Summer 2010 Transfer Thread: B*llsh*t, Rumours & Wishes

[Concrete John]

Surely the idea of playing 40+ games in a hard working side in a tough physical league would appeal to Ballack over topping up his sun tan in Dubai and playing barely non-league standard football?

[eastie]

Davids was a flop at spurs- ballack will probably go outside Europe for his last big payday,not a player I would go for.

[Greg N'Ash]

i'd have no problem paying 15m for Keane if he had some recent pedigree about him and was 26-28. that way you get some VFM out of him over 4-5 years with the possibility of selling him while he's still worth something. 9m for a 2/3 year stop gap striker seems excessive and short-sighted to me.

I get the thought behind that, but I just don't think we'd get anyone as good for less than £9m regardless of age.

you could be right, but why are we looking at less than 9m? personally MON's reluctance to buy a top quality striker is starting to rival his right-back aversion, and his bnp-escque buying policy in the baffling stakes. i mean into his 5th season here and he's spent more on left-backs?

[Concrete John]

i'd have no problem paying 15m for Keane if he had some recent pedigree about him and was 26-28. that way you get some VFM out of him over 4-5 years with the possibility of selling him while he's still worth something. 9m for a 2/3 year stop gap striker seems excessive and short-sighted to me.

I get the thought behind that, but I just don't think we'd get anyone as good for less than £9m regardless of age.

you could be right, but why are we looking at less than 9m? personally MON's reluctance to buy a top quality striker is starting to rival his right-back aversion, and his bnp-escque buying policy in the baffling stakes. i mean into his 5th season here and he's spent more on left-backs?

Too far, Greg!

As for the footballing bit, I'd prefer a better and younger player myself - I posted yesterday about Huntelaar, for instance.  But if such a player is not available, either financially or as we can't attract them, then I see Keane as a very good alternative.

[Greg N'Ash]

i'd be absolutely gutted if we buy him, but then i've had this feeling of doom that its been inevitable all summer. oddly i had a dream last night that we bought andy caroll and i was at one point standing between woodhall and MON while they chatted to him. spending far too much time on here :0(

[Klaus Katt]

I think you would struggle to find a striker with a better first touch than Keane (from the premiership), and this is probably what we need to improve the most. The difference between Villa and other top six sides is sometimes embarrassing.

[JJ-AV]

Davids wasn't a flop at all.

[Greg N'Ash]

odd little story from the mail. must have missed this

Aston Villa reject talk of 'Agbonlahor to Tottenham' rumours
Jun 9 2010
 Speculation linking Gabby Agbonlahor with a £10 million move to Spurs, which would include Robbie Keane coming to Villa Park as a makeweight, have been dismissed by Villa.

Reports in yesterday's national press suggested that Spurs intended to make Agbonlahor one of their main summer targets.

However, Villa have dismissed reports that Agbonlahor will be allowed to leave.

Keane has been linked with a move to Villa already this summer.

He is thought to be surplus to requirements at Spurs, having spent much of last season on loan at Celtic.

[eastie]

CAn't see much happening anywhere now till after the world cup-managers and players are on holiday and may be mid July before we sign or sell anyone .

[sfx412]

CAn't see much happening anywhere now till after the world cup-managers and players are on holiday and may be mid July before we sign or sell anyone .

Would that not be the ideal time for a switched on manager to do his dealing then?

With Cole and Ballack up for sale on free's and plenty of others looking to get away seems a good time to do smart business to me.

[Concrete John]

i'd be absolutely gutted if we buy him

This is the bit I don't get.  Saying he's overpriced or we should be going for younger I can understand, even if I don't necessarily agree with, but to say you'd be 'gutted' is just bizarre to me when we're talking about a proven quality Premiership striker.

Underwhelmed?  Fair enough.  But 'gutted'???

[Greg N'Ash]

i'd be absolutely gutted if we buy him

This is the bit I don't get.  Saying he's overpriced or we should be going for younger I can understand, even if I don't necessarily agree with, but to say you'd be 'gutted' is just bizarre to me when we're talking about a proven quality Premiership striker.

Underwhelmed?  Fair enough.  But 'gutted'???

to me it would just sum up our level of ambition frankly.  a guy unwanted by a top4 club below us a year ago, who had to farmed out to celtic to do any good and who we tried to buy 10 years ago. the future's bright......

[mcgrath_85]

I have to say I agree with you for once John. For 9 million, I don't think we could get much better than Keane. We know mon isn't going to take a risk and buy someone unproven in premiership football.
I think Keane, being an intelligent, somewhat classy player could do a job well into his thirties. I think he's got that in him.
The Gabby swap talk is complete bullshit, I may add.

[pedro25]

Keane the player/creator/goalscrorer is just what we need.  He cost Liverpool 21 million odd just 23 months ago, 9 mill now would be a good deal imo.

[Ben H]

CAn't see much happening anywhere now till after the world cup-managers and players are on holiday and may be mid July before we sign or sell anyone .

Anyone know if MON is due to do any punditry over the World Cup?

No doubt he'll unearth another gem like Salifu if he does.  Maybe the Algerian Ian Ormondroyd this time round?