fightoffyour Posted January 3 VT Supporter Share Posted January 3 Messi loan incoming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turvontour Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 A friend of my dentist reckons we are in for a medium sized name. Five or six letters long, likely two syllables. Don't want to give too much away. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duke313 Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 10 hours ago, Rich192 said: Anyone who thinks Dumfries would be a good signing clearly hasn’t watched him very much. He’d barely be an upgrade on Cash. Rumours that Southampton and Middlesbrough are trying to take Azaz on loan for the remainder of the season. Anyone who think Dumfries wouldn't be an upgrade on Cash, clearly hasn't seen Cash play right midfield. Dumfries can at least dribble past players and cross the ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerryBarrPet Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 10 minutes ago, turvontour said: A friend of my dentist reckons we are in for a medium sized name. Five or six letters long, likely two syllables. Don't want to give too much away. Pull-em? Root-canal ? Filling? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HanoiVillan Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 10 hours ago, Tayls said: The sooner people realise that Tammy Abraham, Hudson-Odoi, Smith-Rowe and Gibbs-White are NOT what we should be signing to help us progress, the better. 10 hours ago, thunderball said: The fella whose missus work for the club suggests we put an offer in for a “ huge” name player. But Tayls says we shouldn't sign anyone with a double-barrelled surname? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jareth Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 35 minutes ago, MSvillain said: Here is the tweet for reference: May also be relevant that I have him blocked Yeah that guy did something similar last season. It was a wind up. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post lexicon Posted January 3 Popular Post Share Posted January 3 29 minutes ago, turvontour said: A friend of my dentist reckons we are in for a medium sized name. Five or six letters long, likely two syllables. Don't want to give too much away. More news at two thirty 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinRichardsonsMoustache Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 50 minutes ago, MSvillain said: Here is the tweet for reference: May also be relevant that I have him blocked Bring on Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink II. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awol Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 8 hours ago, Jas10 said: I’d prefer/prioritise a defensive midfielder, but what the hell do they know? We’ve struggled against teams playing a low block because we don’t have someone who can unlock a defence. Buendia is still a way off coming back and we don’t have a similar profile in the squad. We need our own version of a Maddison - Odegaard - KDB. From what I’ve read on here that could be Alex Baena, but I’ve never watched him play.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mykeyb Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 1 hour ago, MSvillain said: Here is the tweet for reference: May also be relevant that I have him blocked So let's think about this. His sister in law somehow has an inside track to the list of our transfer targets for January but when she tells her brother in law she will only hint by saying we are in for a huge name............I mean that's got to be totally legit right. I am really looking forward to the other hints she is going to pass onto him during the month of January..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sulberto21 Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 1 minute ago, mykeyb said: So let's think about this. His sister in law somehow has an inside track to the list of our transfer targets for January but when she tells her brother in law she will only hint by saying we are in for a huge name............I mean that's got to be totally legit right. I am really looking forward to the other hints she is going to pass onto him during the month of January..... Wayne Rooney is coming out of retirement to play for us on a 6 month contract. Source….. waiter at Shababs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HalfTimePost Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 (edited) Quote Aston Villa head into January well-placed. Firmly in the race for Champions League qualification, the winter window is more of an opportunity to refine and tweak rather than a desperate scramble for new signings to provide uplift. This time last year, Villa were keen to furnish head coach Unai Emery with at least one signing and, in the form of Alex Moreno, an entirely Emery-led pursuit, they sanctioned a low-cost, highly effective deal. The club’s broader recruitment team also signed Jhon Duran, regarded by inner footballing circles as possessing the potential to be one of the best young forwards in the world and he is already showing green shoots. The Athletic takes you through what to expect from Villa this winter window… Last