Wes

If you consider that our midfield three of the future is likely to be Kamara sitting deeper behind two #8s from Ramsey/McGinn/new signing, you have to look at the profile of what they bring to the team. Ramsey is great progressing the ball by dribbling, and getting in to the opponents penalty area. McGinn is better progressing the ball via a pass than he is by dribbling, is (buzz-word alert) press-resistant but tends to make those forward runs less so than Ramsey. However, an argument could be made that with Kamara behind them both, McGinn could feel more comfortable getting further forward next season. So what should we be looking for in that new #8? Another progressive dribbler like Ramsey, who like to move forward with the ball at his feet? Someone more cultured when playing the pass, to be able to get the ball in to the forward three quicker? Or even a player who is more defensively stout who can comfortably fit in for Kamara as a #6 should he have to miss a game, but can also play further forward in that more box-to-box role? I honestly don't know the answer. There are multiple avenues that they could go down. Perhaps Soucek fits their view. Maybe it's Gallagher. More likely it will be someone that's not really been discussed yet. It will perhaps be their most "telling" transfer so far. The need for a Defensive Midfielder was obvious. The upgrade at Centre Back with better distribution was also needed. We've got them both in early. The only real question left about the starting XI to be resolved this summer in my eyes (as I think up front will change next summer, not this year).... What kind of midfield trio does Gerrard want to have?

I agree - I'll provide further context about what I meant. It's more a decision to whether it's even worth to take him on the tour to Australia or not. The last thing you want is to take a player half way around the world whose future is not with your club. The Walsall game is not going to have any of the internationals playing. The only reason Sanson doesn't start in that midfield for that game is if they're preventing injury before an imminent transfer - which could well happen because, as you say, they could have easily made up their mind already in nine months. Similarly, I don't think it's completely unreasonable for Gerrard and his assistants to think, "You know what, I'm going to give him another shot. Give him a chance of a full pre-season with us to see what he's got. I'll see how he looks against Walsall, in a midfield that he should be absolutely running and commanding given the disparity in quality and lack of internationals on the Villa side, before telling Lange what to do." You can still at that point take him with you to Australia, see how the first few games go in August and so forth. If McGinn picks up an injury lets say, well hopefully our new #8 will step up (I'm assuming Douglas Luiz is already out the door and as such we definitely need to bring in first choice competition already for Ramsey and McGinn in the #8 roles). I personally would rather have Chukwumeka and Sanson as that now 4th and 5th choice #8 option, compared to Chukwumeka and someone else. I think you retain more value keeping Sanson, than spending even more for the same position twice in one window. I'm not a Sanson advocate by any means. He's hardly pulled up any trees during his time here. That said, I think there is some value in keeping him as that backup option, rather than forcing you to look for two new central midfielders. I think that's the debate likely being had - and why I think how he does in those first few weeks could potentially sway minds. But he's got a lot to prove for that to happen I agree.

Just chatter over the day. Wont spam loads of twitter posts that will take up half the page, but some URLs here: mobile.twitter.com/kadircetincali/status/1541506556302442497 mobile.twitter.com/skorerrcom/status/1541395904187482113 mobile.twitter.com/fanatikcomtr/status/1541309193637986304 Preece also mentioned it in his Q&A today, but not sure if he was simply re-reporting on these bits out of Turkey, or from the club.

Few more reports this evening that Galatasary are really interested in Morgan Sanson. I think Sanson will start in the pre-season game against Walsall a week on Saturday, and Gerrard may just make his decision based on that, and these first weeks of training, about whether to keep him or not.

I think we'll have that back-up left back role in before that flight to Australia. The run on left backs in this market is going to start soon, most likely with Cucurella's move to City and the knock on effects with Brighton looking in the same market range as us. Will likely see further news on non-first eleven outgoings (Trezeguet, El Ghazi) and perhaps Douglas Luiz also moving on in the same period - the next two weeks. I think moves for another central midfielder wont happen until we're back from Australia. It'll only be before if we lose both Sanson and Luiz. If any move is made for a striker I think it will be an opportunist move for someone like Jonathan David towards the very end of the window. Think Gerrard is going to give Cameron Archer a good look during pre-season, but remember Archer is currently with the National Side, so wont be back for pre-season until mid/late July anyway.

