January Transfer Speculation (or lack of) Thread

[dave.woodhall]

It smells of inevitability. Barry, Milner, Young, Downing.... Bent. I can't see it being under 30 million plus though.

How is it inevitable? At least two of those were for daft money while the other two had contracts running down.

How does it make any difference if it is daft money, though? They still ended up going.

Nobody is going to pay daft money for Bent this month.

[Ian.]

If Carol is worth 35m What is Bent worth by Daglish's logic? He is a proven goal scorer where Carol was not.

[pauliewalnuts]

It smells of inevitability. Barry, Milner, Young, Downing.... Bent. I can't see it being under 30 million plus though.

How is it inevitable? At least two of those were for daft money while the other two had contracts running down.

How does it make any difference if it is daft money, though? They still ended up going.

Nobody is going to pay daft money for Bent this month.

It depends what the board's idea of daft money is. When McLeish came, he gave that pep talk to supporters representatives and said Downing would only leave for daft money of the 50m variety. He then went for 20m. I can see the same thing happening with Darren Bent.

Chelsea could do with a striker. Torres isn't working, Drogba is finished, and that leaves just Sturridge.

Liverpool could also be interested (and if they are, i hope we don't help them recover from their expensive mistake of shelling out way, way over the top for Carroll).

[PaulWinch again]

I see the Mirror have linked us to Robbie Keane, I can't see how that'd ever be true and it better not be.

[ozzjim]

If someone offered 30 million, and lets face it, there are 2 managers with big money that are desperate right now in Villas Boas and the King, he would be gone. I hope I am wrong, but when these things start gathering about our best players, we have an inevitable period and then lose the player. All of the above went after a concerted period of being linked away, the Bent thing has grown over the last month. I would bet a decent amount he won't start next season here.

[dave.woodhall]

I would be very surprised if he goes this month.

[Ian.]

I'd take Strurridge plus money from Chelsea but I would rather it was not even a matter of concern and that we could still go for someone like Sturridge as well as having Bent and Gabby.

[PaulWinch again]

If someone offered 30 million, and lets face it, there are 2 managers with big money that are desperate right now in Villas Boas and the King, he would be gone. I hope I am wrong, but when these things start gathering about our best players, we have an inevitable period and then lose the player. All of the above went after a concerted period of being linked away, the Bent thing has grown over the last month. I would bet a decent amount he won't start next season here.

That is true, and I really hope it doesn't happen. This time there is no excuse for the board to sanction the sale, the player has a long time on his contract and hasn't made noises about moving. I would be very very disappointed if we sold him, it would send a disastrous message out to the fans and all the players at the club. Who would want to be here if it's so obvious we have no ambition to hold onto our best players and progress? We have made big inroads into the wage bill and players like Heskey and Beye should be removed from it in the summer, there is no reason to sell Bent.

[TheSandman]

He's only a youngster. You're all just miffed that you missed such a potential bargain.

Wasn't he one of Brice Jovial's deranged suggestions? Think it was him and Jimmy Bullard?

[luke25]

I'd be gutted if we sold Bent, I just can't see it, but then again I was convinced we would'nt sell Downing so I suppose if somebody stupid was to offer us twice his worth then he may be off (back handed dig at Liverpool there), we're finally starting to build something again now so just keep hold of everybody unless somebody wants to take Emile of our hands.

[PeterWithesShin]

He's only a youngster. You're all just miffed that you missed such a potential bargain.

Wasn't he one of Brice Jovial's deranged suggestions? Think it was him and Jimmy Bullard?

Finally someone got it.

[Mazrim]

If you're going to spend £30m on a striker then the likes of Chelsea will be expecting a bit of "Hollywood" for that kind of money and as much as I rate him that just isn't Bent. And the likes of Colin at QPR chasing Bent is... well, its just a load of bollocks isn't it.

I just can't see Bent leaving yet and believe me it's not because I have the utmost faith in the board. It's because his realistic destinations are limited.
Although annoying, Downing for £20m was good business. Selling Bent for anything less than ludicrous money just isn't. It would be a marketing, PR, commercial and footballing disaster and likely the end of any good relations between Randy and the fanbase.

[Shrek]

Just to clarify we can only loan one player from the same club.(links with a loan for Pienaar)

And Berbatov has 18 months left as Man U have taken up the extra years option on his deal.

[Somniloquism]

I would be very surprised if he goes this month.

Ozzjim didn't specify this month though. I assumed he meant the summer as all the other left then.

[Matt C]

From the ever-reliable Daily Mirror:

Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish is ready to give Robbie Keane a shock return to the Premier League if he can cut through red tape.

The Republic of Ireland star is taking a break at the end of the MLS season with Los Angeles Galaxy, but McLeish would like to take him on loan for a couple of months.

Keane could be open to the plan to keep himself sharp before heading back to California and building up for the Euro 2012 finals with his country.

However Keane would need clearance from both LA Galaxy and the MLS - plus a big insurance payment - to make the move happen, but it is being explored by Villa.