Summer 2015 - Transfer Rumours, Speculation & Suggestions

[ADVILLAFAN]

I did wonder where Liverpool had suddenly got 32.5M from, when they're not in the Champion's League.

[Julian Broddle]

I don't really understand why people think signing a keeper is a priority. Guzan was immense in 2013/14, yes he's lost a little confidence this season but I personally think he's still one of the better keepers in the league and his form will return.

I'd much rather stick with Guzan as first choice over Given, who is a perfectly adequate back-up for a further 12 months, giving Steer time to develop. We can then see what needs to be done 'keeper' wise in 12 months.

Any money needs to be spent on improving other aspects of the squad at the current time.

[Joshua Fineman]

I don't really understand why people think signing a keeper is a priority. Guzan was immense in 2013/14, yes he's lost a little confidence this season but I personally think he's still one of the better keepers in the league and his form will return.

I'd much rather stick with Guzan as first choice over Given, who is a perfectly adequate back-up for a further 12 months, giving Steer time to develop. We can then see what needs to be done 'keeper' wise in 12 months.

Any money needs to be spent on improving other aspects of the squad at the current time.

Looks as though Sherwood isn't keen on Guzan, hence all of the talk of a new keeper.  I reckon there are better options out there...

[ozzjim]

The only reason for the keeper talk is that like Gil, Sherwood does not seem to see what we do in Guzan.


We ideally need a pair of full backs, a pair of midfield players and a forward, all of notable quality. I do believe a better pair of full backs coupled with a stronger midfield would give the defence much more solidity, but so would being able to play a settled pair in the middle, which we very rarely did last season.

[Holte L2]

I don't really understand why people think signing a keeper is a priority. Guzan was immense in 2013/14, yes he's lost a little confidence this season but I personally think he's still one of the better keepers in the league and his form will return.

I'd much rather stick with Guzan as first choice over Given, who is a perfectly adequate back-up for a further 12 months, giving Steer time to develop. We can then see what needs to be done 'keeper' wise in 12 months.

Any money needs to be spent on improving other aspects of the squad at the current time.

Looks as though Sherwood isn't keen on Guzan, hence all of the talk of a new keeper.  I reckon there are better options out there...

I think there's better options than Guzan. I'd like to see us move for Heaton/Fabianski or Michel Vorm.  He's hardly had a sniff at Tottenham.

Guzan's had a good couple of seasons, but his forms dipped. And I think the change would be good for freshening the side up.

[ozzjim]

Heaton would likely cost a fair bit though, and has he done much more than say Scott Carson had when we bought him in? Vorm was excellent for Swansea I admit, and Fabianski seems to have done well there. I quite like, despite the inconsistency at times, the guy at Arsenal who played in the cup final who might be off if they sign Cech this summer. Not a fan of Green or Harper from QPR and Hull. I do quite like Pantillimon at Sunderland too, there is something about a big commanding keeper. But are any of them really better than Brad? I am not so sure.

[Holte L2]

Heaton would likely cost a fair bit though, and has he done much more than say Scott Carson had when we bought him in? Vorm was excellent for Swansea I admit, and Fabianski seems to have done well there. I quite like, despite the inconsistency at times, the guy at Arsenal who played in the cup final who might be off if they sign Cech this summer. Not a fan of Green or Harper from QPR and Hull. I do quite like Pantillimon at Sunderland too, there is something about a big commanding keeper. But are any of them really better than Brad? I am not so sure.

I think Brad's come to the end of his time at Villa. We need to freshen the spine of the side, including the goalkeeper. 
Vorm would be my first choice. We might be able to get him at the lure of first team football too.

[tomd2103]

If we have over £30m to spend - which we may well do, especially if Benteke goes - then I wouldn't like to see us sign more than five players, and preferably four, with that kind of money. We need to upgrade the first team, and there are current members of that first team who would still be useful as squad players and don't need to be sold.

