January Transfer Window - The Verdict.

[LeeB]

This fine fanzine in it's print format used to run a series called "they nearly played for Villa", Hans Krankl was the one that sticks in my mind

[Footy-Vill]

Wes Hoolahan was one that got away. I remember the reporting of his transfer request, and Norwich still wouldn't let him go.

[Footy-Vill]

This fine fanzine in it's print format used to run a series called "they nearly played for Villa", Hans Krankl was the one that sticks in my mind

That sounds excellent idea for a thread. Fascinating how close players are to joining clubs.

[pauliewalnuts]

I recall when Mac tipped us off we were signing Klose.

[pauliewalnuts]

Wes Hoolahan was one that got away. I remember the reporting of his transfer request, and Norwich still wouldn't let him go.

I also remember he then scored against us while all this was going on, and did not celebrate.

Remarkable.

[Brazilian Villain]

It's been said Villa tried to sign  Alan Shearer?! Michael Owen,
Frank Lampard, and Robert Carlos?!!! At one time or another over the premier league years.
Is there any more information on those and how accurate this source is?

Definitely remember the Lampard talk at the the time but Les Ferdinand is the one that springs to mind for me.
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11601534/les-ferdinand-on-aston-villas-ridiculous-offer-kevin-keegan-and-newcastle

[Rudy Can't Fail]

This fine fanzine in it's print format used to run a series called "they nearly played for Villa", Hans Krankl was the one that sticks in my mind

I can still see the back page of the Evening Mail when it was first reported. He was the real deal, proper goal machine and a full beard to match. Didn't he instead end up at Barca scoring 36 goals in 40 matches? Not sure what went wrong for him thereafter, maybe injury but he ended up on loan during his second season. We had to wait two years to get our own bearded centre forward and it was worth the wait. Thankfully it wasn't Mick Ferguson.

[algy]

It's been said Villa tried to sign  Alan Shearer?! Michael Owen,
Frank Lampard, and Robert Carlos?!!! At one time or another over the premier league years.
Is there any more information on those and how accurate this source is?

Definitely remember the Lampard talk at the the time but Les Ferdinand is the one that springs to mind for me.
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11601534/les-ferdinand-on-aston-villas-ridiculous-offer-kevin-keegan-and-newcastle

Around the same time it said on Midlands Today that we were going to sign Danny Blind on a free/Bosman. I got quite excited about that one (and Ferdinand).

[Dante Lavelli]

I met Christian Vieri on top of the Empire State Building (he’d recently signed for Inter Milan, possibly as a world record fee, and was wearing their training kit, the tight bastard), he confirmed that Villa had tried to sign him and that he would’ve joined.  I didn’t pester him enough to find out how the deal fell through.

[LeonW]

Looking forward when does the summer transfer window thread come about for discussion. Villa are expecting an extremely busy summer according to Purslow and one which we all anticipate as exciting and strong.

Feel free to promote the 95 players that we are not going to sign on here.

https://www.planetfootball.com/quick-reads/11-players-aston-villa-nearly-signed-and-who-they-got-instead/

It's been said Villa tried to sign  Alan Shearer?! Michael Owen,
Frank Lampard, and Robert Carlos?!!! At one time or another over the premier league years.
Is there any more information on those and how accurate this source is?

I suspect it was probably a case of Doug sticking his head in the general office around season ticket renewal and asking for a name before it was leaked to the press. Cynic that I am.

[Exeter 77]

To add to the list: Juninho, Benni McCarthy and, from my vague recollection, David Swindlehurst.

[Clampy]

To add to the list: Juninho, Benni McCarthy and, from my vague recollection, David Swindlehurst.

You've made that last one up surely?

I remember Sir Graham wanting Lineker but Doug said something about us not being able to make a signing for two years if we did.

[Exeter 77]

Thinking about it Swindlehurst was probably just a passing interest from Tony Barton but I remember it being mentioned on local news.

[nigel]

Remember all of those, but it was Robbie Keane that I think would have made a huge difference to us at the time.
Instead he went to. Coventry!!!

[curiousorange]

Krankl scored 392 club goals and 34 in 69 for the national team. Phenomenal figures.