Summer 2015 - Transfer Rumours, Speculation & Suggestions

[ozzjim]

Dunno, as a kid they did me with an April fool that Platt was coming back to the Villa. I was over the bloody moon, boyhood hero of my first couple of seasons going every week. The bastards.

[Matt Collins]

If we were in for praet plus gueye I think that would suggest we're either in the money or losing delph. Hard to think we'd prioritise two central midfielders if not one or the other.

[gervilla]

Dunno, as a kid they did me with an April fool that Platt was coming back to the Villa. I was over the bloody moon, boyhood hero of my first couple of seasons going every week. The bastards.

I remember that.  Bastards indeed.

[ozzjim]

I think we needed 2 of quality though and if the dutch lad is more of a winger, then it would make sense. We have been desperate in midfield for a long time, if we signed a guy who french correspondents think is way above our level, a Belgian 21 year old who is reputedly very highly rated and a dutch guy who scored 15 and assisted 12 or something like that last season and just got into their national team, you could not argue that for the first time in a long time there is genuine ambition about the who thing. It might just make Delph want to keep leading it forward. Add in Richards which despite the injuries is a big deal of a signing, and you can see the attitude of the manager is very different to the last few years.

[ozzjim]

Dunno, as a kid they did me with an April fool that Platt was coming back to the Villa. I was over the bloody moon, boyhood hero of my first couple of seasons going every week. The bastards.

I remember that.  Bastards indeed.

Never bought it again. Did me like a kipper.

[kippaxvilla2]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/02/aston-villa-anderlecht-dennis-praet

Blimey hope all this stuff is true....

[nigel]

Any news ??

Val Doonican's died.

Classic 

[Dave]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/02/aston-villa-anderlecht-dennis-praet

Blimey hope all this stuff is true....

Why is the sub-heading and a third of the article all about who his agents are?

I thought better of the Guardian's sports reporting but it appears they're as click-whorey as the rest of them.

[Phil from the upper holte]

@John__Percy reporting Villa have bid £7million bid for Dennis Praet and closes in on Idrissa Gueye

http://t.co/5aZXg0Ye8e #avfc

Misleading because we haven't bid

[aj2k77]

How reliable a source is Shoot

Better than Match.

[SoccerHQ]

We still need more in midfield really....Cole is just playing cards with Sherwood on the coach really, madness to give him a 2 year deal but he was still regularly making the 18 last few months, Cleverley is gone, Gil is going and hopefully some mug will take N'zogbia on loan.

So that leaves 4 vacancies for midfield which can be filled by Gueye, Praet/Cherry. Gardner coming back will probably be the other one.

So midfield options next season ideally:

Delph (C)
Westwood
Sanchez
Gardner (no idea how he'll look at prem level now after his injuries so loan him out again if he dosen't look like he'll cut it).
Gueye
Praet (no idea if link is genuine so probably the dutch guy more likely).

6 is enough as I'd imagine we'll keep on playing 3 centrally. I'd imagine Cherry or Praet would probably play number 10 position aswell alongside Grealish so really 3/5 and it's a long season, injuries, suspension etc.

Just don't see the need to go in a wild panic and think we're selling Delph if we sign more than one midfielder, we've neglected that area for so long now, quality is overdue there.

[Lastfootstamper]

If we were in for praet plus gueye I think that would suggest we're either in the money or losing delph. Hard to think we'd prioritise two central midfielders if not one or the other.

Why losing Delph? Cleverley has to be replaced, Gardner still has to convince, Sanchez has yet to consistently show his international form (I hope he does, a la Stan after his somewhat unconvincing start), and is Westwood the man to drive us up the table? We're hardly overrun with bodies in there.

[tomd2103]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/02/aston-villa-anderlecht-dennis-praet

Blimey hope all this stuff is true....

Might be pure speculation, but there have been some really promising links in the last few weeks.  If we can keep Delph and Benteke, while adding the type of players we are being linked with then we should be on the right track.

[villadelph]

I remember seeing Koeman wanted Praet to replace Schneiderlin.. good to see we are beating them to the punch on a few prospects. Also, Praet was at Genk so maybe he'll have a little pull with Tekkers.

[Percy McCarthy]

I remember seeing Koeman wanted Praet to replace Schneiderlin.. good to see we are beating the to punch on a few prospects. Also, Praet was at Genk so maybe he'll have a little pull with Tekkers.

Saucy!