Wes

He is probably linking up with the squad in the next two weeks. He probably wouldn't play Week 1 anyway because he was on international duty really recently, playing with Jamaica in the Gold Cup - their last match was only 8 days ago. The medical/physio team will know how much workload to give him based on how much rest he's had since the Bundesliga season ended, the Gold Cup, and then joining up with us. I'd guess we would see him first as a Substitute in our first home game - 21st August. There's another international break again at the beginning of September don't forget too!

Well that's just mean.

I think as most of us expected, highly unlikely JWP happens. Very good source for Southampton. Similar to Percy for us. Basically means it would have to be an astronomical figure. We've shown with the Pape Sarr comments earlier this summer that if a club raises the asking price to a point they're not happy with, they'll move on - so I can't see this one progressing.

He appears to be at the last training day of the camp in London today which is great news. Loking forward to seeing him healthy and see what he can offer going forward. Also has the number 8 shirt!

He is a huge talent. He was incredibly sought after last summer, and it was rather a surprise he ended up at Lille, but they forked out a lot of money for him and he wanted the game time. It worked out well for them both. If he is available this summer there will be many clubs, especially Premier League clubs, after him. Hard to believe Lille would let him go after one season but stranger things have happened and the money issues in Ligue 1 this season are well known. What a crazy day today has been.

There was talk out of Canada earlier today that Lille might look to raise funds by selling David after just one year, and that Liverpool are very strong admirers. They were considering him last year before getting Jota.

They're at their mini-Summer camp this week. Everyone back from international duty (except Douglas Luiz who is in the Semi Finals of the Olympics tomorrow). Fabrizio Romano has said on Sky Sports News we should know more in the coming hours. He believes the Grealish situation will be resolved this week. Is in line with what we understand - there's meetings today involving player, agent, manager, board and owners.

Yep. Bets information I can find seems to be here. Basically says Sampdoria are expecting to receive a bid from us imminently. Edit: Done some more digging - reports today seem to suggest that Sampdoria are willing to let Damsgaard leave for a high fee. They are trying to generate a fee of around £30-£35m by generating an auction including Villa, Leeds, Liverpool and Spurs. Sampdoria in turn would then replace him with Lee Kang-In from Valencia. I think we have been "singled out" because of the news going on with Grealish, but certainly one to watch.

If you click on the link in the article in the tweet, he is simply repeating a report from ESPN: "According to a separate report by ESPN, Aston Villa are in contacts with his agent over a potential move to the Premier League. The club recently signed Leon Bailey but should the Copa America winner join them, he would become the third Argentine at the club alongside Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia." I think the ESPN link is from several weeks back, and is based on the initial reports we had about his Agent speaking to Ajax and Villa.

MLS side Orlando City have had a $7m+2m bonuses bid turned down. His agent: "We did not press or anything like that, they only asked us to ask River if they were interested in the player going to play MLS, I only acted as an interlocutor, forwarding the offer because I am not the one to hide an offer," "If the club is interested, they will respond to Orlando City and we will talk. Some time ago we had offers from MLS and Julian was not interested because he prefers to go to Europe ."

Don't disagree regarding the valuation being perhaps rather higher than we would expect, but hopefully was able to point out that I think the player himself fits the profile of the kind of person the current youth-recruitment team are trying to bring in to the club. Tried to separate the information about the player from the Grealish-related transfer aspect of it, but can understand at these times that's a really tricky thing to try to pull off!

Morgan Rogers is an attacking player, only just turned 19. Capped at England U-15,16,17 and 18 level. Can really play on either wing or centrally behind a striker. Came through West Brom academy (so there's a link there to our current academy staff) then was purchased by City for £4m when he was just 16 - a high price for someone so young. He is a very-highly regarded youth prospect. There was talk of Palace buying him this summer for their Vieira revolution. I'm not sure about £10m... but his value would certainly have increased from that £4m level from a few years ago. Still got a lot of room for development. Given how the recruiting staff have aggressively been targetting youth players to join the youth setups recently, with a keen look at the pathway through to the first-team, he would be someone of interest for us. Especially with the ex-West Brom link meaning staff will know him already. I guess the only issue would be the manner of which he might be joining us...

Including this here in this thread because it involves a link to a potential incoming player in Morgan Rogers. Former West Brom youth player, primarily a winger, who moved to City for quite a large fee for a youth player. Has been linked with a move to Crystal Palace this summer.

