If Nani and Richards were available we should go all out for those. Nani is an excellent footballer. He will have offers from all over Europe though.
Nani has gone horribly off the boil in the last two season. 4 goals in 34 games is shocking stuff. Good world cup though and someone will take a punt. In 10/11 and 11/12 he got 20 goals in 89 games so clearly has loads of ability. Same with Ashley Young, if you had a manager who could get either of them back to their past form they could be serious value at the 5m-8m mark. Young even in his last season with us looked to have developed a hell of an ego so not sure he would be willing to put in the required hard work to get back to his past form.
Ditto Richards, has only played 18 times for City in the last two seasons. Only 2 league appearances this season, why he hasnt bothered going on loan would worry me about his attitude. Worth a punt to get his career back on track but not a big money one. Daily Heil reporting Liverpool will bid 7m for him this summer which is fantasy stuff for a player with his record. On the upside he is only 26 this summer and born in Birmingham, worth considering for sure. Richards is only worth a 3m-4m punt imo.
Rodwell is a Jenas like crock I suspect, was never that gone on him at Everton anyway, was a terrible signing by Mancini at 20m or so.
Cleverley is one that interest me a lot. True he has looked awful this season and miles out of his depth. But we only have two midfielders, Delph and Westwood, of any quality. He could be great value at 5m or so. 25 only this summer, doesnt seem injury prone. Good athlete with good touches, as long as he loses the feeling sorry for himself stuff then he could kick on at Villa Park. Think he could be a better version of Westwood if he got back his form.
Victor Moses played really well under Benitez at Chelsea last year, 10 goals in 43 games. Has had a disaster this term but the likes of Nani and Young have had 2 terrible seasons back to back. Only 23 and surely a better option for us that the likes of Albrighton, Weimann, Tonev and Gabby. Chelsea spent 9m on him (Whelan did well again there), at half that price I think he is well worth a punt for us.
10m should be enough to seal the deal for Cleverley and Moses. Thats two certain starters for us next year.
Sigurdsson at another 5m is 15m. We would be 15 points a better side with those three in our squad imo. Holtby is alright buts thats about it, the three I have mentioned are much better players.
Defence needs serious reinforcement, four new defenders imo. If
Walker is available at a decent price would bring him back, instability at Spurs has seen his form be inconsistent but he was key in us avoiding relegation a few years back. Bertrand has potential but 5m is the max for him really. Ben Davies looks a better player at Swansea but suspect bigger fish will want him this summer. We need a leader and organiser at centre half, Vlaar isnt that player for me.
Dawson if cheap could go well for us, he is slow but Okore's pace should cover that. I'm sure there is better defenders available in Europe than him but of the domestic players I think he would suit us best plus he does have leadership qualities. If Jonny Evans is available would go all out to get him, Moyes somehow thought Smalling was better this term but thats nonsense. Id stay clear of Lescott to be honest, his legs look gone and like Richards if he really wanted to play football he could have probably joined us or West Ham in Jan and got a place in the World Cup squad.
Out the gap - Vlaar, Gabby, Kea, Albrighton, Baker, Bennett, Luna, Helenius, Herd, Gardner, Sylla, Bowery, Fonz, Stevens, Lowton, Clark, Given, Bent and Hutton. I think Clark is solid enough as backup but we couldnt turn down 3m for him. Same for Lowton. Id let Given, Bent and Hutton go on frees, hard lessons learned from the club but its hard a good example to our younger players to have these three consuming the wages they are training with the youths. At the very worst all three should be on the bench next year, the childish bomb squad antics are beneath AVFC. Send the likes of Steer out on loan rather than having him as backup. We wont get much back from releasing that crew but they arent good enough for AVFC.
Id give Nzogbia one last chance if anything just to try and get him into a bit of reasonable form to get some cash back for him. Dont rate Kozak but would give him next year to show what he is made of. Id give Tonev just about another chance but suspect he is off regardless of who is manager next term. It will be a summer of upheaval at Villa Park. Weimann just about might have saved his Villa career yesterday for me but any fucking around next season and he should be loaned out or sold. With Benteke missing the start of next season maybe Weimann could nick a few goals up top like yesterday. Grealish will be in the first team squad next year aswell and if that means letting Tonev go to make room then fair call imo.
