CVByrne

I think it's the ball playing part which is key. Plus he brings experience of European competition plus won the Europa League.

The key for me in this is he's a proven Premier League player. With hundreds of games experience, he's played in Europe with Burnley too lets not forget. He's a known quantity and critically he's been consistent. As much as we love Konsa he's had 1 good season in his 3 at Villa so far. We've seen with Chambers, Digne, Coutinho what signing ready made experienced players are like. We'd all call those three signings successful and we're all very positive about their contributions next season after a full pre-season. Tarkowski, Bissouma, Suarez, Oxlaide-Chamberlain etc.. are all proven players in the Premier League. Bissouma being the least experienced has 112 premier league games in 4 seasons.

Yeah, I do believe we need experience in midfield though. Bissouma is great player and all I just would love a more senior player who has been a winner, won trophies to be added to the squad. One who is content with starting or coming off the bench. I've no idea who that player is, just feel we need that in middle of the park.

I think they were already paying these salaries. Their plan is to stop with transfer fees and thus save themselves half of the total cost they used to have.

He's for competition with McGinn I'd imagine. While adding experience to midfield which will feature a 21yo and a 22yo in the majority of games next season.

I think he'll still go. His experience will be needed. Southgate giving younger players a look makes sense.

He had one good season with Leicester. He subsequently joined Chelsea where he didn't play at all really for two seasons. He then went on Loan to Burnley where they didn't even play him. Finally landing on Loan with Villa. Ox has played over 1500 mins of minutes of football for Liverpool this season, Ings and Buendia have 1900mins So yeah, there's your nuance. He's Danny Drinkwater mk2

Assuming he costs the £10m reported. I also seems he's on £120k per week wage and he'll want to keep that salary level. He'll probably want a 4 year contract though. Which is fine as he's 28 and plays CM. So that would be £8.7m per year cost to us.

It turns out he has missed 20 games with a knee injury the season before last. That's the only injury in last 3 seasons. Seems injury free for last 18 months

There is a set profile that villatalk like, young and foreign. If you are 24 or younger and play in Europe and are linked with Villa the majority will be all for it. Experienced players from the Premier League are the ones most reviled. Everything else is on a sliding scale between those two poles.

Imagine the agent if Barcelona made contact. "Eh Carney, you'll not believe this. Barcelona want to talk to us!!" tbh we're in a rush to get competitive. So we need to be signings another 8 and not really waiting around for Carney to develop. IT's unfortunate but selling him now and having a 20% sell on clause is what we should be doing. If he's smart he should join Dortmund or Crystal Palace

It's just hilarious the reactions you get here on villatalk. Like a player who played the majority of the games in the season Liverpool won the title and we are disgusted to even be linked with him.

Gomez won't be leaving Liverpool. He's a quality player and he's getting a new contract. The only chance is Gerrard convincing him to come. That has failed it seems. Ox yes, he'll be sold this season. Suarez will not be joining clubs our level without Gerrard. He'll go to a CL club as he has lots of offers. Gerrard's ability to attract players like Suarez or Coutinho is not a negative. It's idiotic to portray it as one

Well they have all their midfielders fit Henderson, Fabinho, Keita, Thiago, Milner and they have Jones on the bench as they want to get him game time to develop him which makes sense. I think Ox leaving this summer has been known for a few months and you can liken it to Sanson's position with us. Has had one 72mins game in our last 11 games and no game time in our last 8 games

So experienced players, who are winners and we only have a chance of signing due to Gerrard. This is viewed as a negative? We should send Coutinho back I suppose? you seem to have not mentioned him in your list

Central midfield

This feels like a Calum Chambers situation. Total no no no write off, he's shit, always injured etc.. reaction from Villatalk and then people eat their words later

So in the last 3 seasons he's missed 20 games via a knee injury the season before last. So he seem fit these days Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - Injury history | Transfermarkt

https://fbref.com/en/players/38c7feef/Alex-Oxlade-Chamberlain#scout_summary_MF His stats are insane. Wow

There is no chance they'll sell Gomez. He's going to sign a new deal as he'll get games at RB and CB now with Liverpool.

Am I right in thinking he's only had one real injury in the last 3 seasons? and hasn't had an injury in last 18 months? 90% of Villatalk's views are if a player has ever suffered an injury he is permanently injured and should be avoided forever. Do we have data?

Where you seeing this? Nothing on oddschercker

He will play LB and LCB in games with us next season if he joins. He won't be starting ahead of Digne or Mings. He may cement a place in CB in time though.

You'd be hopeful that given Gerrard signed him for Rangers we would have the edge on getting him over other clubs outside the top 6. Here's what was said back when Rangers signed him Rangers Sign Calvin Bassey | Rangers Football Club

Have a look at the player he'd be replacing Ezri Konsa Stats, Goals, Records, Assists, Cups and more | FBref.com