Summer Transfer Thread and Gustavo Cisneros Type Rumours.

[sickbeggar]

Where exactly would we have to finish to get Europe. I'm guessing it varies on who wins cups etc?

[cdbearsfan]

Top five to be certain. Top six or seven depending on cup winners.

[sickbeggar]

Ta.

[Smithy]

Dean has stated we are 18 months off challenging for a European place

So this season looks as though we are aiming for at least 8th with the real push for Europe being next season

Did he by any chance say that 18 months ago? Because a couple of days ago he talked about challenging for the European places this season.

[Clark W Griswold]

He was talking about champions league places from what I read. 18 months seems a bit of an odd timescale when a season is about to start but still. A little optimistic maybe as well unless we’re going to be making Aguerro/Toure/David Silva type signings fairly soon.

[richtheholtender]

I think he means 18 months off the Champions league contention. He said we were 18 months off match rat boys ambition, which was the Champions league. I read in to that as Europa league challengers this year, Champions league challenge in 2 years.

[Clark W Griswold]

Yes, it seems that you too had your spectacles on when reading it.

Talk about fucking Chinese whispers.

[Richard E]

If we are going to have already qualified for the Champions League by February 2023 then that would suggest that by May of next season we will be champions!

[Rigadon]

If we are going to have already qualified for the Champions League by February 2023 then that would suggest that by May of next season we will be champions!

I would find that acceptable. 

[Richard E]

If we are going to have already qualified for the Champions League by February 2023 then that would suggest that by May of next season we will be champions!

I would find that acceptable. 

Yeah, I would settle for that as long as the football was sufficiently entertaining and we reached at least the semi-finals of both domestic cup competitions.

[Lastfootstamper]

In eighteen months time we could be in the knockout stages of the Europa League. There's your CL qualification.

[Clark W Griswold]

No, I think you have to win it don’t you? That would be the May, which technically is 21 months away, and again a little optimistic unless we’re going to start making Aguerro/Toure/David Silva type signings.

[DrGonzo]

The latest hearsay:
Atalanta and Arsenal were both said to also be on the case, but it’s Aston Villa, according to Made in Lens, who have made the first move.

The website claim that Dean Smith’s side have made a ‘£10m offer’ for the defensive midfielder, which would be around €12m for the Ligue 1 side.

However, that ‘isn’t enough yet’ to convince the French club to sell their starlet, who would be able to leave for an amount similar to Loic Badé, meaning ‘between €15-18m’.

[Drummond]

From The Telegraph.

Tottenham and Aston Villa are preparing moves for Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse after the Premier League season starts this weekend.

Both are set to test Southampton’s resolve to keep their captain after losing Danny Ings and Jannik Vestergaard being targeted by clubs in the final weeks of the transfer window.

Ward-Prowse, 26, was targeted by Villa earlier in the summer before they turned their attention to forwards to cover for the loss of Jack Grealish, with Leon Bailey and Ings joining Emi Buendia as summer arrivals.

He remains their No.1 target to bolster Dean Smith’s midfield, while Spurs also have the England international on their radar.

Mauricio Pochettino wanted Ward-Prowse during his time at Spurs and he remains highly rated at the club.

Ward-Prowse played in every Premier League game last season and scored eight goals, with his set-piece delivery one of Southampton’s biggest attacking weapons. It earned him a place in England’s provisional squad of the European Championships before he was dropped from the final 26.

Southampton chief executive Martin Semmens has vowed to keep Ward-Prowse at the club and sees him as an important player for the future.

Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba, 27, has been monitored by Watford and Everton. They would stand to make a profit on the £11 million paid to Club Brugges two years ago should they choose to cash in.

[Toronto Villa]

If we essentially swapped JWP for Nakamba I will gladly drive him to the buying club. Nice player, but he isn’t the quality we need for growth. JWP most certainly is.