I agree; not sure why people seem to want to sell most of the first team! The likes of Bacuna, Baker, Westwood, Agbonlahor, Richardson and Hutton are all useful squad players for me

Agree.  Of course there are those outside the current matchday squad that need to be moved on, but a massive clear out at thios stage would leave us very short on numbers.  We need to improve the starting XI without a doubt and that will obviously push some who are currently in the team onto the bench.  Also, we may see some of the younger players being used in the squad next season.  I also think we need some perspective of where we want to be next season.  Yes, we got hammered on Saturday, but there is little point comparing us with Arsenal as they are miles ahead.  It's the likes of Stoke and Swansea we need to be catching in the next couple of seasons. 

[ozzjim]

Heaton would likely cost a fair bit though, and has he done much more than say Scott Carson had when we bought him in? Vorm was excellent for Swansea I admit, and Fabianski seems to have done well there. I quite like, despite the inconsistency at times, the guy at Arsenal who played in the cup final who might be off if they sign Cech this summer. Not a fan of Green or Harper from QPR and Hull. I do quite like Pantillimon at Sunderland too, there is something about a big commanding keeper. But are any of them really better than Brad? I am not so sure.

I think Brad's come to the end of his time at Villa. We need to freshen the spine of the side, including the goalkeeper. 
Vorm would be my first choice. We might be able to get him at the lure of first team football too.

Unlikely if Sir Loris goes to United to replace De Gea

The big german lad we were linked to looks a beast of a keeper, but also pretty difficult to get.

Can I be the first to declare that I don't want Jonny Evans!

[AVH87]

I think Guzan is one of those keepers who looks better when you are down the bottom, with your goal being peppered all game. If we were a comfortable mid-table side, I think his errors would be magnified as he'd be making a lot less saves in games.

Can definitely see the thinking behind replacing him with a new first choice.

[Chris_Jephcott]

Hearing a rumour that Cleverley is going to Everton... Anyone care to dismiss this one? If this is true, it's a pretty miserable close season so far....

[silhillvilla]

Hearing a rumour that Cleverley is going to Everton... Anyone care to dismiss this one? If this is true, it's a pretty miserable close season so far....

Would not be that bothered he came in did well eventually then looked crap again last 3 games . He's probably on 60-80k a week at Everton so good luck to him

[Mossie Hennebry]

At the very least, we need to fill the following positions if the report in teh Telegraph is to be believed:

GK

RB
Ron Vlaar
Ciaran Clark
LB

DMF
Fabian Delph
Tom Cleverley

Scott Sinclair
Jack Grealish
Libor Kozák

Subs from:
Jed Steer
Jores Okore
Leandro Bacuna
Gabriel Agbonlahor
Ashley Westwood
Gary Gardner
Joe Bennett
Carlos Sánchez
FWD
FWD

I'd hold on to Hutton and Guzan as I don't think we'll having anything like the wedge to bring in better players in their positions. And if we don't get £32.5m in one single transaction for Benteke, we would be better off keeping him.

[brontebilly]

Heaton would likely cost a fair bit though, and has he done much more than say Scott Carson had when we bought him in? Vorm was excellent for Swansea I admit, and Fabianski seems to have done well there. I quite like, despite the inconsistency at times, the guy at Arsenal who played in the cup final who might be off if they sign Cech this summer. Not a fan of Green or Harper from QPR and Hull. I do quite like Pantillimon at Sunderland too, there is something about a big commanding keeper. But are any of them really better than Brad? I am not so sure.

I think Brad's come to the end of his time at Villa. We need to freshen the spine of the side, including the goalkeeper. 
Vorm would be my first choice. We might be able to get him at the lure of first team football too.

The same Vorm that went to Spurs to be Lloris back up? Great with the ball at his feet but soft as putty too.

I'm in the give Guzan another go category. Sometimes we overlook the positives in players and look to first what they can't do. Think the time to seriously review our goalkeeping dept is when Given leaves.

I see Trippier is linked with us today along with a few more clubs. Hutton showed rampant unprofessionalism during his time at Spurs including being miles overweight for a time. Sherwood will be well aware of that. Wouldn't be surprised to see someone come in for him after a relatively solid season for us and getting a few quid for him.
Lowton being linked to Middlesboro, would be a good move for him

[supertom]

Guzan is still one of our best players. It would be foolish to let him go, particularly as we'd probably have to pay more for a replacement who may not necessarily be any better. The ideal for me is to bring in someone with great potential like that Brentford fella, who's played a decent enough level and done well, and then have him push Guzan for No 1.