Transfer Speculation / Gossip

[paul_e]

+1

[VillaAlways]

Not sure this has been posted anywhere but Marc has signed a 4 year contract with Leicester

Leicester City have added some Premier League experience to their squad with the signing of exciting winger Marc Albrighton on a four-year deal from 1 July.
The midfielder will join on a free transfer once his contract with Aston Villa expires at the end of next month, ending a long association with the West Midlands club, with whom the 24-year-old had spent his entire career.

Speaking exclusively to LCFC.com, the winger said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining. Everything about Leicester City is moving forward at the moment and it’s going to be a great Football Club to be a part of.

“It was a great 16 years for me at Villa and I had some really wonderful times there that will stay with me forever. I’m coming away now with my head held high and really looking forward to this fresh challenge with Leicester. I just can’t wait to get going.

“I’ve spoken to the manager and I know he has big plans, so I just can’t wait to get started and be involved. Before I joined I spoke to a few people and nobody had a bad word to say about the manager or the Club, so I’m delighted to have everything agreed for the new season.

“I’ve watched some of Leicester’s games over the last season and the lads have really played some great football. It’s incredible what they have achieved, and they’ve deserved every bit of their success.

“Now I’m looking forward to getting involved myself. I’m a direct player who is very positive with the ball and who likes to cross. All strikers say they like crosses in the box, and they can guarantee that I’ll be doing that for them.”

A product of the youth academy at Villa Park, Albrighton burst onto the scene in 2009 when he made his debut in a UEFA Cup tie against CSKA Moscow, and has since appeared a further 100 times for the club.

Of those 101 appearances for Villa, 86 have come in the Premier League, which will be a bonus for the Foxes as they look retain their top-flight status after a 10-year absence.

The tricky and pacey wide man scored seven times in the league for Villa during his spell there - the first coming in a 2-1 defeat against Spurs and White Hart Lane in October 2010.

Last season Albrighton enjoyed a four-game spell on loan with Championship side Wigan Athletic between October and November, before returning to Villa Park and playing his way back into Paul Lambert’s side for the remainder of the campaign.

The former England Under-21 international played his final game in claret and blue at Villa Park on 3 May, when he set up Ashley Westwood for the opening goal just 57 seconds into a 3-1 victory over Hull City.

Read more at http://www.lcfc.com/news/article/230514-city-seal-deal-for-albrighton-1572247.aspx#6HMbcx7UvJWCOoZZ.99

[brontebilly]

If there was a willing taker I would happily see him go.

That central midfield, Gardner, Delph, KEA, Westwood, Sylla - needs 2 first team players brining into it desperately. I would like at least 1 to be a bit bigger, more imposing that will allow Delph and Westwood to play a bit more.  Westwood should not be the holding player, the bloke can pass a ball, and shoot given the chance, but tracking back has to be his weakest aspect, which is vital to the player sitting.

Must be the weakest midfield roster in the league. Gardner, Sylla and Kea arent near good enough as squad players even. Chris Herd in the long forgotten McLeish season showed more than the combined efforts of those three in a Villa shirt.

Westwood in an ideal world would be backup. He is decent but gets exploited too often by stronger and faster opponents to be first choice at this stage.

Kea and Sylla should be shown the door this summer and replaced by two players who will be first team regulars.

De Guzman or Cleverely for one of the spots.
Barry stil should push the boat out to bring him in as captain.
Midfield of De Guzman, Barry and Delph and we would be in top 8 next year easy.

[ozzjim]

If the club did nothing more than brought in 4 free transfers and a couple of loans that included Barry and Lescott we would be infinitely better than we are now.

Looking through the list, I reckon you could put a better team together than the one we have without any spend on fees at all. Wages would be the issue.

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2013-14/may/premier-league-clubs-submit-retained-and-released-lists.html

[VillaAlways]

Barry will be going to Everton, surely?

[ozzjim]

Barry will be going to Everton, surely?

You would think it would be nailed on, but you would hope with how awful we are and the emotional ties he has here that we would be in for him at least.

[Toronto Villa]

Barry and Lescott even in the tail end of their careers would immediately lift spirits. They may not be the players they once were but they would help our squad by whatever quality they have plus their immense experience.

[silhillvilla]

Barry and lescott would be brilliant then if we could loan Ashley young and James Milner all of a sudden things would seem much more positive .

[LeeB]

Barry and lescott would be brilliant then if we could loan Ashley young and James Milner all of a sudden things would seem much more positive .

I think we'd probably have to let every other player at the club go to bring those four in.

[rob_bridge]

Van Gaal doesn't fancy Ash, yiu inow?

[KevinGage]

Barry and lescott would be brilliant then if we could loan Ashley young and James Milner all of a sudden things would seem much more positive .

I think we'd probably have to let every other player at the club go to bring those four in.

There is probably a downside to that I don't see.

[Bad English]

Must be the weakest midfield roster in the league.

Roster? What next? The "EPL"? Tsk!

[pauliewalnuts]

Must be the weakest midfield roster in the league.

Roster? What next? The "EPL"? Tsk!

All playing, in their claret and blue "uniforms"

[Bad English]

Must be the weakest midfield roster in the league.

Roster? What next? The "EPL"? Tsk!

All playing, in their claret and blue "uniforms"

"Can I get a Balti pie please?"

[silhillvilla]

Barry and lescott would be brilliant then if we could loan Ashley young and James Milner all of a sudden things would seem much more positive .

I think we'd probably have to let every other player at the club go to bring those four in.

Shhhh. Let's live the dream.

In all seriousness if young and Milner were still paid 50% by the parent club we might just afford it.
Lescott and Barry and their wage expectations I'm unclear on ? They surely can't expect £100k a week deals ? Maybe 50k a week for 2 year deals ? That's £10m well spent IMHO