Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[Matt C]

Olsson for 3.5m?

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/west-brom-face-battle-keep-1864287

[eastie]

Aston Villa aim to secure star duo Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann on new contracts by the end of the month.

Strikers Benteke and Weimann took their tallies to 22 and 12 goals respectively in the 6-1 win over Sunderland to boost Villa's survival bid.

Benteke's sensational debut Premier League campaign has sparked interest from Man City and Spurs.

While former Villa trainee Weimann, 21, has also attracted attention with his contract up at the end of next season.

But Villa's hierarchy are very confident of keeping both men on fresh terms once Premier League safety is secured.

 

The pair are willing to stay on significantly improved financial terms, which look set to finalised later this month.

Benteke realises he needs regular starts next season to safeguard his position as Belgium's No.1 striker ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

But Villa are prepared to offload big-earning trio Stephen Ireland, Darren Bent and Shay Given.

While out-of-contract veteran defender Richard Dunne is not getting a new deal at Villa Park and is set to be replaced.

Boss Paul Lambert is now already busy scouting other targets in northern Europe in Holland and Belgium following the success of Benteke's signing from Genk.

[Mister E]

Lescott's a lovely lad, comes from a real nice family and is currently one of the best centre halves in the league.

But are we really going to offer a sizeable contract to a 30 year old? He's hardly going to accept 2 years with an option of a further 2.

30 ain't that old for footballers with the training, medicine and rehab techniques available. He doesn't have a poor injury history and doesn't come across as a bar fly or social nutter.
He'd be perfect alongside Ron and as a mentor for CC and Baker.

[eastie]

Lescott's a lovely lad, comes from a real nice family and is currently one of the best centre halves in the league.

But are we really going to offer a sizeable contract to a 30 year old? He's hardly going to accept 2 years with an option of a further 2.

30 ain't that old for footballers with the training, medicine and rehab techniques available. He doesn't have a poor injury history and doesn't come across as a bar fly or social nutter.
He'd be perfect alongside Ron and as a mentor for CC and Baker.

Indeed look at how good paul McGrath was in his 30s - lescott would be good for at least 3 years bu which time baker and Clark should be approaching their prime .
It's a World Cup year and lescott may see regular football at villa as a way to get into the England side.

[Clampy]

Olsson for 3.5m?

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/west-brom-face-battle-keep-1864287

He's another player who a lot of people seem to rate but i don't get it. He's alright but that's about it. He's also a cheating twat.

[Concrete John]

as much as i would love some of these players coming back or to the Villa, they are tired old names trotted out every transfer window,
we just aren't there any more, like my ex wife once said to me, we have 'moved on'

just look at the last window, when fellow strugglers were signing Sisoko and Samba we were bringing in  an absolute unknown from France who even most of them hadn't heard of,
 no one could understand it, meltdown on the transfer thread, until maybe Monday night when Syla the unknown played a major part in our relegation battle, and we now all think he might well turn out to be a good player for us

I just think this is now Lambert and his backroom staffs mindset, I think he loves the fact we are the youngest team in the prem, he loves the togetherness of the squad, he loves the fact they will give their all on the pitch, and the big earners are all lined up on the side lines for now, ready to be shunted away

that's why I don't think we will be going down well trodden paths for a while, its a brand new policy and its different from anything that has gone before, that's my take on it anyway,
 obviously if we sign a couple of 30+ year olds I will have read it wrong but I think it will be more of the same from Lambert, and it gets my vote

You are spot on John re Sylla. On the face of it, 2m on a 22 year old destroyer who has looked like he is taking a bit of time to settle and has plenty of potential, but as I have now said a few times, it has shocked me that in his 8 apps, we have won 5, drawn 2 and only lost to Liverpool. That is a pretty damned good return on spending 2m on an unknown from the French 2nd division. We have indeed, moved on.

Still like Lescott though in our back 4. More likely to end up with Chester if Hull mess things up.

It'll also be interesting to find out how much of the 2012 deals were down to the necessity of needing so many players with relatively little money, whilst also still addressing the wage bill issue.  Lambert wasn't really in a position to get an established PL player for circa £10m and £60k a week, but he might be this summer.

You sure? We had a bid accepted for Clint Dempsey. Presumably we were happy to pony up the wages too but he was holding out for Liverpool and when they didn't go higher, Spurs.

A very good point and one I had forgotten.  I do think we wouldn't have signed Benteke if we had gotten Dempsey, but it does further detract from the theory that Lambert won't sign established players.

[Concrete John]

I wonder if Junior Hoilett on a free, as is rumoured due to his wages at QPR, would be worth a punt. Lambert could get some form out of him he would be an exciting option challenging for a spot in that front 3. I would love Remy but think he is Arsenal or Liverpool bound.

