Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[eastie]

Bent can live without, I'd worry if benteke left, I was starting to think he was off but now he's being used for images I'm a bit more confident

Wouldnt read too much into the image thing, they were done a few weeks ago, if you check th video there in no sponsors name on the shirts and brad Guzan has not been in England for 3 weeks - easy enough to put a shirt on a player in a photo - when the shirts were modelled and filming made  we hadn't confirmed the sponsor.

[Concrete John]

Does anyone else like the very logical way Lambert seems to go about his transfer business?

Looking at a right sided CB, so it's two right and two left.
Nobody in the squad who can play Benteke's role, so we get a 6'5" young understudy.
Bent doesn't fit in, so we cash in on him.
Not many wide options other than Gabby and Andi, so we sign one.

Is this how you play one of those Football Manager games?

[eastie]

Bacuna in particular interests me- he can play the box to box role , either side wing back and also a wide role and chips in with goals - I'd be surprised if we followed up any interest in luke murphy now - another couple in after these 3 and we can hopefully shift some of the deadwood out like Holman, Ireland, bannan.

[Damo70]

The description of Bacuna  as regards where and how he plays seems to tally with the one of Holman this time last year. How long till a young keeper signs? Given, Bent and Holman definitely to be sold and Ireland to be paid off? I must admit I like the buy before you sell policy rather than scrabbling around late in the summer to cover positions.

[itbrvilla]

I see Daniel Johnson has signed a 2 year deal today. I also found that Samir Carruthers turned down the chance to play for Dorgu Youth All Stars Wanderers Black Eagles Cats to play for us, according to wikipedia.

[Dr Butler]

reported by the Irish Villans on facebook( yeah I know) that:

Groningen FC have reported on there official site that Leandro Bacuna has signed for Villa on 3yr contract

not seen anything on the OS yet.

UTV
The Doc

[Concrete John]

The description of Bacuna  as regards where and how he plays seems to tally with the one of Holman this time last year. How long till a young keeper signs? Given, Bent and Holman definitely to be sold and Ireland to be paid off? I must admit I like the buy before you sell policy rather than scrabbling around late in the summer to cover positions.

Holman was described as a 2nd striker/winger, so to me Tonev is a more likely replacement/upgrade for him than Bacuna.  Box to box midfielder/wing back is nearer to Delph and/or Herd.

[Ads]

Bloody hell.

From that video he looks massive, brave, quick as anybody, an excellent passer, confident on the ball and good at reading the game. That was a good Chelsea side too.

Yeah I don't like to get excited over you tube footage but how quick does he look? He made up distance on Cole and Moses who are really quick and great on the ball I like the sliding challenges where he gets the ball but stays on his feet.

I have to say in both instances I felt some movement in my underpants. Is that healthy?

Its not often you watch a centre half play and feel excited.

[Brend'Watkins]

all of these players are rising stars in their own country and they will all view a move to the PL as a massive step up and chance to really propel their careers forward. The players they are replacing in the squad are mostly towards the end of their careers, or are complete and utter wasters. These new kids, while young and inexperienced at this level will works their balls off to get into the side and keep their place. Now, I am sure we all would like to see some experience added if the right player becomes available but what they are creating is an environment where no player can take anything for granted and that those with the most desire will win out.

This might be the best summer most of us can ever remember from Villa in terms of optimism. Certainly the most positive since 2006.

You know what, I feel more positive and optimistic about next season than I have about a Villa side since the late 70's. I can't really put my finger on the exact reason, I just feel it.

[Mister E]

reported by the Irish Villans on facebook( yeah I know) that:

Groningen FC have reported on there official site that Leandro Bacuna has signed for Villa on 3yr contract

not seen anything on the OS yet.

UTV
The Doc

Here's what the FC Groningen website  is saying:

FC Groningen has reached an agreement with Aston Villa for the transfer of Leandro Bacuna to Villa Park. The transition from the trained Pride of the North itself rounder can be finalized as Bacuna medical examination in Birmingham by state and he personally reached agreement with Aston Villa. FC Groningen is expected that the transfer is effected

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

Bloody hell.

From that video he looks massive, brave, quick as anybody, an excellent passer, confident on the ball and good at reading the game. That was a good Chelsea side too.

Yeah I don't like to get excited over you tube footage but how quick does he look? He made up distance on Cole and Moses who are really quick and great on the ball I like the sliding challenges where he gets the ball but stays on his feet.

I have to say in both instances I felt some movement in my underpants. Is that healthy?

Its not often you watch a centre half play and feel excited.