Fabrizio Romano on the Que Golazo podcast. I summarised to the relevant Villa bits. On Douglas Luiz: "Douglas Luiz is on the list for some important Italian clubs. Yesterday there were rumours about AC Milan - I'm told they are not negotiating for Douglas Luiz at the moment. Same for Roma, lots of rumours but nothing is currently taking place. But I won't be surprised if something happens this summer." On Carney Chukwuemeka: "I would keep an eye on him. Many clubs are looking at him and I'm not sure he stays this summer." On what's next for Villa: "I think there is something cooking on a potential new left back as I mentioned. And then lets see with the striker situation, but they're waiting for the right moment to jump in on that."

I think "Aston Villa" will end up being more prominent this time around. Easier recognition between this "Villa" and the new project in Las Vegas.

You're right - my mistranslation was bid, not contract offer. My bad. He wants to go to Lazio though, apparently.

Twitter talk early this morning is that we, along with Newcastle, have made a bid for AC Milan 27yo centre-back Alessio Romagnoli. via Corriere dello Sport. The video that you wanted:

Fun game for the evening, even if true or not. Added difficulty, they're for the three positions that have been detailed as positions still being targeted this window (LB, CM and FWD). Here's my guesses: Brazil: Gabigol (Striker - Flamengo) Argentina: Tagliafico (Left Back - Ajax) France: Aouar (Central Midfielder - Lyon) Couple of other young prospects that I would like: Danilo (Central Midfielder - Palmeiras) Nicolás Domínguez (Central Midfielder - Bologna) There's also Tolisso still available on a free... Edit: Should add, I don't think we should go for Gabigol, but it fit this puzzle anyway!

This seems very much like a briefing from the club that Phil McNulty is reporting on, which to me suggests that a (well deserved) holiday week is over for Lange & Co. and it's back to recruitment work before Pre-Season starts in exactly two weeks.

DeepL Translation: Trabzonspor's offer for Trezeguet is €3 million + 15% of the next sale - Aston Villa wants 4 million Euros for the transfer and Trezeguet wants 2.5 million Euros per year. Negotiations between the clubs continue.

Like most others have mentioned here and was reported at the beginning of the month: backup left-back central midfielder versatile attacker/striker I think those positions are independent of any outgoings. If there was to be a major/unexpected outgoing (i.e. Mings) then that would change of course. Another question back - do you think we break our transfer record again this summer? £33m was the reported initial fee for Buendia last year. And if we were to break it, give me a name of someone who it would be? For me, to break that record, right now I can only see it being Jonathan David if we were somehow able to pull that off.

I think tomaszk is saying that with Cucurella almost certainly moving to City, Brighton will be searching for a Left Back, just as we are. Brighton have a good track record in the transfermarket, so it would not be surprising to suggest our shortlist of options for the understudy LB role will be very similiar to their shortlist of Cucurella replacements. Think that's one area in particular it will benefit us to move quickly - before we leave for the pre-season tour ideally.

I think Sosa would be too expensive for an understudy role with us. Seems like a potentially odd allocation of transfer funds to me. Can totally see him starting for a Premier League site this season though (perhaps to Brighton replacing City bound Cucurella?) I think we'll be looking to spend around £8-12m range. Names like Quentin Merlin, Sergio Gomez, Miguel Gutierrez, Adrien Truffert. Someone from the continent whose salary we could easily double, which makes it an easier sell to convince them to play the understudy, and still not really dent our salary budget.

I still believe we're going to sign at least 3 more for the Senior Squad. I think back-up left back will come in next, as that is not going to depend on anyone else leaving (with Targett already signed to Newcastle). Central Midfielder (to replace Douglas Luiz who I think will be sold) and a versatile attacker who can play as a 9 or 10 will follow, but will definitely require players leaving the club.

Just catching up on news and see that Barcelona seem to be looking to sell Nico Gonzalez - 20yo Central Midfielder. Makes sense with Kessie on his way in, no matter what happens with de Jong. Seen some tenuous links with this player to Wolves in a quick google search. I do wonder if he is someone we might look at. Had a little bit of a down year in comparison to his previous season (which makes him a more reasonable target), but has the positional flexibility I think we will be looking for going forward - he can play as a pivot #6 (although not in the same way Kamara can) but I think he can develop in to a good #8 in the future. He's got good close-ball control, and does well protecting and progressing the ball in possession.

