and I suspect, initially at least, he will not be going out on loan. I think your summing up of the Mings situation is spot on. As the transfer window closes on 8th August and he knows the club and the majority of the team, it won’t be a disaster if he signs on deadline day (having had a full preseason with Bournemouth).

    On Phillips – not a clue! What do you actually believe – there is so much claptrap being written in the football press.

  2. Texas Villan
    Texas Villan July 5, 2019 at 11:13 pm . Reply

    New contract or not, I think all it’s done is raise Tuanzebe’s value for any potential suitors down the road. It’s quite clever really – string a young player along with more money, giving him the impression he’s important to them. But I’ll bet by Christmas if he’s not playing, we’ll see him back at the club on loan with a sale at the end of next year (assuming we stay up).

    I must admit to feeling pretty concerned at the state of the current squad. Wesley looks a great signing but we really need someone of proven quality. We’re still VERY lightweight in the squad and I hope DS gets as many of his first choices as he can.

  3. Hitchens60
    Hitchens60 July 6, 2019 at 12:24 pm . Reply

    Cahill to Villa seems to be gathering momentum. Personally, I don’t think this is a bad move – the stumbling block might be the length of contract he would want.

    1. Pat57
      Pat57 July 6, 2019 at 3:44 pm . Reply

      Hitch, if Tuanzebe isn’t rejoining us then Cahill might make sense. I think we’ve made the signings we can and the rest, as suggested, might well go down to the wire.

      Somehow I’ve got faith that it will all come good.

  4. Holte66
    Holte66 July 6, 2019 at 6:14 pm . Reply

    If we get Mings and Cahill I will be happy with that regarding our CB situation with Chester and Hause also capable. If Tuanzebe has signed a contract with Man Ure then that’s fine and I wish him well. If things don’t work out for him there, then no way will Purslow agree to have him back on loan. He’s already said no more loans because it’s bad for business, and I totally agree. We don’t need to be a feeder club anymore.
    I do think we need a defensive midfielder and another striker at least before season starts. Wesley might be like Benteke was for us but I think he is more like a Heskey type player and will benefit those around him. His goal scoring stats aren’t great but he holds ball up well and can pick a pass. Kienan Davis if he stays can learn from him too.
    Personally I’m getting bored of all the links now. I just want to get to August 8th and see who we have signed.

  5. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum July 6, 2019 at 9:32 pm . Reply

    Sign Mings now!!!

  6. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson July 7, 2019 at 7:41 am . Reply

    I’m brast off Minns not on our list yet, Cahill might be a leverage to Bournemouth of an appended buy to get them to agree. Who is holding back Villa for less than we want? or Bournemouth trying to screw up for more. We need a player like Minns to marshal our defence, Cahill had his day and would be looking to get top money more than welcoming the chance to get honours. Get Minns we need him badly .

    1. Holte66
      Holte66 July 7, 2019 at 12:39 pm . Reply

      Bill, I think it is a case of Villa holding their nerve. I agree that we could be waiting for another club to make an offer so we can use matching offer clause that was in the contract. More speculation that Bournemouth are asking for 25m. When you consider the fee paid for Wesley, then you have to be honest and admit 25m is reasonable considering the value of promotion which Mings played a massive part in.

      1. Hitchens60
        Hitchens60 July 7, 2019 at 3:07 pm . Reply

        I can’t agree that it’s reasonable although it might reflect the crass and offensive stupidity which is the transfer market at the moment. Bournemouth paid Ipswich £8m and he’s played just 17 times for them which equates to £1m per game inflation. I like Mings but at that price I agree with Bill and would waive two fingers at them (nicely of course 🙂 ).

        I also agree with Bill that we need to concentrate our recruitment in Europe where better value can be found – but even the European teams are beginning to realise that they can ask silly money.

        When the football bubble bursts which it most surely will there is going to be a lot of points deductions, league demotions and general mayhem.

  7. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson July 7, 2019 at 12:42 pm . Reply

    So its been established that 25 million is the asking price for Mings, that’s according to most of the papers this morning. Bournemouth holding us to ransom over the asking fee. What would you do seeing his input to the team? I’d be inclined to look elsewhere with two fingers up till January’s open window.

  8. Hitchens60
    Hitchens60 July 7, 2019 at 5:00 pm . Reply

    Er – we may have got this completely wrong – now being reported that we have agreed a fee of £26.5m with Bournemouth for Mings.

    Holte, I bow to your perception but, if true, then the football world has, indeed, gone mad.

