Summer Transfer Thread and Gustavo Cisneros Type Rumours.

[Drummond]

Wow. Good names.

....I see Inter Milan are in a financial mess now but back in the day Gianluca Pagliuca said he nearly came to Villa

Well he claimed that in 2014 When left Inter there was a possibility might have joined Villa?
"In 1999 I was in contact with some important European clubs, like Villa, Lazio, Deportivo La Coruna and Real Mallorca.
I eventually chose Bologna because it is my home, otherwise I'd have chosen Villa without doubt."

Wow. I never knew that about Gianluca Pagluica. Would make sense as we were looking for a new keeper at the time when Bosnich slopped off. We aimed for Pagluica and ended up with David James in the end. How very Villa under Ellis.

And he's a Villa fan.

Pagluica, Bosnich, James or Doug?

Yes

[Toronto Villa]

Van Nistelrooy was another. Manchester United had a £16 million bid accepted, we then bid £15 million.

Juninho? Weren’t we after Lineker at some point also? Or am I imagining that?

[LeonW]

Van Nistelrooy was another. Manchester United had a £16 million bid accepted, we then bid £15 million.

Juninho? Weren’t we after Lineker at some point also? Or am I imagining that?

Can’t say on Lineker but definitely Juninho. There’s an interview with John Gregory online about it in depth. Really interesting.

[London Villan]

Juninho was at Villa Park, but the deal fell apart over money. Les Ferdinand too. And who can forget David Speedie.

[LeonW]

Juninho was at Villa Park, but the deal fell apart over money. Les Ferdinand too. And who can forget David Speedie.

I think Les Ferdinand was close but he decided to go to Newcastle in the end. Imagine Ferdinand and Yorke up front that season.

Does anyone remember the deliberately fake David Platt story on Shoot Magazine? Proper trolling.

[Mister E]

Oh, and there was David Ginola ...
aaaah; that one actually happened, well after the player had peaked.

[JJ-AV]

Wonder if we could get Brozovic from Inter?

[Hookeysmith]

I saw rumours that Liverpool are looking at Watkins. Well I hope he is tied up contractually (although that seemingly means fuck all nowadays) or this time we just clearly say "not for sale"

[Clampy]

Van Nistelrooy was another. Manchester United had a £16 million bid accepted, we then bid £15 million.

Juninho? Weren’t we after Lineker at some point also? Or am I imagining that?

From memory, we wanted Lineker but because of how much it would have cost, we wouldn't have been able to sign another player for two years, so Sir Graham said anyway.

[algy]

Name Names
I know we've had Robbie Keane and Joe Cole but not at their peak!

Danny Blind was one - remember seeing it on Midlands Today around the time the Bosman rule was a new thing - so Ajax's captain (& Dutch footballer of the year) around the time they won the European Cup.

[sickbeggar]

Gullit was another one. I think I remember reading about him flying in you sign for Chelsea and getting a call from Doug wanting to do a deal. I always thought he did it on purpose so we'd look like we were after these players.

[PeterWithe]

I dont think talk of signing Lampard was that outrageous at the time, he was an up and coming player but didn't have anywhere near the profile he developed at Chelsea.

One of the other ones I remember was Robert Pires when he was at Metz. I think the most fanciful was Veiri, at the time he as one of the best.

[dave shelley]

Hans Krankl was another, Austrian international forward, although tbf I can't remember if Ellis was head honcho at the time.  I think Rodney Marsh was also mentioned around that time too.  I' m probably wrong on both.

[PeterWithe]

I cant beleive David Speedie didn't play for us the amount of times we seemed close to a deal, likewise Carlton Palmer, Benni McCarthy, Andy Mutch.

[ASHTONVILLA]

Can't see us selling Watkins.

Linked today with Raphina at PSG for a low fee of £10m, and also a striker from Bournemouth. Can't see us signing another striker unless we find a loan club for Wesley.