January Transfer Window - The Verdict.

[Smithy]

Could you imagine our existing team having a Salah/Saka/Mahrez style player in Bailey's position!! Our attack would be deadly. We are not going to get any of those but we need to find the next best thing.

We need to search wide and afar for a young emerging player with all the necessary attributes that Unai can put the finishing touches too.

At 23 Salah was being sold off by Chelsea as not good enough for the Prem, at 24 Mahrez had played two season with Leicester for a total of 7 goals, and at 23 Wilf Zaha was being sold by Man Utd back to Palace after being deemed not good enough for a top prem team.

I'm not saying the idea of finding a "young version" of those players is a bad idea, it's not, just that the younger version of those VERY SAME players were hardly setting the world alight.

I'm all for us uncovering gems, and developing youth products, but if we are serious about getting European football, then we probably need to be signing a couple of players who we KNOW can perform at the level required, and reasonably quickly.

[Footy-Vill]

Richarlison isn't the greatest example I would argue.

No but a first choice taken from Everton as an example. And of course a Brazil international. Hasn't worked out for him so far but decent signing on paper.
Jesus and Zinchenko would have been great signings second choices at Man City but didn't fit the remit.l for example.

[Risso]

Yes, those two would do nicely. A good example of a team taking advantage of another. I think there could be pickings to be had from Chelsea this summer for a similar reason.

[paul_e]

I think we need to be careful about being too prescriptive with what a player 'needs to be' to be signed. From that list Martinez wasn't first choice but that didn't stop him immediately being one of the best keepers in the league and turning into the best keeper in the world shortly afterwards. Luiz was a youngster who couldn't get a work permit but is now a top 6 level midfielder (but did take longer to get there). Established first team players at top flight clubs are, generally, going to be older, on higher wages and more expensive. Just signing players like that is how you end up in the sort of mess we were after MON or where Everton are now. 1-2 players like that where we need an immediate improvement is fine but after that I'd be happy for us to go more with the Duran style signings.

I think we need a few more in their mid 20s. Players who are regulars for teams in the top leagues but who still have room to improve.  We're well stocked in the promising youth player ranks, and also quite heavy in the late 20s to early 30s area.

I'm not sure, I think the age profile right now is probably about right because most of the team now have 100+ games of top flight football to their name so we're less desperate for experience than we have been. For me it's mostly about who is available. If someone like Barnes is an option then great but if not I don't think age/experience is necessarily a primary concern this window. That said I could understand if we went for someone older for the 2nd striker role because we have quite a few young players who will work there who might benefit from being slowly introduced behind someone over 12-18months.

[Footy-Vill]

I would probably take Firmino ahead of Lukaku yet Lukaku is the goal scorer amoung the two and the younger.
Definitely think an experienced player at 29/30/31 is no bad thing.

[Pat Mustard]

Yes, those two would do nicely. A good example of a team taking advantage of another. I think there could be pickings to be had from Chelsea this summer for a similar reason.

I'd take Kante and Sterling off their hands

[Risso]

Kante is 32 soon, and permanently crocked these days. Wouldn't turn my nose up at Sterling at all though.

[Toronto Villa]

Yes, those two would do nicely. A good example of a team taking advantage of another. I think there could be pickings to be had from Chelsea this summer for a similar reason.

I'd take Kante and Sterling off their hands

Too old, too expensive. Chelsea will have a few players that will be wanting opportunities to prove themselves on a regular basis. No doubt those fuckers will spend the GDP of China again this summer.

[algy]

Spoke to my mate today who became the first Villa fan I think I’ve ever heard ask the question ‘do we even need to buy anyone in the summer?’

People get a bit giddy and dizzy with a bit of success. I think we need 4 really excellent players to drive us on. I’m definitely keen to see how Emery incorporates some of these talented players out on loan back into things.

If I make a bunch of assumptions I think 3-4 is about right.

