Summer Transfer Thread and Gustavo Cisneros Type Rumours.

[cdbearsfan]

We don't assume that.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

IF

[algy]

Worst case scenario with Smith Rowe is that Arsenal, a potential rival, have to offer him more money than they were intending to, so have less money to spend elsewhere. Can't really see the downside.

Yep.

We mean business, and now everyone can see it. Arsenal would be absolutely stupid or really desperate to let Smith-Rowe go, the fanbase would never forgive them.

Fortunately both of those statements are true.  See Martinez, E.

[Vegas]

Well none of those are going to cost what it will take to get Smith Rowe. is he really worth £35m plus?

Arguably it's not a huge amount different from when we paid north of £9m for Ashley Young.

I think Arsenal will end up folding on him - we just need to keep the pressure up and have a decent bid on the table.  I'd be hugely surprised if we'd have made a second bid without having an inkling that Smith Rowe was keen on the move, and I'd guess if Smith Rowe knows we're in for him and wants the move then it's pretty simple for him too - keep refusing their contract offers.  They ain't going to risk keeping him against his will, and have him on the last year of his contract next summer.  Not if there's a decent enough offer on the table.

I hope this is true, but I’ve got a horrible feeling on this one that we have been totally played by his agent, used just to secure a better deal. Hope I’m wrong.

Even if we are, so what? We're making serious overtures about one of the brightest talents in the country and not being laughed at. That's a statement of intent in itself.

Fair enough. I’m maybe not quite convinced that making public bids for prominent players below the level required to actually sign them, marks us out as serious players. But rather here than where we were three years ago.

[sickbeggar]

I''m not sure 32m is classed below the level required to buy him. He's played 20 games in his career. Arsenal  may value him higher but that's totally based on potential rather than reality.

[Toronto Villa]

Yep, I agree with Dave W, that we are even bidding for him seriously shows that we mean business if it doesn't happen I still think we'll get a couple of signings on that sort of level.

Even if we are, so what? We're making serious overtures about one of the brightest talents in the country and not being laughed at. That's a statement of intent in itself.

I think we're serious and I wouldn't be at all surprised if we end up with him. Arsenal might make a lot of noise, but when it comes to paying for White from Brighton, the prospect of recouping a big chunk of that is not going to be sniffed at by those skint pricks.

Also this, they are supposedly after White and Locatelli, for me I'd snatch Locatelli from under their noses, then buy ESR to help them pay for White and then get Alvarez in. I'd be pretty happy with our summer if that was our lot, especially with no one else leaving. Might be a touch light at centre half though if Smith doesn't fancy Revan and/or Bridge as cover.

With ESR, Locatelli and Alvarez, I'd be more than 'pretty happy' I'd be ecstatic! Especially when Jack stays.

The goal has to be buy top players to convince Jack to stay. Buy top players so that if a Jack does eventually leave for a lot of money we still have top players at the club and we will buy more top players and carry on improving.

It’s all in buying “top players” if anyone needed any clarification.

[paul_e]

For me this summer is all about options. I think if you asked Villa fans to pick the best 11 from the existing squad the majority of them would contain:

Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Luiz, McGinn, Buendia, Grealish and Watkins. That 10 pretty safe bets to be in 90% of what comes up. The 11th player would be a mix of Young, Nakamba, Traore, AEG and Sanson (with the odd weirdo adding Hause and playing 3 at the back). If we signed the 3 I named above (or 3 similar options) all 3 would be added to the mix of players that might be named but, more importantly, would reduce the amount of certainties that every would pick and would change where exactly a bunch of them get slotted in to the formation. It gives us a lot more versatility in both team and shape which is how we progress.

[DrGonzo]

I don't think the buy players with PL experience will be an ongoing philosopy.  It is a reflection of the reality of buying players from abroad who can take 12-18 months to bed into our style of football/culture of the country.  To buy players who can fit straight into a system will allow us time to let our overseas purchases to adjust, rather than taking the sink or swim approach. 

[OCD]

Interesting comments from ESR when asked about his favourite players - "Paul Pogba is definitely up there...So strong, so technically good. Jack Grealish, too. He's so good, man. I look up to him. The way he is with the ball. The way he scores, assists and creates, he's so good. Bukayo (Saka) tells me he's a great guy, too."