three January window spends January 2021 = £14.2million (€16.53m, $17.85m) January 2022 = £27million January 2023 = £26million How much money is likely to be available? Manoeuvrability is there for Emery. The 52-year-old says he is happy with his squad and will increasingly rely on its peripheral figures in the coming weeks, but allowing those deemed expendable to leave would enable Villa to strengthen in the wide areas. Villa are still tight on financial fair play (FFP) regulations, so following similar trends from the previous three windows is not out of the question. They spent £76million in the summer and recouped £28m to add to a balance sheet that needed work anyway. It is accepted internally that they need to continue to find different commercial streams and to increase revenue to allow Villa to spend within FFP constraints, but if the right player is identified by Emery and president of football operations Monchi, the club will make concerted efforts to buy them. Emery, Monchi and the club’s owners Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris are due to meet in the coming days to establish what positions, if any, require additions and the type of player available. Emery does not want to sign anyone who will not represent an upgrade. Who makes the key decisions on signings? Following the arrival of Emery’s former Sevillacolleague Monchi in the summer, he and director of football Damian Vidagany take care of transfer negotiations and act as sounding boards for any queries from agents and players. Both have a close relationship with Emery and know what player he wants and fits within Villa’s framework. Emery does not get involved in the details of negotiations for players, only coming in towards the end of a deal. The three decision-makers lead critical football-related matters and have formed a ‘triangle of power’, with their scouting network including an influx of Spanish-speaking recruits, all of whom report to Monchi. The targets identified will then be worked through by Monchi and Emery, who are likely to have pre-existing knowledge of the player. Vidagany is a transparent and frank communicator in his dealings with players and agents, informing them via email and in meetings if they should seek another club. This summer, he told certain players they could leave provided they came to Villa with a buyer, outlining the sort of fees the club were looking for in each case. What are the priority positions? There is a growing feeling that Emery wants to strengthen at right-back, with Matty Cash the only specialist option currently in the squad. A right-back to provide competition and support to Cash appears an increasing priority, with Emery wanting to upgrade in most areas since arriving 13 months ago. A winger has also been considered after a late but ultimately decided-against move for Jack Harrisonin the summer, who joined Everton. Presently, Leon Bailey, who is entering the final two years of his deal and is due to soon sit down and discuss an extension, is the only out-and-out winger used by Emery. What do we know about who the targets might be? Marcos Acuna was the left-back Villa wanted intently in the summer and may do so again despite the outstanding form of Lucas Digne. Emery had deep-seated knowledge of Acuna from managing against him in La Liga, while Monchi knew and had worked with him during their time at Sevilla. He fitted Villa’s preference for a more adventurous left-back who could essentially become a quasi-left-winger in possession: he was used on the left wing at times for Argentina during their success at last year’s World Cup. However, any deal would only likely materialise in the summer, paving the way for Digne to leave after a move away was discussed among the Villa hierarchy at the start of last pre-season. Even accounting for his impressive form at left-back, starting every Premier League fixture this season, he is among the highest earners at £120,000 per week and his departure would alleviate the financial books. Elsewhere, on the opposite side, Bayer Leverkusenright-back Jeremie Frimpong has been heavily linked to Villa, but a move for him would be prohibitively expensive, similar to Villarrealmidfielder Alex Baena. Frimpong is contracted to the Bundesliga club until 2028 and a deal would significantly eat into Villa’s summer budget. Frimpong is adept at playing as a right-winger in possession and would reunite his formidable partnership with former Leverkusen player Moussa Diaby down that side. Who could be on their way out? Villa will need to generate funds and revenue to match Emery’s rapid development. Bertrand Traoreis out of contract at the end of the season and an extension is unlikely, but will be unavailable to play over January due to going away with Burkina Faso for the Africa Cup of Nations. Curiously, Traore has not featured since picking up an injury when he was last on international duty yet believes he is ready to play in the tournament. Meanwhile, Calum Chambers and Leander Dendoncker have struggled for game time and Villa are open to selling both. There are also opportunities for players in Villa’s under-21 setup to head out on loan and experience first-team game time. From Jacob Tanswell at The Athletic. Not much new in there. We have some £'s, but not loads (FFP) Digne could still leave despite his form, because of his £3b a week wages Acuna could then be looked at again Unai also wants a RB (shock) Jérémie Frimpong will be too expensive A winger is also on the list, But Alex Baena is also too expensive Bailey due for contract talks (2Yr left) Traore will leave in summer, end of deal Chambers and Dendoncker can also go Edited January 3 by HalfTimePost 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jareth Posted January 3 Popular Post Share Posted January 3 18 minutes ago, KevinRichardsonsMoustache said: Hesselink II. Nah, Tories cancelled that, at least the northern part. