Summer Transfer Thread: Speculation, Lies, Absolute Cr*p and Bosman Rumours

[Mazrim]

Josh Webb is very promising at right back (he can also play centre half). But Enda aside, Derrick Williams is the best young left back I can think of at the youth level and he's essentially a centre half who can play left back.

I'd definitely be looking at bringing in a senior left back and a youngster too. If the move for Bertrand is true then Lambert thinks along those lines.

[ozzjim]

I was going to ask who the promising full backs coming through are? Genuine question as not up on all the youth players, so if there are I would be interested as to who?

[JD]

Phil: no-one in particular, just want something to read.

Thanks BTW.

I know, any links today?

PL has apparently put a bid in to Chelsea for Ryan Bertrand which has been rejected

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/chelsea-transfer-news-aston-villa-1136018

Time to up the bid for Bertrand. Part of it in cash now and put the rest of the cost on plastic

Very good UK Redsox, the joke wasn't lost on me.

[N'ZMAV]

Anyone expecting a few deals done this week?

[Mazrim]

Yes. At least two.

[ozzjim]

Kendrick has said Brahimi rumours are not true. Shame, as he looks just the sort we could do with going forward. Real flair.

[N'ZMAV]

Martin O'Neill chasing Gabby & James Collins in a £10m double swoop according to Ladbrokes news....

[Phil from the upper holte]

I'd want more than £10m for the two, cheeky bastard lets charge him what he used to pay

[not3bad]

Kendrick has said Brahimi rumours are not true. Shame, as he looks just the sort we could do with going forward. Real flair.

That's a blow.  I'd convinced myself that Brahimi would be the next one in.

[andyh]

Martin O'Neill chasing Gabby & James Collins in a £10m double swoop according to Ladbrokes news....

8m for Gabby, 2M for Collins ?
Seems about right to me.

[Ryu]

Kendrick has said Brahimi rumours are not true. Shame, as he looks just the sort we could do with going forward. Real flair.

I thought he loojed like s very skillful player on his youtube clips and got excited by the links myself. But I also read he only started 6 games for rennes last seasonwhich suggest he's  inconsistent or possibly a trouble maker so maybe one bet avoided.

[VillaAlways]

Looks like Guzan is definitely coming back then

@MatKendrick: Paul Lambert promises Brad Guzan will be a genuine challenger for #avfc No.1 shirt when he re-signs http://t.co/YtKhP5BI

PAUL Lambert has confirmed Brad Guzan will challenge for the No.1 jersey at Villa after explaining his reasons for wanting to re-sign the club’s perennial goalkeeping understudy.

Enter to Win a Trip to Spain
Guzan is in the process of finalising a new deal after Lambert offered him the chance to revive his claret and blue career despite his release at the end of last season.

And Lambert insists the 27-year-old American international will be given an equal opportunity to compete with current first choice stopper Shay Given for a first team role.

During his first four years at Villa, Guzan was largely restricted to cup appearances and was used as a Premier League deputy for compatriot Brad Friedel and then Given.

The former Chivas USA keeper impressed during his longest run of league matches midway through last season, but instantly lost his place when Given returned to contention.

And previous Villa manager Alex McLeish sent out a demoralising message to Guzan by insisting Given would always get the nod whenever the experienced Irish international was fit.

But Lambert rates Guzan highly and expects him to provide a strong challenge to Given when he puts pen to paper on a new contract shortly.

“It’s near,” said Lambert.

“I’ve watched Brad and some of his games when he was in the team last year and he was excellent.

“I know he’s always had that stigma of being the No.2 behind some really good goalkeepers here.

“But when you come back at the start of the season nobody knows what’s going to happen and it depends on whoever does well.

“Brad played very well the time he was in and maybe he found himself a bit unlucky to be back out.

[philthebar]

Brad staying is good news.  Hope he gets his chance

[pauliewalnuts]

Is anyone else finding themselves still basking in the relief of shedding McLeish and then appointing Lambert, and thereby finding they're entirely relaxed about what happens in this transfer window?

I am.

[Hookeysmith]

Little confused with the Guzan thing

We let him go presumably as he wanted 1st team football and we wanted to reduce the wage bill so did not offer him a new contract

Now he looks like resigning so is it:

a/ A reduced wage contract
b/ An improved one (so the saving money option was a non starter)
c/ Lambert does rate him and will hold true that he will get a proper chance based on form
d/ No other bugger wanted him so we cheekily have gave him a lesser offer

Either way i feel it better the devil you know as i feel Given will yet again have a few injury issues during the season