Summer 2015 - Transfer Rumours, Speculation & Suggestions

[pauliewalnuts]

I think he'll sign a new deal with a release clause of around 50m built in. The new deal would still allow him to be sold, protects the club a bit and pays him significantly more than his current deal for the next two seasons. Benteke comes across as a genuinely good person and loves the club. You can see that not just in how he celebrates but how he interacts with fans and most importantly his teammates. And then there is the manager influence on top of that and how Sherwood has restored him to the player we knew him to be. These will all be factors in his decision as well as the financial side of things which Fox and Sherwood know they will need to look after. And what new owner wouldn't want Christian Benteke in their line up?

I hope that's true, but it is probably the naivety of football supporters kicking in.

Benteke might love the club, but deducing from that that he's going to give his prime years to a club which, his whole time here, has been a relegation struggler strikes me as over-optimistic.

I'd much, much rather keep him, but I can honestly understand why he'd want to move on. He's far too good to be mooking around at the bottom end of the table. I appreciate that might, might, not be where we are next year, but he'll probably think he has given us enough. If someone offers enough, and he wants to go, I think we should take it and wish him all the best.

Although, seeing him at another English club would be truly horrible, so I hope he goes somewhere abroad.

That's the thing though. By signing a new deal ultimately doesn't change the situation other gets him more money now from us. If some outrageous bid comes in naturally the two sides sit down and they discuss it. It might be just too good an opportunity to turn down on both sides. I don't think it's naive to think he'll sign a new deal because it would make business sense to do so especially if he knows from the club the type of bid the club will accept. May as well pocket some extra cash now and then if a bid does come in talk again.

What if an offer comes in before he signs a new contract - which is precisely what will happen, given his agent will already be talking to people about opportunities.

He's not going to commit to another 4 year (or however long) deal unless he knows what the options are. Likewise, he's not going to sign a new deal and then move a couple of weeks later.

If we are going to offer him a new deal, I can't see any circumstances at all that don't involve it being a choice between what we offer him, and other offers he can get.

Similarly, Villa aren't going to throw him a massive signing-on fee and then wave him off a few weeks later.

[Toronto Villa]

None of us actually know what will happen. The last time all of us were discussing this no bid ever officially came in. There was talk of Spurs and that chancer Levy making a bid but he never actually made a formal offer. And back then his agent was pimping his client like his newest whore. I think they will much more conservative their approach this time around considering how it all played out. I have no doubt the club will be aware that with every excellent display the chance of an offer worth considering increases. However, this is still a player coming off a serious injury, playing essentially a third of a season with this level of form so clubs will be aware of that before they decide to make what in most cases would be their marquee signing of the summer. As for the signing on fee I don't see what can't happen. Villa would just demand it in return from club who will buy him.

[tomd2103]

None of us actually know what will happen. The last time all of us were discussing this no bid ever officially came in. There was talk of Spurs and that chancer Levy making a bid but he never actually made a formal offer. And back then his agent was pimping his client like his newest whore. I think they will much more conservative their approach this time around considering how it all played out. I have no doubt the club will be aware that with every excellent display the chance of an offer worth considering increases. However, this is still a player coming off a serious injury, playing essentially a third of a season with this level of form so clubs will be aware of that before they decide to make what in most cases would be their marquee signing of the summer. As for the signing on fee I don't see what can't happen. Villa would just demand it in return from club who will buy him.

Agree TV.  The European Championships next summer might also factor in.  I'm sure he would want to go into that as Belgium's first choice striker.

[pauliewalnuts]

If no bid comes in, then fine, all of this is moot.

I just don't see how there would be any point on either side in a "ok, I'll sign a new deal now, but if i get another offer in the next few weeks, I'm off" kind of arrangement.

He's either going to stay, or he isn't. Whichever way he decides, it is going to be influenced by what we offer him and what other clubs offer him.  Like it always is with players in this kind of situation.

Having him sign a new deal then change his mind shortly after and leave isn't just a massive waste of time in the first place, it is a waste of money (the signing on fee), a waste of our efforts when we could be out scouting for a replacement, a disruption to our plans for the new season, and pretty embarrassing for us as a club ("I know I signed that deal, but I've changed my mind, I'm off to join Arsenal. Like you said I could if I changed my mind".

What would be the point in getting involved in anything resembling those circumstances?

If he stays, it will be on the basis of the merits of staying with us. Merits he's going to compare with what he can get elsewhere (like every football with a decent agent does).

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

and if he does decide to go then good luck to him. We have had 2 years more service out of him than I thought we would. Fingers crossed he does go abroad if he leaves, would hate the numpties to start booing him if he returns with another English club.

[Tom_Mc9?]

and if he does decide to go then good luck to him. We have had 2 years more service out of him than I thought we would. Fingers crossed he does go abroad if he leaves, would hate the numpties to start booing him if he returns with another English club.

I won't be wishing him good luck: I'll be having a hissy fit.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

I believe Ashley Cole will be available on a free this summer.  We need a left-back...

[pauliewalnuts]

I believe Ashley Cole will be available on a free this summer.  We need a left-back...

I can barely begin to imagine what his attitude would be like if we signed him.

[dave.woodhall]

I believe Ashley Cole will be available on a free this summer.  We need a left-back...

I can barely begin to imagine what his attitude would be like if we signed him.

Or his wages.

[Matt Collins]

Wasn't sherwood rumoured to be at the anderlecht Brugge game recently?

I wonder if he was watching this Alexandre mitrovic fella. Top scorer w 18 goals. 20 yr old 6 '2 centre Fwd. linked w various English clubs

[Matt Collins]

http://youtu.be/ddnPPwhDHBI

This is the guy I think sherwood might have been scouting

Never trust a YouTube reel but he does at least know how to bury a header

[Seb_AVFC]

He's a nutter. Would cost a good part of £ 10m. Mbemba from Anderlecht would be my choice if we're going to buy someone from Anderlecht.

[RussellC]

Talking of signing other Belgians, I'd really like us to have a look at this guy.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32728460

I know it's not a position we're currently short in, but he can play centre-back or right-back, is only 26 and I've been impressed whenever I've seen him play.

[peter w]

Nest to the man/woman in blue is that a transvestite or a post-op woman?

Hayley Cropper is an icon in Swindon.

The bird behind Sean Dyche is tidy.

Mind the trams, Len.

Don't you mean Alan?

Yes, and that's totally bollocksed my attempted gag

Serves you right. Anyway, she looks about 18/20 to me.

You should have a go at defending Adam Johnson

[manic-road]

Just been watching Paul Lambert in the Sky studio interviewed about Christian Benteke and he said that offers came in every year for the big man but persuaded him to stay at Villa and a giant club will come in for him, also said that £30m would only buy his right boot.