Transfer Speculation / Gossip

[Mister E]

Helenius and Sylla should get a good spell on loan somewhere - possibly to a promoted side - to see whether then can cut the mustard. Likewise Carruthers, Donacien and Robinson: we need to see whether they can make a difference in regular competitive football.
If it goes well, blend them into our matchday squad, and use them. If not, sell on and let's focus our interest elsewhere.

At the moment, I'd be frustrated if I was one of them, 'cos I'd want to be playing regularly at a standard that challenges and develops me.

To do this, Lambert needs some more, proven Premiership-quality players for the matchday squad and to cover for injuries / suspensions; even if only short-term until these kids have proved themselves.

[Dante Lavelli]

Rumoured to be the player Lambert was photographed having lunch with a few months back:

"Liverpool will make an £8m move for Inter Milan's Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic in the summer. The 19-year-old is frustrated at a lack of action at the Serie A side."

[Dave Clark Five]

I reckon just the likes of Bent, Hutton, Given, Delfounseo will go and possibly N'Zogbia and Sylla. I think he'll hang on to the others he brought in last August for another season to give them time to settle.

I think gardner will be another shown the door unfortunately.

That would be a pity. Hope his loan spell is as successful as Albrighton's. Great article about him in the Mail last night.

[WarszaVillan]

Hasn't he been sent back by Coventry after failing to make an impression there. Indeed a pity.

[olaftab]

No one and I repeat no one deserves to be sent back from Coventry.

[Villa in Denmark]

My prediction based upon details of a recent conversation I had  with an individual who is associated with the club
Players who may be leaving in the summer = Helenius, Tonev and Luna
Player not coming in the summer = Hoolihan
Potentially 5 new players coming in

The situation with Helenius really intrgues me. What the hell has been going on that he has not had any gametime and is no longer even on the bench? - why no loan-term with a Championship side?

Was there not some story that in training he got nutmegged, the other players laughed and he stormed off?

Where's that come from?
Nothing like that reported over here, and given that his agent is a gobby git, I'm sure something
like that would have come out.

[Des Little]

Fuck me . Delfounseo has been around longer than the internet. Surely we can just pay the poor bugger off now?

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

Rumoured to be the player Lambert was photographed having lunch with a few months back:

"Liverpool will make an £8m move for Inter Milan's Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic in the summer. The 19-year-old is frustrated at a lack of action at the Serie A side."

We won't be signing Kovacic, that's for sure. I'd love it but it won't happen. Liverpool would be a good fit for him.

[supertom]

Fuck me . Delfounseo has been around longer than the internet. Surely we can just pay the poor bugger off now?

Is this not his final year?

[KevinGage]

No idea who this chap is:

http://www.football365.com/aston-villa/9234580/Transfer-news-Aston-Villa-and-Fulham-among-clubs-chasing-Freiburg-s-Fallou-Diagne

But the player himself has mentioned us as one of a host of clubs interested.

Diagne claims growing interest

Freiburg defender Fallou Diagne has told radio station RFM that clubs from across Europe have expressed an interest in acquiring his services.


The 24-year-old is approaching the end of his second season in Germany, having moved to the Bundesliga from French outfit Metz.

His progress has been closely monitored by a number of sides, and they are now ready to make their move.

Freiburg would be reluctant sellers, but Diagne is determined to make the most of a golden opportunity.

He claims the likes of Aston Villa, Fulham, Borussia Dortmund, Bordeaux and Rennes are all chasing his signature, and he will make a decision on his future when the summer transfer window opens.

Diagne told RFM: "The club and the coach do not want to let me go but (other) clubs do not want to miss out on me."

One sticking point in any Premier League move for Diagne could be his lack of international experience.

He is yet to be capped by Senegal at senior level and may struggle to obtain a work permit unless he can obtain an EU passport.

[Dante Lavelli]

Rumoured to be the player Lambert was photographed having lunch with a few months back:

"Liverpool will make an £8m move for Inter Milan's Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic in the summer. The 19-year-old is frustrated at a lack of action at the Serie A side."

We won't be signing Kovacic, that's for sure. I'd love it but it won't happen. Liverpool would be a good fit for him.

If (big if) he was the player that Lambert was photographed then it would suggest Lambert is interested.  The price doesn't seem too unrealistic and the player seems to want first team football, so there are positive signs.  However having seen a youtube montage (I know, I know) of his best bits he looks a phenomenal player and likely to go to a club above the stature of Villa.  Fingers crossed that first team football is his priority as we'd be well placed to give him that.

[Ads]

We need more midfielders who are happy in possession and who can get closer to their team mates to provide options. Movement into space is one part of our problem, but then movement towards the ball is another.

I think we will see us play a midfield diamond next season, with Westwood deepest and Delph to the left. The two players we need; a physical and dominating player, with the elusive attacking midfielder at the tip, all must be good on the ball and good passers of the ball first and foremost. If they can then run like the wind, dish out a ferocious tackle, drift in between the lines and play killer through balls for fun, then great.

If we only have £20 odd million to spend, then I would much rather see us spend it on those two midfielders, as I think it would give us no end of balance and control. Yes we may be weak at full back, but with the midfield keeping the ball and using it a hell of a lot better who cares.

Kozak and Okore coming back will improve the squad, as will N’Zogbia, but when it comes to purchases, it has to be midfield first and second.

[SoccerHQ]

Bertrand would be a good start. At 5m ish he's surely within transfer budget and if wages are a problem just get rid of one of Luna/Bennett as three LBs in the squad is overload especially as two of our CBs can fill in there.

He's dipped recently but there's still a decent player there who can improve further. If not then I'd like to see us go for Neil Taylor at Swansea who is a backup nowadays but looked very good not so long ago.

[ozzjim]

I was hoping Norwich would drop and we could nip in and get Fer from them.


As it is, Medel would do us good but is likely on huge money at Cardiff. There is not much else. I would have liked to get Bolaise? from Palace as a wide option too but looks unlikely.

If we have 25million to spend, for me a number 10, a wide creative player and a hard central midfielder would be my 3. I would play Bennett and try and get Neil Taylor on the cheap as Soccer suggests, IMO he is as good as Bertrand from what I saw of him prior to getting injured.

Wonder where Adam Johnson will end up. As a sub or different option he still looks a decent player and has certainly changed a few games for Sunderland but big question marks over him not starting games?

We need options though, badly, that can make Gabby and Weimann uncomfortable. In many ways, Benteke going for 25 million ish may not be the end of the world. 5-6 players at 7-8m, with Kozak fit and another striker signed to compete with him in the Benteke mould might give much more scope for movement.

If we stay up of course!

[pauliewalnuts]

Wonder where Adam Johnson will end up. As a sub or different option he still looks a decent player and has certainly changed a few games for Sunderland but big question marks over him not starting games?

I wouldn't touch him with a bargepole. He'll have two or three decent games then be utterly anonymous. I understand he's got an interesting lifestyle, too.