Transfer Speculation / Gossip

[ozzjim]

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.

More a curiosity of where he will go from Sunderland. I reckon a loan to someone like Palace. Pulis likes a wayward winger.

[supertom]

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.

More a curiosity of where he will go from Sunderland. I reckon a loan to someone like Palace. Pulis likes a wayward winger.

I think Downing has been better throughout his career than Johnson thus far. That move to City was just too early and he never really warranted it in the first place. At least Downing had a couple of years of standing out at Boro, and a decent season for us before going for crazy money.
When Johnson broke through he was supposed to be a superior version of Downing but has not even proved to be that. Downing's a pretty average player too.

[DrGonzo]

I would suggest a goals to game ratio would have Johnson well ahead...

Indeed, wiki has johnson with 13 in 60 for Sunderland and Downing having scored 3 in his last 78....

[danno]

Had no idea Adam Johnson had scored ten this season.
8 in the league 2 in the cups.

That's not too shabby.

[Dante Lavelli]

I could see Mourinho offering Lukaku and Bertrand in exchange for Benteke as it will solve a few of his problems.  Seemingly he wants rid of both players and is desperate for a striker(s).  I suspect Lukaku will have aspirations above Villa but if he's foreced out it could happen.

Moses may also be an option for us as he is also in Mourinho's bomb squad if press reports are accurate.

[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.

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.

I haven't seen this photo. Got a link?

He's really promising but has stalled at Inter. He needs to move and play football, which is good for our chances. But like I said, it won't happen. Better teams than us will be in for him.

[supertom]

I would suggest a goals to game ratio would have Johnson well ahead...

Indeed, wiki has johnson with 13 in 60 for Sunderland and Downing having scored 3 in his last 78....

Johnsons only been pretty decent for Sunderland for the mid section of this season really. In terms of consistency over a season, Downings had the odd year here and there (including his last with us), while Johnson has flattered to deceive somewhat. Again though, much of that goes down to moving far to soon to a club like Man City.

It'll be interesting to see where he pops up next, but to be honest I hope we've learned our lesson having already signed Downing and also N'Zobgia for that matter. 6 solid months at Wigan before we got him and he's done chuff all since. I think his wages might be beyond us anyway and I don't fancy Lambert seeing him as an option. Not least because he's a winger.

[PaulWinch again]

I could see Mourinho offering Lukaku and Bertrand in exchange for Benteke as it will solve a few of his problems.  Seemingly he wants rid of both players and is desperate for a striker(s).  I suspect Lukaku will have aspirations above Villa but if he's foreced out it could happen.

Moses may also be an option for us as he is also in Mourinho's bomb squad if press reports are accurate.

I doubt Mourinho will want Benteke if he doesn't want Lukaku. He'll be looking at a Diego Costa, Edison Cavani type player in terms of profile.

[DrGonzo]

I don't think we'll sign him, but to call him worse than Downing is a little harsh old boy.

[Dante Lavelli]

I could see Mourinho offering Lukaku and Bertrand in exchange for Benteke as it will solve a few of his problems.  Seemingly he wants rid of both players and is desperate for a striker(s).  I suspect Lukaku will have aspirations above Villa but if he's foreced out it could happen.

Moses may also be an option for us as he is also in Mourinho's bomb squad if press reports are accurate.

I doubt Mourinho will want Benteke if he doesn't want Lukaku. He'll be looking at a Diego Costa, Edison Cavani type player in terms of profile.

I agree, I think he'll definitely want a player of that ilk first and foremost but if he's bombing out Lukaku, Torres, Ba and Eto then he'll also need a first reserve of a reasonable stature.

[supertom]

I don't think we'll sign him, but to call him worse than Downing is a little harsh old boy.

Ha ha, well on current terms, he is better but that's not too difficult. But he was billed at Boro as the superior version of DJ Downing. The player who would offer the consistent goal threat and assists that Downing could only do in patches.
If he keeps his form up he'll end up proving it correct of course. But if he was offered to us in the summer, I'd be hesitant as my mind would wonder more to Downing, Zogbia and Ireland.

Saying that being overbilled is part and parcel of being a half decent English player these days I guess, so nothing new there. See Andros Townsend.

[supertom]

I could see Mourinho offering Lukaku and Bertrand in exchange for Benteke as it will solve a few of his problems.  Seemingly he wants rid of both players and is desperate for a striker(s).  I suspect Lukaku will have aspirations above Villa but if he's foreced out it could happen.

Moses may also be an option for us as he is also in Mourinho's bomb squad if press reports are accurate.

I doubt Mourinho will want Benteke if he doesn't want Lukaku. He'll be looking at a Diego Costa, Edison Cavani type player in terms of profile.

I agree, I think he'll definitely want a player of that ilk first and foremost but if he's bombing out Lukaku, Torres, Ba and Eto then he'll also need a first reserve of a reasonable stature.

Yeah I don't see Benteke being on Chelskis radar. Spurs perhaps again, maybe Arsenal, but more likely I think we'll see a foreign club come in for him.
There'd be absolutely no logic in Mourinho turfing out Lukaku and bringing in Benteke. Both are similar players and if anything this season, Benteke has been the player who has stood still, while Lukaku has developed further. In addition, not that Benteke is old or anything, but Lukaku is 2 years younger so has even more time to develop than Benteke.

If Chelsea did go a bit loopy and offer us Lukaku and Bertrand for Benteke, I'd snatch their hand off. I suspect though Lukaku might have plenty of suitors himself and probably be looking at finding a champions league club. If Everton were to grab that fourth spot, they may just be able to keep him, depending on how much of the fellaini money they've still got in the bank.

[Concrete John]

I could see Mourinho offering Lukaku and Bertrand in exchange for Benteke as it will solve a few of his problems.  Seemingly he wants rid of both players and is desperate for a striker(s).  I suspect Lukaku will have aspirations above Villa but if he's foreced out it could happen.

Moses may also be an option for us as he is also in Mourinho's bomb squad if press reports are accurate.

I doubt Mourinho will want Benteke if he doesn't want Lukaku. He'll be looking at a Diego Costa, Edison Cavani type player in terms of profile.

I agree, I think he'll definitely want a player of that ilk first and foremost but if he's bombing out Lukaku, Torres, Ba and Eto then he'll also need a first reserve of a reasonable stature.

I can't see Benteke going somewhere and being a first reserve.  It'd be a terrible shame and stunt his career as it's done with Milner at Man City.  However, if they did want him I'm sure there'd be enough money to beat him over the head with to make it happen.

[PaulWinch again]

Well if they were crazy enough to offer Lukaku and Bertrand for Benteke, I'd bite their hands off.

[sirlordbaltimore]

I'd value Lukaku at about 15m, Bertrand about 3m tops

That wouldn't add up to Benteke's value which even now would be around 25m for me. Put it this way, in a decent side without a piss poor manager (eg: Everton) i reckon he'd already have about 20 this season (that's just a hunch as it cna't be proven obviously)

His potential is limitless, i've never felt the same about Lukaku