January 2023 Transfer Rumours, Discussions and Done Deals Thread

[ROBBO]

I shudder when I look back to the days when Villa getting a result depended upon one players fitness.

[edgysatsuma89]

People in the know will have a better idea than me but in one of the Argentina games I watched the commentator definitely basically referred to him as a 'ball winner and just pass it to someone else' type of bloke. If that is the case then we already have that with Kamara. I could be wrong.

[Dave]

People in the know will have a better idea than me but in one of the Argentina games I watched the commentator definitely basically referred to him as a 'ball winner and just pass it to someone else' type of bloke. If that is the case then we already have that with Kamara. I could be wrong.

In the Argentina team, they're all "ball winner and just pass to Messi" type of blokes.

He's like a better McGinn. Was regularly getting 8-10 goals per season in Serie A, but has been less attacking at Atletico. Then again, under Simeone they all are.

[paul_e]

I like De Paul but I'm not sure where he'd fit for us.

If we stick with the current setup then we have a forward who drifts out onto the wing (Bailey) and a wide midfielder (McGinn) who moves into the space it creates. From what I've seen of de Paul (which isn't a huge amount to be fair) he strikes me as more of a player who'd like to wait outside the box to pick up the scraps than someone who'd be arriving late in the box. I just think that position screams out to be given to JJ.

More centrally I think he'd be a better option but I'm not sure he'd be happy rotating with Luiz, Kamara and Dendoncker and I don't think he'd deserve to be guaranteed to start ahead of them regularly.

[London Villan]

Our new formation requires a lot of energy from the two midfielders that drop into the back 6 and then transition into an attacking formation. SJM's hamstring tweak yesterday is evidence of this, so having cover for these two players is going to be important.

[Drummond]

I like De Paul but I'm not sure where he'd fit for us.

If we stick with the current setup then we have a forward who drifts out onto the wing (Bailey) and a wide midfielder (McGinn) who moves into the space it creates. From what I've seen of de Paul (which isn't a huge amount to be fair) he strikes me as more of a player who'd like to wait outside the box to pick up the scraps than someone who'd be arriving late in the box. I just think that position screams out to be given to JJ.

More centrally I think he'd be a better option but I'm not sure he'd be happy rotating with Luiz, Kamara and Dendoncker and I don't think he'd deserve to be guaranteed to start ahead of them regularly.

We need a squad for where we're heading. If, heaven forbid, anything happened to Kamara or Luiz (and let's face it, one has patchy form at times and the other is young and needs protecting, then we need quality in the squad. I can't see Sanson being here for much longer and I'd question whether Ramsey A. and Iroegbunam are ready yet for where we are aiming.

Interestingly, he was linked with Leeds a couple of years ago, but the price was too high for them (He deleted an Instagram post with a like to the link). The slight worry is that he's only currently linked to us and Juventus, Roma and one of the Milan clubs, and that standard isn't up to ours, so maybe he isn't good enough.

[AV82EC]

DePaul would be a direct McGinn replacement. He’s maybe not as quick over the first 10 but more than makes up for it with his technical ability and work rate. I thought he had a very good World Cup and along with MacAllister provided the midfield workrate, passing and guile in support of Messi. It’s a big yes from me.

[paul_e]

I like De Paul but I'm not sure where he'd fit for us.

If we stick with the current setup then we have a forward who drifts out onto the wing (Bailey) and a wide midfielder (McGinn) who moves into the space it creates. From what I've seen of de Paul (which isn't a huge amount to be fair) he strikes me as more of a player who'd like to wait outside the box to pick up the scraps than someone who'd be arriving late in the box. I just think that position screams out to be given to JJ.

More centrally I think he'd be a better option but I'm not sure he'd be happy rotating with Luiz, Kamara and Dendoncker and I don't think he'd deserve to be guaranteed to start ahead of them regularly.

We need a squad for where we're heading. If, heaven forbid, anything happened to Kamara or Luiz (and let's face it, one has patchy form at times and the other is young and needs protecting, then we need quality in the squad. I can't see Sanson being here for much longer and I'd question whether Ramsey A. and Iroegbunam are ready yet for where we are aiming.

Interestingly, he was linked with Leeds a couple of years ago, but the price was too high for them (He deleted an Instagram post with a like to the link). The slight worry is that he's only currently linked to us and Juventus, Roma and one of the Milan clubs, and that standard isn't up to ours, so maybe he isn't good enough.

I agree but you've missed out Dendoncker and JJ. As I say I like him but he's the sort of player who you have to start regularly and I'm not sure where you put him in this team that doesn't create other problems. Most of this is based on my thinking Kamra and Luiz can become a CL central midfield, I don't see anything in the current top 6 that is significantly better than this pair will become over the next year.

On that basis the aim has to be to make sure that who we have around them works as well:
I'm happy for Buendia and Countinho to battle it out for 6months on the left and review in the summer.
I'm happy for McGinn and JJ to do similar on the right.
I'm not entirely happy with Bailey being the only clear option for where he's playing.

If someone exceptional is available and interested then it chnages things (and dePaul might be that) but for me the only clear gap we NEED to fill is the competition for Bailey.

[Percy McCarthy]

I like De Paul but I'm not sure where he'd fit for us.

If we stick with the current setup then we have a forward who drifts out onto the wing (Bailey) and a wide midfielder (McGinn) who moves into the space it creates. From what I've seen of de Paul (which isn't a huge amount to be fair) he strikes me as more of a player who'd like to wait outside the box to pick up the scraps than someone who'd be arriving late in the box. I just think that position screams out to be given to JJ.

