Wes

The definition of a boom or bust signing. This is a big call by Monchi, especially after already signing him at Roma.

Martinez Cash - Konsa - Mings - Pau McGinn - Kamara - D. Luiz - Buendia Diaby - Watkins I don't think we start with both Cash and Digne away at Newcastle. Can see Digne coming on later in the game if we're chasing a result. Think Buendia gets the nod on the left hand side - will get replaced by Coutinho/JPB/Tielemans in the second half depending on the state of the game. Forward line picks itself. Can see Diaby and McGinn shifting roles on that right hand side during the game. And will be nice to have a full bench of options!

Could be although West Ham have also been linked recently.

Worth noting that if Hearts and Hibs both qualify, the Home/Away legs may get shuffled around - don't think both Edinburgh clubs can host European fixtures on the same day due to policing resources.

Bit different to the usual stuff and it's a slow news night so just to move the conversation along... A Barca ITK (so as usual, take everything with a pinch of salt until a reputable source says anything) says we've offered for Ferran Torres: 4m loan fee for season we pay all his wages during loan 30m mandatory fee at end of loan

Marcos Leonardo... yes please Monchi. Love that profile of player to join the senior squad.

Certainly not going to question Emery or Monchi's choice of full backs based in Spain.

Wooo hoooo! Lets goooo! Great signing. Devil in the details, but this is exciting.

Gregg Evans talked about this aspect in particular in the latest 1874 podcast. "From speaking to lots of people across the league, Villa are considered to have one of the strongest player care departments around." Talks in particular about how they help not only the new players and their families settle in, but also the new coaching staff. Their ethos being that any concern/worry that a player might have could negatively affect their performance - so by taking care of all their concerns, such as where their kids are going to go to school, or getting a UK SIM card, - by dealing with those worries that should minimise any impact about settling in to a new country/new team. Just great to hear that our club take this area seriously, and as others have mentioned, we have a strong history in this area. It's a good listen, about 5/6 minutes in to the 1874 episode aired yesterday.

Judging by the bits of stories we've heard this week now that pre-seasons are starting up, are we now thinking we might be after a further 4-6 players this summer, on top of Tielemans and Torres? Winger Second Striker Central Midfield cover (Defensive role) Back-Up Left Back (If Digne leaves) And then potentially two more of: Right Back Another Winger on top?

He won't be if he Sainz for us!

Still not heard reports of where Keito Nakamura, the 22yo attacker from Austrian team LASK, is going this summer. Others have mentioned him in here over the past few months, and I'm sure he's on the move this summer, and he wants to come to the Premier League...

He was a very highly regarded prospect coming out of Club Brugge in Belgium the last few years. He stood out because he quite literally stood out - he's well over 6ft tall but, at the time, had great technique and ball control which is rare in someone that height. He's gone to Milan last year for 35m euros, reportedly, and it simply has not worked for him at all. He was their big money move last year and since then he's not scored a single goal. The hope would be is that the talent is still there, but Milan was just not well suited for him. This is a Monchi-esque move in my opinion.

Italian Newspaper Gazzetta Del A Sport are reporting we've made a 25m Euro offer for Attacking Midfielder/Second Striker Charles De Ketelaere - 22yo Belgian. Article link is here: https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Calciomercato/Milan/13-07-2023/milan-de-ketelaere-in-uscita-l-aston-villa-offre-25-milioni.shtml# Bullet points from the translation: Milan asking for/likely to ask for 30m euros plus bonuses/sell-on clauses. He was a very highly regarded prospect before joining AC Milan last summer where it's not gone well for him at all. With Pulisic moving to Milan, it appears De Ketelaere is being told he can leave for the right price.

Few bits on twitter out of Spain that we offered close to 5m euros on Jesus Vasquez, the 20yo Left Back at Valencia, but they're not willing to sell and the player themselves doesn't mind, as long as he gets a loan somewhere and first team football. The fact we were bidding for a 20 year old left back is interesting though.

Wasn't expecting to read that all of a Sudan.

...he must think he's a right Giza.

Moving swiftly along.... would be very happy if the reports of us seeking out a loan move for Ferran Torres was true. Think his skillset would compliment Watkins very well as part of the front two, or could play on the wing too in a pinch, and with a relatively low future fee because of Barcelona's position (they are trying to get rid of either Ferran Torres or Fati for registration limit reasons) it makes economical sense too. Although no very reputable source is reporting it as yet, this one seems to be doing the rounds in the last 24 hours...

Might not be the last time we buy from Villarreal this summer..... (Pino and Baena)

Fantastic!