Assumptions:
Every player we want to keep stays.
Olsen goes.
1 of Bailey or Bert goes.
None of the loaned youngsters are ready to be regulars in the squad (I am aware this one is contentious).

Priorities (in order):
2nd striker who can also cover for Watkins if needed
Midfielder who can play wide or central, cover for the wide roles is priority
Backup goalkeeper
Right back cover (we'll need to replace Young at some point)

If young stays for another year we might be able to leave the last one to see if Kessler develops.

With the other youngsters I'd see if we can use AJ Ramsey to slowly replace Countinho or Buendia, Tim to replace Dendoncker and Archer to replace Bert or Bailey over time. I'm not sure there's anyone else who could step up over the next year.

Yeah, agree with this completely.  Could see Bailey being flogged on and us replacing him with Cameron Archer.  The timing just feels perfect for Cam right now, with him doing so well at Boro.  Think Tim & Ramsay A will both have another year out on loan, then come in to the squad the season after to replace Dendonker & Coutinho respectively.  Of the 2, though, I think Tim is closer than AJ & more likely to come in to the squad this summer.

[Baldy]

Could you imagine our existing team having a Salah/Saka/Mahrez style player in Bailey's position!! Our attack would be deadly. We are not going to get any of those but we need to find the next best thing.

We need to search wide and afar for a young emerging player with all the necessary attributes that Unai can put the finishing touches too.

At 23 Salah was being sold off by Chelsea as not good enough for the Prem, at 24 Mahrez had played two season with Leicester for a total of 7 goals, and at 23 Wilf Zaha was being sold by Man Utd back to Palace after being deemed not good enough for a top prem team.

I'm not saying the idea of finding a "young version" of those players is a bad idea, it's not, just that the younger version of those VERY SAME players were hardly setting the world alight.

I'm all for us uncovering gems, and developing youth products, but if we are serious about getting European football, then we probably need to be signing a couple of players who we KNOW can perform at the level required, and reasonably quickly.

One experienced player who I thought got a raw deal previously in the Premier League is Leroy Sane. Played for Man City and last time I saw him was on bench for Bayern Munich. Not sure if he can play on the right though? Aged 27.

[Footy-Vill]

Didn't realise Barnes was 25. Thought he was about 20/21.

I'd be happy with him. Raiding Leicester for one or two players would be great (Barnes and Maddison perhaps), they're much better than their league position suggests.

I could see Ayoze Pérez coming in from Leicester. He's on loan at Real Betis at the moment. Clever player. 29 would be suited under Emery style.

[Footy-Vill]

Kante is 32 soon, and permanently crocked these days. Wouldn't turn my nose up at Sterling at all though.

I think more likely Ziyech or Pulisic leaving from Chelsea. And both are good options here at Villa.

[Risso]

Didn't realise Barnes was 25. Thought he was about 20/21.

I'd be happy with him. Raiding Leicester for one or two players would be great (Barnes and Maddison perhaps), they're much better than their league position suggests.

I could see Ayoze Pérez coming in from Leicester. He's on loan at Real Betis at the moment. Clever player. 29 would be suited under Emery style.

I hoep we're after significantly better players than him, he'd be a big step down from who we've been linked with previously.

[Footy-Vill]

Didn't realise Barnes was 25. Thought he was about 20/21.

I'd be happy with him. Raiding Leicester for one or two players would be great (Barnes and Maddison perhaps), they're much better than their league position suggests.

I could see Ayoze Pérez coming in from Leicester. He's on loan at Real Betis at the moment. Clever player. 29 would be suited under Emery style.

I hoep we're after significantly better players than him, he'd be a big step down from who we've been linked with previously.

We signed Moreno 29 from Betis so I just think can't rule out Pérez to be on radar as potential option. Maybe not first choice on list but some one who may not already playing champions league football and would slot straight in to the league.

[Risso]

He wasn't good enough for Leicester though, and just playing for Betis, where he's not pulling up any trees, isn't enough. Wrong sort of age as well. If we're going for older players, get ones in who are excellent. He's not.