2023 Summer transfer window - hopes, needs, expectations and rumours.

[ASHTONVILLA]

I'm in Colombia at the moment. Nobody here seems to know much about Duran (and it is a football crazy nation). Everybody in Medellin knows Aston Villa due to Juan Pablo Angel who played for teh big local team here (National), and they all rate his son who is playing for National now.

I like Gnotto, and would be pleased if we signed him. Hopefully Duran makes it with us, looks raw but definitely has some good qualities.

[rooboy316]

Duran and Gnonto are not at the same developmental level. Evidenced by the fact that one is being chased by several Premier League teams and the other is most likely being loaned out to a lower level to earn experience.

Agree, and we don’t have to sign Gnonto as a starter either. If we can spend 19mill on Duran, as a long term project, Gnonto seems less raw and less risky/untried, for similar money.

If we only have the option of spending on one wide player, it’d be wiser to spend it on an established starter, which is what Paul_e keeps coming back to, I think. Presumably we could do both.

[Dogtanian]

Talk of Guendouzi appearing again.

I am intrigued what his hair will be like atop a Villa shirt and I do think we need more fight in midfield, but we can’t keep adding midfielders. Maybe it’s something we’d look at if Dendoncker moves on.

[paul_e]

Duran and Gnonto are not at the same developmental level. Evidenced by the fact that one is being chased by several Premier League teams and the other is most likely being loaned out to a lower level to earn experience.

Agree, and we don’t have to sign Gnonto as a starter either. If we can spend 19mill on Duran, as a long term project, Gnonto seems less raw and less risky/untried, for similar money.

If we only have the option of spending on one wide player, it’d be wiser to spend it on an established starter, which is what Paul_e keeps coming back to, I think. Presumably we could do both.

Pretty much, but also that the role you suggest is what I think he'd need but that there would be pressure to give him much more because of the hype.

[johnny from donny]

Have we signed AOC yet?

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez? Could be useful I suppose, I think she plays on the left.

[Risso]

I think Gnonto is very raw, and would be a fair way from being a guaranteed starter. I also think he'd be more use than Leon Bailey.

[Chris Smith]

Is there any credible reason for all the Gnonto chat? I get that he’s young but he doesn’t strike me as an Emery type of player.

[RichardBatchelor]

I think Gnonto is very raw, and would be a fair way from being a guaranteed starter. I also think he'd be more use than Leon Bailey.

Not sure. I think Bailey is better at this stage. Our win rate and shape is very good when he plays, despite his obvious foibles.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I'm in Colombia at the moment. Nobody here seems to know much about Duran (and it is a football crazy nation). Everybody in Medellin knows Aston Villa due to Juan Pablo Angel who played for teh big local team here (National), and they all rate his son who is playing for National now.

I met a Colombian a couple of weeks back and had a similar experience, he'd never heard of Duran but when I mentioned Angel (I had to say his name about four times as my accent was not doing it) he immediately started talking about how good the son is. I never realised Junior is playing for National. He must be the first Brummie to play for them. I thought he was still a kid.

[Sexual Ealing]

His son's called Geronimo, which I'm very here for.

[AV84]

Is there any credible reason for all the Gnonto chat? I get that he’s young but he doesn’t strike me as an Emery type of player.

I've seen a fair few articles mentioning us, Everton, and Freiburg as being interested in him. None of them particularly reputable sources mind. Mostly an article referencing another article that quotes a tweet that mentions an interest.
A couple of Leeds related ones seem to think Everton are favourites to sign him.

[Smithy]

His son's called Geronimo, which I'm very here for.

That's the elder son, who was born as they arrived here in 2001 and who had some early health issues which led to JPA well-publicised difficulties settling here.  Tomas (the footballer) was born in Feb 2003 in Birmingham, which was halfway through probably JPAs best season for us.

[OCD]

As an aside, Juan Pablo's wife used to train at my gym and wore some very fetching cat suits while she trained.

[Risso]

JPA and his missus were at one of the home games towards the end of the season, and I got to have a quick chat and a photo with him.

[Smirker]

I'm in Colombia at the moment. Nobody here seems to know much about Duran (and it is a football crazy nation). Everybody in Medellin knows Aston Villa due to Juan Pablo Angel who played for teh big local team here (National), and they all rate his son who is playing for National now.

I like Gnotto, and would be pleased if we signed him. Hopefully Duran makes it with us, looks raw but definitely has some good qualities.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom%C3%A1s_%C3%81ngel

Born in Birmingham.

Goal record looks good.

I say sign him up.