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HalfTimePost Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 3 minutes ago, HalfTimePost said: From Jacob Tanswell at The Athletic. Not much new in there. We have some £'s, but not loads (FFP) Digne could still leave despite his form, because of his £3b a week wages Acuna could then be looked at again Unai also wants a RB (shock) Jérémie Frimpong will be too expensive A winger is also on the list, But Alex Baena is also too expensive Bailey due for contract talks (2Yr left) Traore will leave in summer, end of deal Chambers and Dendoncker can also go It also does not feel like a mistake that he's highlighted we haven't spent more than £27m in any of the last 3 January windows. I think we'll spend more than that, given our position, and ability to hopefully shift the likes of Dendoncker etc to add a bit to the wage bill & money pot. But I don't think we'll see us spend £40m on a single player. Maybe a £15-20m on a RB, similar on a Winger/Striker and then replace Dendoncker only if he moves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 (edited) 25 minutes ago, HalfTimePost said: From Jacob Tanswell at The Athletic. Not much new in there. We have some £'s, but not loads (FFP) Digne could still leave despite his form, because of his £3b a week wages Acuna could then be looked at again Unai also wants a RB (shock) Jérémie Frimpong will be too expensive A winger is also on the list, But Alex Baena is also too expensive Bailey due for contract talks (2Yr left) Traore will leave in summer, end of deal Chambers and Dendoncker can also go Nothing positive from Jacob there then. Money too tight to mention because of FFP unless you are Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United/City, Spurs, Arsenal or Newcastle (who will sign players by hook or by crook, by means of dodgy Saudi deals) it seems. We need Monchi to work his magic on a budget then, or that is what we are saying, I'm just hoping that is part of a very cunning plan. Edited January 3 by John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich192 Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 1 hour ago, duke313 said: Anyone who think Dumfries wouldn't be an upgrade on Cash, clearly hasn't seen Cash play right midfield. Dumfries can at least dribble past players and cross the ball. Dumfries can’t do that either. Trust me, I’ve watched practically all of his matches for Inter, he is not the answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Steve Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 (edited) Good to see the Athletic are as speculative as ever Edited January 3 by The_Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeyAnty Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 2 hours ago, CVByrne said: I do feel we are short in the right footed RM/RB. Some pace and able to do on the right what Moreno does on left. Philogene was right footed winger who showed a lot defensively in the pre season games. I think we want a Pau, Mings/Carlos, Konsa functional back three in possession in certain games and to do that we want the two wingers being Moreno in LM and a new upgrade on Cash in RB or vice versa. Our attempts to sign Acuna to replace Digne shows to me Emery wants that versatile fullback who is strong attacking and can play LB/LM and on the right we have Cash and a new signing for the same RB/RM. What about a goalkeeper? Its only position you haven’t mentioned we need someone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HKP90 Posted January 3 VT Supporter Share Posted January 3 1 hour ago, turvontour said: A friend of my dentist reckons we are in for a medium sized name. Five or six letters long, likely two syllables. Don't want to give too much away. Frmpng Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awol Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 1 hour ago, HalfTimePost said: From Jacob Tanswell at The Athletic. Not much new in there. We have some £'s, but not loads (FFP) Digne could still leave despite his form, because of his £3b a week wages Acuna could then be looked at again Unai also wants a RB (shock) Jérémie Frimpong will be too expensive A winger is also on the list, But Alex Baena is also too expensive Bailey due for contract talks (2Yr left) Traore will leave in summer, end of deal Chambers and Dendoncker can also go Shame about Digne, I’d like to keep him but his agent did too good of a job negotiating his contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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