Yep. Apart from Grealish, haven't sold any player for over £10m for 6 years. That's quite the statistic.

Reports coming out this morning that Targett moving closer to going to Newcastle for £12m (they already paid a £2/3m loan fee in January making it £15m in total). I personally expect us to spend a similiar amount (~£10m) on a back up left back this Summer.

I want to believe this is a part of some elaborate plan to bring fellow Italian Davide Frattesi to the club.

The idea of signing Sergio Gomez has me very intrigued. Hope people don't mind a bit of a lengthier post as I go through why. Whilst the signing of Kamara and Carlos, to go along with Coutinho, are all excellent purchases in their own individual merit, and all worthy of getting excited about, perhaps the spot in the squad I have been most intrigued to see how Villa's recruitment staff tackle this summer has been the back-up Left Back position. Sounds pretty daft on the face of it I know, but I think seeing how they target this particular spot in the squad will tell us a lot about their approach to squad building for future transfer windows. Why? Well, it's a pretty unique spot to fill. Six months ago we signed Lucas Digne, a French international with top class Premier League pedigree, for quite a substantial fee - £27m. He's on a 4 year contract, so all things going well in the summer of 2025 (when he has one year remaining) we will be deciding whether to keep Digne, who will be aged 31 at the time, or move him on whilst we can still get some kind of transfer fee back for him. He's one of the highest earners at the club now with report ~£150k. He is the first choice left back. Matt Targett, who has been a fine player for the club during his time, will be sold or loaned out this season. His time at the club is almost certainly at an end. Which leaves the only viable replacement option for Digne at left back currently to be Ashley Young, who I think is being kept more aroudn the club for his experience, professionalism and verstatility, than as direct competition for Digne. It's simply not something he is capable of doing anymore, at a regular standard. There does not appear to be, at least this summer, a left sided defender currently in the youth setup who could step up to take on that back-up role - in the same way Kaine Kesler is discussed with regards the right hand role behind Matty Cash. So this is definitely a position that needs addressing this summer. First, lets look at the team-wide considerations we want when looking at a player - most of which come from Gerrard himself: Winning mentality. European experience. Top league experience. Huge potential (if a younger player). Versatility is a plus. Shared language with others already in the squad (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese) And then in the back-up Left Back position specifically: Attack minded Excellent crosser of the ball Comfortable in possession Good engine Can push/challenge Digne in training Less than £20m (Athletic article from today states that they're not willing to spend this much, e.g. the likely asking price for Aaron Hickey, on this backup role) And in an ideal world, ready to take over as Starter for Digne in 2 to 3 years. There are multiple ways you could tackle this requirement. You could get a left sided centre back who is also able to play left back (hence the links to Calvin Bassey) or a pure left back (such as Aaron Hickey). The signing of Diego Carlos makes the CB/LB less likely (but not altogether impossible). My thought was they would go for a young left back, with the hopes that he can push Digne for the starting role over a couple of seasons. When you take all those factors in to account, it is relatively easy to narrow down the list of potential targets which meet that criteria. Sergio Gomez is one of them. I can go in to details about what I like about Gomez specifically, but there will be enough "scouting reports" and the like generated by the usual twitter accounts and blogs, plus my lunch break is almost up so I've ran out of time! However one of the things I particularly like about this supposed target, if true, is quite how opportunistic it is. Typically, signing a player one year after they signed with another club is very rare. Usually see it only if the club wants to get rid! Gomez signed a 4 year contract last year, and still has 3 years remaining, but because Vincent Kompany, the manager who signed Gomez to come to Anderlecht has just left the club, perhaps Lange and company think there's a narrow pathway that can be navigated to pluck Gomez out of Belgium. They were just as opportunistic with the Carlos deal - they knew Sevilla needed 30m Euros by the end of the month to balance the books and acted decisively. TLDR - Obligatory youtube video:

Particularly as Dan Ashworth has left - although he has yet to formally take up position at Newcastle as they still need to technically buy out his Brighton contract.

I wouldn't mind it if it was a 1year + 1year option - like with Ashley Young. Remember we can use 5 subs next season. The plan may be to continue Archer's development with a full season in the Championship, but still have three options (plus Bailey/Traore) for up front. Going to be hard to judge until the window is closed.

I absolutely love how decisively we move in the transfer market, and how "under-the-radar" we are as well. Just great stuff.