  9. Hitchens60
    Hitchens60 July 7, 2019 at 5:18 pm . Reply

    Now being reported by Sky

    1. Hitchens60
      Hitchens60 July 7, 2019 at 5:20 pm . Reply

      Fee between £20m and £26.5m depending on which report you read – so it will be for ‘an undisclosed fee’ no doubt. Still I suppose it shows intent.

  10. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson July 7, 2019 at 5:31 pm . Reply

    We’ve got him, Greg Evens, 20 million.

  11. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson July 7, 2019 at 5:38 pm . Reply

    Aston Villa have had a £20m bid accepted by Bournemouth as they close in on Tyrone Mings, their top summer transfer target.

    The 26-year-old is expected to sign for the claret and blues in the next 48 hours following successful negotiations.

    Mings starred for Villa last term as he made 18 appearances in the promotion-winning campaign.

    And he was keen on a move away from Bournemouth after reinventing himself as a centre-back.

    Villa were determined to get the deal done before the pre-season trip to the US next week and are set to officially announce the capture in the days ahead.

    1. Sidforever
      Sidforever July 7, 2019 at 8:53 pm . Reply

      Hitch

      Good point well made.Since we were relegated from Premier the prices have gone up for new players. If Mings costs us £20-25m and we have 5 years from him, that’s only £5m a year (exclude wages). I don’t that’s too bad a piece of business.

      If we can remain up next year, we will be in a totally different position. We can then start to buy players for the future, rather than ones who have to hit the ground running.

      The transfer market is inflated. Hazard was very good, but £100m+. Every club will use this as a benchmark and try to inflate prices accordingly. Last year Leicester took a punt on Madison for £25m from the championship. The only trend is up. This really calls into prominence the youth set up at Villa. More home grown players please. I still think the greatest exponent of this was Ferguson with his class of 92! It meant he could spend big on a couple of players, like RVN, rather than lots of middle priced ones. If we can emulate this, then we really could be in business. Plus
      Look at the additional commitment “one of our own” have. If they are half as committed as Grealish, life could be good. Hopefully Grealish can help them with his experience. Then we can build a dynasty.

  12. Hitchens60
    Hitchens60 July 7, 2019 at 5:55 pm . Reply

    Also reported we’re after a deal for Egypt mid fielder Trezeguet at £10m and Smith / Pitarch were in Egypt to watch him play in African Cup.

  13. Big Fat Ron
    Big Fat Ron July 7, 2019 at 8:53 pm . Reply

    Whoa, calm down people!

    Before this was announced, every Villa fan was pining for Mings like a schoolboy with an adolescent crush. He was even mentioned regularly in the same breath as a certain legendary Irishman. “Announce Mings” had become a cliche almost as common as ‘sick as a parrott.’

    But now that our brilliant leaders have got the deal done, we’re all whingeing as if we’ve had to pay for him out of our own pockets, instead of jumping for joy that the spoilt newcomer to the party got his way again. Or maybe we’re that spoilt kid who demands the best toys, then when he gets them, doesn’t want them any more. Pathetic.

    And what will Mings make of this reaction? He was lead to believe that the Villa faithful had taken him to their hearts and he was already a legend in their eyes.

    Please, don’t spoil this. Just say “thank you” to the owners and “welcome” to the big man! Oh, and for the record (Hitch said it already) if Maguire is worth £95 million, that makes him 4 times the player Mings is. So if Mings is suddenly not the player we’ve been hankering for, he’s still worth the money because he’s definitely worth a quarter of Maguire!

    I never thought we’d have to mention O’Leary in a post about signing Mings, but stop being so f****** fickle, people! Not to mention ungrateful!

    Up the bloody Villa (dismayed)

    1. Hitchens60
      Hitchens60 July 7, 2019 at 9:22 pm . Reply

      BFR – I think we are all delighted at the signing of Mings. I think the general dismay is with the inflated nature of the transfer market and, I suppose, it’s something we have to learn to live with. Maybe we also have to come to terms with the fact that we can actually make this level of signing without fear of becoming no unable to pay the bills – something very new after our recent experience of the ‘mouth and trouser’ brigade 🙂

      So for the record – brilliant that we’ve signed him and made up that we have owners that can fund two record signings in one window.

      Up the bloody Villa (overjoyed) 🙂

  14. Pat57
    Pat57 July 7, 2019 at 9:20 pm . Reply

    Of I’m being honest Mings at 20 million is a snip at current prices.

    His leadership and optimism are worth much more to us than that. I’m convinced that Smith and the team know what they’re doing.

    Welcome home Tyrone!

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