Smith Rowe wears his socks low, just like Grealish, because it 'feels like the shackles are off'.

He added: "It gives me that extra freedom, that openness. It's like, 'I'm here. I just want to play my own game and be free'. That's my little superstition. It helps me."

[SoccerHQ]

I''m not sure 32m is classed below the level required to buy him. He's played 20 games in his career. Arsenal  may value him higher but that's totally based on potential rather than reality.

He also had a good loan spell at Huddersfield in second part of 19/20 and also been at RB Leipzig although didn't play much due to injury so he's clearly very highly rated in the game.

Think in other eras he'd have made the England squad. Arsenal's results and goal output improved a fair bit when he became a starter so I imagine the tedious xG was pretty good from him last season.

I like our plan. Him, Grealish and Buendia interchanging behind Ollie would be very sexy to watch. Then got Traore and AEG off the bench on 60 minutes to add more directness to attack if needed.

That's how you improve a first 11 and squad.

It makes sense to plan ahead aswell. Get Buendia and ESR in the building now, used to club and how we play and if we come to point when Jack eventually leaves one day we already have two players of his ilk staring every week so transition won't be as brutal as it would be if it happened next week.

What you don't do is sell a quality striker for 32m, buy an incredibly average championship striker for 7m and then proclaim him the new Benteke when he scores on his debut so hopefully we'll learn from previous errors when we've attempted to replace key players as it's something we're not very good at, Ireland for Milner and N'zogbia for Young just as bad but at least they were relatively proven prem players at that point so Gestede still the worst for me as he wasn't.

[D.boy]

Had to be him didn't it

[tomd2103]

Worst case scenario with Smith Rowe is that Arsenal, a potential rival, have to offer him more money than they were intending to, so have less money to spend elsewhere. Can't really see the downside.

Yep.

We mean business, and now everyone can see it. Arsenal would be absolutely stupid or really desperate to let Smith-Rowe go, the fanbase would never forgive them.

Yep.  Even if the bid is unsuccessful (which I still expect it to be) it is a statement to the likes of Arsenal that we have ambitions to overtake them.  I think it is a clever move whatever the outcome as just sews a seed that we are club with real ambition.

[Vegas]

Worst case scenario with Smith Rowe is that Arsenal, a potential rival, have to offer him more money than they were intending to, so have less money to spend elsewhere. Can't really see the downside.

Yep.

We mean business, and now everyone can see it. Arsenal would be absolutely stupid or really desperate to let Smith-Rowe go, the fanbase would never forgive them.

Yep.  Even if the bid is unsuccessful (which I still expect it to be) it is a statement to the likes of Arsenal that we have ambitions to overtake them.  I think it is a clever move whatever the outcome as just sews a seed that we are club with real ambition.

I don’t want to beat a dead horse on this, but is it though? If, say, Newcastle were to bid £50m for Grealish, is that a statement of intent? I’m just not getting this argument sorry. I actually more think the opposite, it might suggest we’re still small time, bidding for players and not getting them. I’m in the minority so I’ll shut up now!

[eamonn]

No, Vegas, it's good to hear this view. Too many happy clappers make H&V a terribly hippy-happy place.

[sickbeggar]

Worst case scenario with Smith Rowe is that Arsenal, a potential rival, have to offer him more money than they were intending to, so have less money to spend elsewhere. Can't really see the downside.

Yep.

We mean business, and now everyone can see it. Arsenal would be absolutely stupid or really desperate to let Smith-Rowe go, the fanbase would never forgive them.

Yep.  Even if the bid is unsuccessful (which I still expect it to be) it is a statement to the likes of Arsenal that we have ambitions to overtake them.  I think it is a clever move whatever the outcome as just sews a seed that we are club with real ambition.

I don’t want to beat a dead horse on this, but is it though? If, say, Newcastle were to bid £50m for Grealish, is that a statement of intent? I’m just not getting this argument sorry. I actually more think the opposite, it might suggest we’re still small time, bidding for players and not getting them. I’m in the minority so I’ll shut up now!

I really don't get your point to be honest. Just what do you think a 20 yr old with 20 PL games under his belt at a mid-table side is worth? By your Grealish comparison we're bidding half of what he's worth?  60m?! He's not bloody Rooney.