Not for me Ozz and I would go as far as saying that he is exactly the kind of player we don't need at the club.  Went to QPR for the money and has been nowhere to be seen when the going got tough there.  I've liked the look of Andros Townsend every time I have seen him play this season and he might be worth having a look at.

Maybe re Hoilett, but I think there is a very decent player in there.

Hoilett will be looking for too much money, and that money won't be in keeping with his contribution to the cause, so it's a 'no' from me.

[jonzy85]

I'd be raiding Wigan for Figueroa, McManaman and McCarthy if they go down. All could really add something to our squad.

Still think he would be a great signing for us and would be my number one midfield target.  Only 22 yet has made nearly 200 professional appearances for Hamilton and Wigan.

Id avoid McCarthy like the plague. Have watched him closely for years as soon it was released that he could play for Ireland. He was being linked with the likes of Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Barcelona when he started at Hamilton. Yet when it came to his big move he ended up at ahem Wigan. Saw a report at the weekend suggesting Man Utd were interested in him, he is more likely to end up at another relegation dodging side. He certainly has ability dont get me wrong. But Trapatoni has it right about him, he lacks courage and presence in midfield. Tidy when there is no pressure on him but at the same time doesnt break forward and get goals. Doesnt get much tackles in, doesnt create goals. Despite 4 years experience in the league, Id rate Westwood a better prospect and Wigan will get stupid money for McCarthy in the summer. Let it be Liverpool or someone else. The star in the McCarthy camp is his agent as the lad has been well and truly built into a player he is not from the day he started playing senior football.

I couldn't disagree with you more. Trappatoni has been wrong about him (and a lot of other things). I must say, I was a little sceptical about the hype surrounding him for a while, but after playing Sweden away, he pretty much ran the game. What's more is that he did a lot of very good defensive work, as he does for Wigan. Not last ditch, sliding challenges, but lots of intelligent interceptions in the defensive third. Trap's problem with him is that he likes to play football and has an eye for a pass.

At 22, he has 200 appearances and is what Ireland's international team will be built around once Trap gets paid off. I think he would slot in very nicely in our set up too.

[supertom]

Wouldn't mind Olssen. He's better than what we have.

Would love Lescott. He'd make us a lot more solid. A wealth of experience, a goal threat, dominant in the air and he'd keep the backline in order. Could be a Laursen for us.

We definitely need more experience in the backline as well as in midfield. McCarthy would be a decent signing. He'd be a reasonable fee if Wigan go down, not on huge wages because he's at Wigan, and he's got plenty of experience whilst still being very young. Ideal signing to be honest.

[curiousorange]

I wonder if Junior Hoilett on a free, as is rumoured due to his wages at QPR, would be worth a punt. Lambert could get some form out of him he would be an exciting option challenging for a spot in that front 3. I would love Remy but think he is Arsenal or Liverpool bound.

Not for me Ozz and I would go as far as saying that he is exactly the kind of player we don't need at the club.  Went to QPR for the money and has been nowhere to be seen when the going got tough there.  I've liked the look of Andros Townsend every time I have seen him play this season and he might be worth having a look at.

Maybe re Hoilett, but I think there is a very decent player in there.

Hoilett will be looking for too much money, and that money won't be in keeping with his contribution to the cause, so it's a 'no' from me.

Hoilett put himself in the shop window as practically the only thing keeping Blackburn anywhere near survival. Then he chose to go to QPR because they waved a big cheque at him, even though it was obvious he'd be right in the thick of another relegation battle. Says it all for me.

[The Man With A Stick]

I hope Lambo is scouting Scandinavia.  Not enough Vikings in this squad for my liking.

[mr woo]

I agree N'Zogbia can join Dunne, Ireland, Hutton and Bent on the outward bound list.

Yep I agree, and you can add Given to that list too. 60k a week for the most underused position in any football squad is frankly ludicrous.

It would be if that's what he was being paid. The figure talked about when he first signed was £40k - the issue was giving a 35 year old a 5-year contract. He's still got another 3 years to go and only plays cup matches.

The figures quoted in the Daily Mail, who are fairly reliable, said he was on 80k at Man City and took a 25% cut to join us.

Regardless, 20, 30, or 40 grand is still too much to pay someone, who as you rightly say, will sit out 38 league games.

Of course, shifting him is the problem, I wasn't for a minute suggesting that paying him off would be a sensible alternative.

[*shellac*]

I hope Lambo is scouting Scandinavia.  Not enough Vikings in this squad for my liking.

This.

[glasses]

Olsson is one of those players that if he plays for your team, you love him. He is popular at the stripeys, just like a certain Swedish centre back was around these parts!

Where they differ though is that for me Olsson is just a bully. A nasty thug with no grace whatsoever. He's quite cumbersome too. I hate him.

Sadly I have to agree that he would improve the back line

[eamonn]

Olsson's cheating last year at VP and his GobbyCabbage/JonathanGreening hairstyle just makes me want to throw rocks at him.