Summer transfer rumours, speculation and out-and-out b*ll*cks.

[luke25]

Shay Given is one of the best goalkeepers in the history of the Premier League. He spent the majority of his career with Newcastle United, who reached great heights in terms of domestic and international success.  After internal turmoil struck the Toon, he left in February 2008 to join Manchester City where he did well in his first season. However, due to the rise of long-term goalie Joe Hart, Given has been shown the bench over the last season where he only made four starts.
 
Clearly Manchester City have little use for Given after choosing the younger Hart. Given doesn’t deserve to be a rarely used back-up especially in a league where numerous teams could use a goalkeeper of his skill and experience. At age 35, Given may still have a few years left in him as many elite keepers have played up until their early 40′s.
 
In the past year, Given’s lack of activity has obviously made him feel very unsettled at Eastlands. He has been linked to Celtic and especially to Arsenal who have had trouble trying to replace Jens Lehmann. However, the new team that is reportedly after the Irishman is Aston Villa under the newly appointed Alex McLeish. Supposedly, McLeish valued the keeper at £3 million but Manchester City is sticking with their original price of 5 million euros.
 
In order to win support, the often-criticized Scot needs to make improvements to the roster for the upcoming season. Brad Friedel, the reliable American that Villa has depended on since 2008, has departed on a Bosman free transfer to Spurs and Villa needs to find a replacement. Right now, all they have are reserves Brad Guzman and Alan Marshall who are both too inexperienced to become the starting keeper.
 
Aston Villa have been linked with a couple of other candidates besides Given which include Birmingham City’s Ben Foster and Wigan’s Ali-al Habsi. However, al Habsi is expected to permanently sign with the Latics while Foster is less experienced and composed in the net compared to a veteran like Given.
 
For Shay Given, the move is a no-brainer. The Irish stopper is reportedly desperate enough to cut his weekly wages of 85,000 euros so he can finally get back into the starting eleven with another club. According to the Daily Mail, Given put down an offer from West Brom who are looking for a replacement after Scott Carson left for the Turkish club Bursaspor. Given would likely have little trouble fitting in with another club who desperately need to fill holes in a roster that has seen many departures. With McLeish’s known defensive tactics, Given would be an essential factor keeping Villa in matches through quality saves.
 
After all the great feats of Shay Given’s career for both Newcastle and Ireland, he doesn’t deserve to close out his career warming the bench. Therefore, a move to Aston Villa would be ideal for both him and the club.

Whats €5m in pounds? Around £3.5m or something? If so thats decent, also Scott Carson joined Bursaspor, how did I miss that.

[Gervilla81]

Rangers to bid £2m for Cuellar and throw in Neil Alexander as part of deal...!

Personally I don't believe this rumour but it is doing the rounds here in Glasgow just now

IMHO Neil Alexander is a quality goalkeeper and has just been unfortunate that he is playing second fiddle to one of the finest keepers in Britain just now Allan McGregor.

he'd be a decent addition but whether or not his signature would please majority of Villa fans is the question

If he's that well thought of, why don't Rangers keep him, play him, and let us swap Carlos for McGregor?

because unlike many teams mate we have faith in both our Goalkeepers but as good as Alexander is and he has never let us down imo he isn't as good as McGregor.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

If we're going to sign Shay Given we're going to need a bloody good reserve goalkeeper, as Given has had serious shoulder problems and could be out the side more often than he's in. What was it, two major shoulder operations in 10 months?

[DrGonzo]

If we're going to sign Shay Given we're going to need a bloody good reserve goalkeeper, as Given has had serious shoulder problems and could be out the side more often than he's in. What was it, two major shoulder operations in 10 months?

Maybe the operations were succesful?  Just a thought.

[JJ-AV]

Cuellar24 Carlos Cuellar
It is what the real Nigel say..

