Gillz

Really rate Barkley. He's the most 'two footed' England player i've seen in a while. Look so comfortable on the ball with either foot which always made him stand out for me. His issue at Chelsea has always been consistency, which is understandable considering he's been in and out of their side. Would be a big fan of this signing.

you just love to see it. Super Jack. Captain, Leader, and one day to be legend

We all know there is a player there - he's strong, makes good runs, holds up the ball really well. It's just such a shame that he is completely useless at scoring goals - a key part of being a striker. You hope that if he scores one, it will snowball into more - but we can't wait for that to happen in the PL. New contract, then loan him out and see what happens next summer

Let not forget this is the guy who scored the goals that kept us up - 2 against Palace and 1 against Arsenal. Don't get me wrong, i think we need to upgrade and i'm fully aboard the Rashica hype train - but that doesn't mean we just throw this guy on the scrap heap. A decent enough option for the bench/squad depth

Ah, the good old fashioned 'smokescreen' transfer rumour

The Dream

Watching that video. His ability to weight a pass well with either foot is sensational. I am fully all aboard the Rashica hype train and enjoying the nonsense thread we have - but secretly i think i would prefer Buendia

Its almost as if Villa fans are allergic to squad depth

You make a great point. But i was just trying to make a fish pun....

Yeah...but do we want a player he doesn't really want to be here. Im all for player having a change of heart, but you have to question does he really want it in his sole?

i dont really have any right to be, but I felt quite proud when he came on tonight.

Cash, Watkins....now go get Buendia

Very happy we seem to have got this over the line - even if it is for more than we might like. Think he looks a cracking player and should hopefully bag double figures. Also very excited to see what he will do when playing off Welsey too - could be a great partnership.

I think King is a decent enough player - good if not amazing scoring record and a player who catches the eye at times. Would be happy with the signing......but It just feels really weird having been knocked back over Wilson. Almost as if you've ended up with the younger and prettier sister but for some reason you're disappointing because you got rejected by the older and slightly uglier looking sister first.

Im still not nervous....but im not nearly as relaxed as i once was. Could do with Watkins done in the next few days to ease any potential nerves

Whilst twitter is sceptical - this guy is a incredibly reliable and has been for several transfer windows. He's connected to everton but has news from other clubs occasionally.

You say that, but he was one international geo-thermal disaster away from signing from Blackburn - so anything is possible! (context: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11843087/how-blackburn-rovers-almost-bought-robert-lewandowski)

Could i suggest adding a poll to the thread? Seems like this is a potential signing that is really splitting opinions

For Context: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54001034 Aston Villa are hoping to sign Bournemouth's England striker Callum Wilson after opening talks on a deal worth about £20m. Boss Dean Smith wants to add to Villa's attack after they stayed up on the final day of last season. Wilson, 28, scored seven goals in 35 Premier League games as Bournemouth were relegated to the Championship. Villa are also close to signing Nottingham Forest's English right-back Matty Cash, 23, for about £16m. Cash was one of the standout performers in a Forest side that narrowly missed out on the Championship play-offs last season. The academy graduate has made 141 appearances for the club since making his debut in 2016. Villa's Grealish gets first England call-up Bournemouth have already sold prime assets, such as defender Nathan Ake to Manchester City and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to Sheffield United, since their relegation to the second tier. Wilson has won four England caps, the last of which came in the 6-0 win against Bulgaria in Sofia in October 2019, and has scored one goal. He has also been linked with Newcastle, West Ham and Tottenham but Villa, who have also been touted as a potential destination for Brentford's Ollie Watkins, are ready to make a firm move.

Page 750-770 on this thread was one the bleakest things i've ever read. In the next 5 pages it breaks that we are signing Matty Cash, and potentially a England International Striker with a proven track record + a decent keeper for relatively cheap. And people are stilling moaning somehow. Madness.

Leicester have signed Timothy Castagne for 24m Euros from Atalanta. Matty isnt going anywhere - which is great news in my eyes.

I watched Cash a bit in the championship last year and he'd talented. Looks very comfortable at that level, will have to see how he steps up. However, even though i think he's a decent player, the fact that our first signing this window is potentially at £12m RB from the championship just feels really underwhelming. I get that just because he's first doesn't means he's going to be the main addition, but after weeks of waiting and speculating - this just feels like an anti climax.

Gareth Barry was quality. He just made the midfield tick. The type of player who you didnt always notice until he wasn't in the side. Taxi stealing aside, seemed like a really decent bloke too Wish him all the best for his retirement!

I 100% agree the defence can be improved. In fact, with the exception of Jack and Douglas Luiz - every position can be improved. It's about prioritisation though. Post lock-down our defence looked better, but we couldn't buy a goal as hard as we tried. With limited (but not too limited hopefully!) resources, we need to prioritise the worst areas, which for me are Strikers and Wingers. The rest is 'good enough' for another season of consolidation at least.