When I've watched those clips of him, it's reminded me of "God", the way he seems to appear from nowhere to nick the ball away from the head or toe at the last second!

[eastie]

The sooner we get okore signed the better - he seems ideal.

[Toronto Villa]

Victor Moses is a good player. Ashley Cole is excellent. Both are very quick, and neither could beat our soon to be new CB. Viva la Revolucion!!

[Colhint]

FC Groningen has reached an agreement with Aston Villa for the transfer of Leandro Bacuna to Villa Park. The transition from the trained Pride of the North itself rounder can be finalized as Bacuna medical examination in Birmingham by state and he personally reached agreement with Aston Villa. FC Groningen is expected that the transfer is effected. The 21-year-old Bacuna had Euroborg a continuous commitment to mid-2015.


from fc gronningen

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

Jores Okore is ready to take responsibility to be a leader in Paul Lambert's young and emerging Villa team having completed a move from FC Nordsjaelland, last season's runners-up in Denmark's top-flight Superliga.

The 20-year-old defender underwent a medical today and agreed a four-year deal which will run to 2017.

Manager Lambert believes the Danish international has the potential to "make a huge impact" in the Barclays Premier League in coming seasons and Okore is thrilled to be part of Villa's hungry, aspirational team which he is determined to help propel towards "a higher level of performance [and] into a new era".

"We're a young team and we played some really good football over the second half of last season which is something we want to build on now as players, as a team and as a club," Okore said.

"I know there is great potential in the team. I have watched many of our games because the Premier League is very popular back in Denmark.

"I know also that we have a good coach and this is a really good club. This is the right club for me, I feel it straight away.

"We have a lot to show and we have a long way to go. We want to get to an even higher level of performance and show people who we are, that we can be a really good team. The manager is determined to develop us and to help us become better players, proving to people that we can become a top team. We can get some exciting things going here.

"I'm really excited and I'm looking forward to seeing my new teammates and getting together with them to train and get prepared to play some Premier League games.

"I'm happy to be wearing the shirt and I feel like I'm looking really good in it - it feels very comfortable. I'm looking forward to us going out next season, performing as a team and showing our potential.

"We have good players all around. It's going to be tough but I really hope I can go in and show myself and be a big part of the team. I want to bring something new to our game and really help the team into a new era. That's what I hope to do.

"If I was to describe myself, I think I'm a big, strong defender with good pace. Obviously, my priority is to be a really good defensive player but I think I can bring something to our game offensively, too, and maybe start some attacks. But the foremost thing will be to defend well and after that think about whatever else I may be able to contribute.

"We have players who have experience of the Premier League and hopefully I can also bring something from my experience in the Champions League. I'm looking forward to playing with my new team-mates.

"It's going to be exciting to play in a stadium like Villa Park and I'm looking forward to that. The atmosphere, I can tell, is incredible and I know the fans here are very passionate. This is an historic football club and I'm delighted to be a part of it now.

"It was really nice to hear some very nice comments from [former Villa and Danish international defender] Martin Laursen. It means a lot. I hope I can bring what he brought to the team and some of my own style as well. Martin was a great player for this club and I don't want to build it up too much. I have to come in and work hard and that's what I intend to do. I have a really good coach who will help me to perform my role, to be a leader in the squad, to take responsibility and perform well."

Okore has been an integral part of FC Nordsjaelland's unprecedented success over the past three seasons, winning their first Superliga title in 2011-12 and the Danish Cup in 2010-11.

He made his only appearance of the 2009-10 campaign in the Danish Cup and has played 71 times since then, including five appearances in the 2012-13 Champions League.

Okore made his debut for the Danish national team in November 2011.

He has played seven times for his country and was part of the squad that travelled to Ukraine for Euro 2012, though he did not play in the tournament.

He was named to the Danish League XI, a team made up of the best players from the Danish Superliga that plays during the league's winter break, in both 2012 and 2013 and in 2012 was named the under-21 player of the year by the Danish FA.

Lambert believes that Okore's acquisition will bolster his central defensive unit and imbue real competition for places, which he wants to engender throughout the team.

"He's only 20 years of age and that's good but he's also an international player at a really young age and he's played Champions League football as well, which is testament to his potential," Lambert said.

"Jores has played in big games but he's a very humble lad and he will be a really good addition to our team and to our squad. I'm pleased that we've signed a player of his stature, for he is someone who can come in and make a huge impact.

"There's a great opportunity for him here and the competition for places is something that's really important. You want to try to have that throughout the team."