Tomaszk

**** Christ.

He'd be first name on the teamsheet after two months IMO. Yes ahead of Bruno. Any position, doesn't matter. He runs games.

Grealish will improve them so much. They'll definitely be third and could push on even more if they buy a DM and a defence. Be devastating if he goes there.

Very sensible. £20m on a guy who will be sat on the bench if Heaton comes back doesn't make sense.

Hopefully! Being as positive as I can... Summer of 2022, Jack is still here, now an England regular, FA Cup winner last season, Rashica has bagged 60 goals in two seasons, we've finished 12th and 6th. I'm still not sure he'd extend. Got myself excited now. If that happens, see ya Jack, we've got the rocket.

Evans avoiding Grealish story now as he's taken such a kicking from fans. They're saying he wants to go but knows no one will pay. Let's hope things don't get awkward. We'll have to take a huge jump in a very short space of time for another contract to ever be signed at Villa.

McKennie would be a huge signing for us. He's a great player but importantly adds some size and pace in midfield. Would be ferocious alongside a fully fit McGinn. Their names even match up. Just feels like he'll go to Southampton and be brilliant for them. Really hope we're across it.

He'll be here by Friday. Also think he'll start first game next season RW. We'll buy a main striker.

No need for booboo face. Where are the solid links to Benrahma?

You won't find me grumbling if we can sign starting players from Real Madrid. I can't see it myself. The poster also said he didn't want fringe players like Origi so I think the idea is unrealistic. When we signed Carew, he was well on the fringes. Would I want a player who has scored international and Champions League goals like Sturridge over an untested player I rate like Watkins? No chance. As long as we don't buy bad footballers we should be OK next year. It would also be nice to not overspend.

He makes some mental decisions in big games. Changes a winning system to an experimental one. They'd have won tonight if they started 433.

Players like who? Starting players of Champions League clubs? Yes, I'd love to sign them. I'd also love to sign Messi but it's not going to happen. We could offer him £1m a week he ain't coming. I'd love to sign Werner for £50m like Chelsea just have but it's not going to happen. We could have offered him the same wage as Chelsea and he probably wouldn't even have come to discuss the move. You can't just say the top teams sign better players so we should. Leicester became the side they are from non-league Vardy and three or four bargain buys. And a freebie from Villa's bench. It doesn't matter where players come from, only if they're good enough. I hope our new recruitment squad don't let us down like last summer's lot. I'd LOVE to sign Watkins and Rashica. They are the only two players we've been linked to by journalists who know anything so I'm hoping they come off.

Seko Fofana could be going to newly promoted Lens for about £9m. Would give us great presence in centre mid.

Not sure I understand this post. You want to sign players from Madrid, Juve, Milan and Barca? Milan maybe realistic as they've been off it for the last few years, the rest no chance. Why do you think we can get these players? Ah, maybe you mean backups like Origi? Oh...no, you don't want him either? You want to sign starting players from Champions League teams? Obviously they would improve us, but how do you think that's going to happen? Watkins and Rashica would be brilliant signings for where we are. Don't fancy Origi myself. Benrahma would probably succeed here and would definitely improve us right now.

Marvellous is not near Gueye. Wes is not near the villa-version of Benteke. You can have faith these players will be of use but it does them no favours if they're being compared to players miles better than them.

Didn't he say this during the Utd Europa game and people thought it was a joke?

Did you scan that out the paper in 1998?

Love this shit.

What's happened to our ITK/WIP German friends? Of course he wants to go to Leipzig! They're in the Champions League! That was why it was crazy rumours said we were in for him. It'll be unreal.

I agree. Bit like Joe Cole who was always a great ball carrier but his technique striking a ball wasn't quite as good. If he can improve on the hammer left option and the more cultured right foot curlers, he'll be even more lethal.

Aside from the fish puns, the last 15 pages have been excellent.

Cash up to this season was a good Championship winger and occasional 10/CM. He's had to best season of his career in a bit of an experiment at RB. I'd be much more comfortable paying £25m for Watkins, whose had three/four excellent seasons in a row than £15m for Cash after one. There's a danger Cash wouldn't be much better than Guilbert IMO.

Come on Gregg, there's no need to put away your former employers. Useless at the mail, useless at the Athletic. At least the new guy shows some enthusiasm for Villa beyond hoping all the best players leave.

This is madness. Biggest signing in 10 years if it comes through. And this lad is a much better footballer than Darren Bent.