More centrally I think he'd be a better option but I'm not sure he'd be happy rotating with Luiz, Kamara and Dendoncker and I don't think he'd deserve to be guaranteed to start ahead of them regularly.

We need a squad for where we're heading. If, heaven forbid, anything happened to Kamara or Luiz (and let's face it, one has patchy form at times and the other is young and needs protecting, then we need quality in the squad. I can't see Sanson being here for much longer and I'd question whether Ramsey A. and Iroegbunam are ready yet for where we are aiming.

Interestingly, he was linked with Leeds a couple of years ago, but the price was too high for them (He deleted an Instagram post with a like to the link). The slight worry is that he's only currently linked to us and Juventus, Roma and one of the Milan clubs, and that standard isn't up to ours, so maybe he isn't good enough.

I agree but you've missed out Dendoncker and JJ. As I say I like him but he's the sort of player who you have to start regularly and I'm not sure where you put him in this team that doesn't create other problems. Most of this is based on my thinking Kamra and Luiz can become a CL central midfield, I don't see anything in the current top 6 that is significantly better than this pair will become over the next year.

On that basis the aim has to be to make sure that who we have around them works as well:
I'm happy for Buendia and Countinho to battle it out for 6months on the left and review in the summer.
I'm happy for McGinn and JJ to do similar on the right.
I'm not entirely happy with Bailey being the only clear option for where he's playing.

If someone exceptional is available and interested then it chnages things (and dePaul might be that) but for me the only clear gap we NEED to fill is the competition for Bailey.

Agreed. I’d like it to be a player who could who could replace either one of Watkins/Bailey. I don’t think Ings is up to it.

[ChicagoLion]

Up front is definitely the most important followed by a centre half who can pass the ball.

[Dave]

If someone exceptional is available and interested then it chnages things (and dePaul might be that) but for me the only clear gap we NEED to fill is the competition for Bailey.

Wouldn't surprise me if medium-term Watkins became that competition for Bailey and someone came in to do the role that Watkins currently is.

[paul_e]

I like De Paul but I'm not sure where he'd fit for us.

If we stick with the current setup then we have a forward who drifts out onto the wing (Bailey) and a wide midfielder (McGinn) who moves into the space it creates. From what I've seen of de Paul (which isn't a huge amount to be fair) he strikes me as more of a player who'd like to wait outside the box to pick up the scraps than someone who'd be arriving late in the box. I just think that position screams out to be given to JJ.

More centrally I think he'd be a better option but I'm not sure he'd be happy rotating with Luiz, Kamara and Dendoncker and I don't think he'd deserve to be guaranteed to start ahead of them regularly.

We need a squad for where we're heading. If, heaven forbid, anything happened to Kamara or Luiz (and let's face it, one has patchy form at times and the other is young and needs protecting, then we need quality in the squad. I can't see Sanson being here for much longer and I'd question whether Ramsey A. and Iroegbunam are ready yet for where we are aiming.

Interestingly, he was linked with Leeds a couple of years ago, but the price was too high for them (He deleted an Instagram post with a like to the link). The slight worry is that he's only currently linked to us and Juventus, Roma and one of the Milan clubs, and that standard isn't up to ours, so maybe he isn't good enough.

I agree but you've missed out Dendoncker and JJ. As I say I like him but he's the sort of player who you have to start regularly and I'm not sure where you put him in this team that doesn't create other problems. Most of this is based on my thinking Kamra and Luiz can become a CL central midfield, I don't see anything in the current top 6 that is significantly better than this pair will become over the next year.

On that basis the aim has to be to make sure that who we have around them works as well:
I'm happy for Buendia and Countinho to battle it out for 6months on the left and review in the summer.
I'm happy for McGinn and JJ to do similar on the right.
I'm not entirely happy with Bailey being the only clear option for where he's playing.

If someone exceptional is available and interested then it chnages things (and dePaul might be that) but for me the only clear gap we NEED to fill is the competition for Bailey.

Agreed. I’d like it to be a player who could who could replace either one of Watkins/Bailey. I don’t think Ings is up to it.

I'd play Ings in games like tomorrow where we need to be on the front foot more because he's more dangerous in the box than Watkins or Bailey (and his goals per mniute record this season is fantastic to be fair) but he offers very little in games like Sunday where the industry and physicality of Watkins unsettles defences.

[LeeB]

I think there are more options available for a wide/inside forward type that could do a job filling in for Watkins if needed, plus weak finishing aside Watkins offers everything Emery would want as his cente forward and looks to me enjoying himself again.

[pablo_picasso]

De Paul linked again. I can't say I was mad impressed with him in the World Cup.

https://twitter.com/AVFCLatam/status/1610033209248464897

Very Good player.  Would come straight into our team.




Another level 

And then instantly sold so we can purchase three average players…

[SoccerHQ]

People in the know will have a better idea than me but in one of the Argentina games I watched the commentator definitely basically referred to him as a 'ball winner and just pass it to someone else' type of bloke. If that is the case then we already have that with Kamara. I could be wrong.

De Paul has similar qualities to Milner when we first signed him.

Great workrate, decent passer and can play out wide in a narrow midfield no problem.

With Argentina he was doing that job very well in their 4-4-2 so given Emery played it generally at Villareal and we saw a 4-2-2-2 against Man. United which was effective it's a very logical link if he's interested in leaving Atletico Madrid.