If there was to be any movement this window here, I think it's now likely to be after August 19th which is the 2nd leg of River Plates Copa Libertadores quarter final. Can't see them wanting to lose him before those matches (unless they had a replacement lined up in some form). This might be one where the timing simply doesn't work well for all parties and might be looked at again in the January window. We'll have to wait and see.

The timing makes some sense. First premier league game is two weeks away. City have the Charity Shield a week before. Grealish is back from holiday this weekend. Both Villa and City have friendly fixtures on Saturday, likely followed with a rest day on Sunday, before training resumes on Monday. He'll be reporting to one of the clubs on Monday you would think.

Basically said on his Twitch channel - if City meets Villa's valuation, Grealish will sign for City. If City don't meet Villa's asking price, Grealish will sign a new contract at Villa.

Came on as a substitute when River Plate were already winning 3-0 against Lanus yesterday. A lot of reports that he did not play well. In fact, since being back with River Plate after his stint with the National team at the Copa America, fans have been saying he hasn't played nearly as well as he did before that tournament. Distracted by talk of a move away? Tired from the long season? Lots of possible reasons - it'll be interesting to see if/how he plays in their next league game on Sunday.

Bettinelli is going to Chelsea so the number of back-up, experienced, home-grown Goalkeeper options are diminishing.

Mohamed Ihattaren, 19 year old attacking midfielder at PSV, has not flown to Turkey for their 2nd leg Champions League qualifier with Galatasaray. He was in their squad for the first leg but didn't start. Supposedly he is just sick but he has one year left on his contract so a transfer could be coming. He's a similar player to Smith-Rowe in some respects so could be one to watch. Can see him being linked with some English clubs in the coming days.

Daily Mail reporting Nakamba wanted by Everton and Crystal Palace.

Talk of Besiktas being interested in him. I would prefer to keep him. As others have said above, he has been good when called upon.

Just for fun: 1. Marcus Thuram - 23yo - Borussia Monchengladbach. French international who has two years left on his contract. Was highly expected to make a move to Spurs this summer, however with their Lamela swap move for Sevilla's Bryan Gil this may be off, unless Bergwijn is sold as well. 2. Jeremie Boga - 23yo - Sassulo. Ivory Coast international also with two years left on his deal in Italy. Pacey dribbler who had a bit of a down year this year compared to the seasonbefore last where he was considered an emerging star in Serie A. 3. Goncalo Guedes - 24yo - Valencia. Portugese international that is being offered around as Valencia unfortunately for them have a terrible owner and are likely to be happy to sell for the cash. Guedes also only has two years left on his contract. Was signed by PSG a few seasons ago but never cut it there before being sold on (still at a profit) to Valencia. 4. Mounir Chouiar - 22yo - Dijon. One of the best dribblers of the ball in Ligue 1. Much like Boga had a better 19-20 season than last year, this would be more of a speculative signing for depth with promise for improvement, rather than immediately ready for the first XI, so is more unlikely to occur. 5. Thiago Almada - 20yo - Velez. Another promising Argentinian prospect, currently with their national side at the Olympics. Has two years left on his contract and a £21.5m release clause. More of an attacking midfielder than a winger, he can play in any of those attacking three positions behind the striker. He would be more like Jack on the wings than an out-and-out wide player. Already an influential member of his team at such a young age. Was expected to go to Marseille earlier this window but they have very recently said they are not pursuing the player this summer. Other names we've been linked to in the past: Florinel Coman, Samuel Chukwueze

If Bettinelli and Bailey come in, by my maths we will be left with up-to 3 spaces left to register for players over the age of 21. The limit is 25. Martinez Steer Bettinelli (rumoured) Cash Konsa Mings Targett Guilbert Hause Young McGinn Douglas Luiz Sanson Nakamba Grealish Buendia Bailey (rumoured) Traore El Ghazi Trezeguet (even injured, would likely still be registered) Watkins Wesley I'm assuming Hourihane is on his way out and Davis goes on loan. Julian Alvarez would be classified as an under-21 due to being born in late January player so wouldn't count towards the 25. I think one of those three remaining spots (and we don't have to fill up all of them of course) will be on a fourth Centre Back as we lack cover there since Engels departure earlier this window. Also if we are getting another central midfielder, and it's not Pape Sarr, keep an eye on Getafe's Arambarri. More news today his agent is trying to get him a move to the Premier League.

One interesting tidbit in the Mail article is that "the club are willing to listen to offers for El Ghazi".

What seems to be a pretty small/local "journalist" who focuses on River Plate is suggesting he's heard that Villa are expecting to make a bid for Alvarez in the coming days. Wouldn't consider it anything concrete at all, but one to monitor over the rest of the week.