Cuellar24 Carlos Cuellar
Tell him I said "your a f*****g sad c**t and I hope you have a slow and painful death" from the real nigel reo-coker

[Grande Pablo]

SSN are reporting 4 Premiership clubs are trailling Shane Long - GBP10m quoted - I hope we're one of them.  He'd be a great signing.

[Mazrim]

SSN are reporting 4 Premiership clubs are trailling Shane Long - GBP10m quoted - I hope we're one of them.  He'd be a great signing.

[JJ-AV]

Why spend £10m on a goal poacher when we've the best in the country?

[KevinGage]

If we had money to burn, faced the prospect of European football and plenty of fixtures, I wouldn't be completely against the idea. Would be young enough to not expect to start every game and would be good cover for Bent and Gabby.

As it is though, I'm not sure we could justify that kind of outlay. Up top is one of the areas where we're pretty OK TBH, especially for nippy forwards. Only business I could see us doing there is if someone is daft enough to take Ivanhoe off our hands and we pick up a targetman on the cheap.

Can see Long going to Everton. They're light up top and he should see plenty of game time there.

[Tony Boucher]

Ben Foster came back off holiday today, so if something's going to happen, it should happen pretty quickly now.

[BILL DE VALL]

Shay will do for me-top quality keeper-pulls off amazing saves for Ireland
and will work well with Dunne

[madirishvillain]

Rangers to bid £2m for Cuellar and throw in Neil Alexander as part of deal...!

Personally I don't believe this rumour but it is doing the rounds here in Glasgow just now

IMHO Neil Alexander is a quality goalkeeper and has just been unfortunate that he is playing second fiddle to one of the finest keepers in Britain just now Allan McGregor.

he'd be a decent addition but whether or not his signature would please majority of Villa fans is the question

Carlos for McShagger - thats a deal


not Carlos for Alexander

[Rudy Can't Fail]

If we're going to sign Shay Given we're going to need a bloody good reserve goalkeeper, as Given has had serious shoulder problems and could be out the side more often than he's in. What was it, two major shoulder operations in 10 months?

Maybe the operations were succesful?  Just a thought.

Well the first operation wasn't a success which is why he needed the second and until now nobody knows the outcome of the second. Risky business.

[Phil from the upper holte]

I'm sure we have medical staff for that sort of thing

[villa-love]

From villa talk

Some information that was given to me the other day in regards to transfers:

1. N'Zogbia is almost 100% nailed on. Villa are really pushing it through. A lot of competition though from Newcastle. Liverpool are not sniffing around and there seems to be some sort of gentlemans agreement between the two clubs that they wont go in for N'Zogbia as long as we sell them Downing. This is the stumbling block. Once a price is agreed for Downing, the deal will go through.

2. Villa want Foster. The problem with this deal is a) the price (Blues want 8m+) and also b) Foster will only come as long as we bring there goalkeeping coach to B6 too. Seems a bit odd but he is adament about this. Anybody know anything about there GK Coach? They have explored the avenue of bringing Given to Villa park and have spoken to him. Given really wants the move but Villa are going to get a definitive answer from Foster first. In my opinion, either would be good, but Foster is looking more likely.

3. Cuellar wont be going anywhere unless Villa can recoup 6m+. Mcleish wants to look at him but knows in order to fund a move to Dann, he may have to sell. No point in doing so for less that 5/6m though. Blues want 13m for Dann (Wankers).

4. Villa have apparently (not 100%) on this one, spoken to Scott Parker and a deal is very much on with this one. Parker wants 50k a week which villa will pay. Villa want rid of Ireland though and before he goes, a lot of deals such as the Parker one wont go through. Spurs wont pay the 6m West Ham want. Villa are almost 'starting again;

5. Again, this one seems a bit odd, Villa have spoken to Bristol City about there striker Nicky Maynard. I dont know much about the lad, but we have enquired.

6. The Milner deal unfortunately is almost a dead cert no go. We looked at the deal, but Man City wont let go for less than 18m which we wont pay.

This is all I have heard this summer. Ill let you know more when I hear it.

Up the Villa."