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

[john2710]

We need another centre half, maybe on loan. Perhaps someone who could also cover right back. I don't think Emery sees Chambers at centre back.

Genuine question, if he doesn’t see him as a centre back, what does he see him as? You think he sees him as a right back? Or a defensive midfielder?

I don't think he sees him as a centre back in the Premier League, playing a high line. Third choice right back or defensive midfielder.

[pablo_picasso]

This might be a squeaky bum time as the window ends. Emery says we must be ready for action if the right deal(s) to improve the squad come up and of course this is true. At the same time I hear Liverpool are going to make a tilt at taking Luiz off our hands. If they got him in the week before they played us they'd really fuck us over.

Got to trust NSWE to hold firm.

And its not like the likes of Liverpool wouldn't be so underhanded that they use transfer "leaks" to get into a players head before we play them...

[ozzjim]

Luiz was exceptional at the Emerites last August the night before everyone thought he was going to Arsenal, so I don't see it having too much effect on him. I also don't see Liverpool offering £100m plus for him that it would surely take now. He's one of the best in the league now, Emery has kicked him and McGinn on into top 4 players on a regular basis.

[Dante Lavelli]

Luiz is pretty much playing top 4 level every week now, and may not have reached his ceiling. If there’s a release clause in his contract then we should be offering him a new deal pronto.

It’s too risky otherwise. It’d be a massive set-back if he left.

[Beard82]

The only this I would say on luiz would be that I would be absolutely shocked if he didn’t have a release clause in his contract

[Ian.]

Luiz was exceptional at the Emerites last August the night before everyone thought he was going to Arsenal, so I don't see it having too much effect on him. I also don't see Liverpool offering £100m plus for him that it would surely take now. He's one of the best in the league now, Emery has kicked him and McGinn on into top 4 players on a regular basis.

He’s not good enough for the Wolves side though.

[Mister E]

Luiz was exceptional at the Emerites last August the night before everyone thought he was going to Arsenal, so I don't see it having too much effect on him. I also don't see Liverpool offering £100m plus for him that it would surely take now. He's one of the best in the league now, Emery has kicked him and McGinn on into top 4 players on a regular basis.

And yet they were - apparently - willing  to pay £100m for Caicedo. I wouldn't be overly-surprised if they tested his and our resolve; I'd like to think he has the foresight to recognise and appriecate the journey we're on (unlike with Southgate, other international managers do not see being part of the cabal of 6 as a prerequisite for selection, so Luiz would not have to worry about his own international ambitions).

[Beard82]

In all honesty - with how well they are all playing - it's almost impossible to think we won't lose a few of our players along the way.  I would be gutted if we lost Luiz as he has been excellent under Emery, and I think he will only get better.  But, I would imagine he's got a release clause, and also I would imagine would like to play in the Brazil squad - and might see a move as a way of it happening.

He's clearly loving life at the Villa, but I wouldn't be utterly shocked if he did move on.  I'm fairly relaxed as Emery is such a good coach, I'm pretty certain he could just bring Steve Sidwell out of retirement and have him looking like prime Pirlo by November. 

Personally, I think, the only one that would really derail everything would be Unai getting pinched. 

[AV84]

And its not like the likes of Liverpool wouldn't be so underhanded that they use transfer "leaks" to get into a players head before we play them...

I wonder if its someone at Bodymoor spreading the Salah to Saudi rumours 😄

[Gareth]

He could sell the entire squad then pick a team of programme sellers, turnstile operatives and messageboard malcontents and he'd be right. He's Unsi Emery and none of us are.

This 100 times over

Unai knows….tho I will say am a few years behind past my best :-)

[brontebilly]

In all honesty - with how well they are all playing - it's almost impossible to think we won't lose a few of our players along the way.  I would be gutted if we lost Luiz as he has been excellent under Emery, and I think he will only get better.  But, I would imagine he's got a release clause, and also I would imagine would like to play in the Brazil squad - and might see a move as a way of it happening.

He's clearly loving life at the Villa, but I wouldn't be utterly shocked if he did move on.  I'm fairly relaxed as Emery is such a good coach, I'm pretty certain he could just bring Steve Sidwell out of retirement and have him looking like prime Pirlo by November. 

Personally, I think, the only one that would really derail everything would be Unai getting pinched.

Luiz is one of the best midfielders in the league. I'd expect that view is held outside of Villa Park. He's a far more complete player than either of the midfielders bought by Chelsea in the last couple of weeks. But Arsenal and Man City seem to have plenty of options for his position. I guess likes of Man United and Liverpool could put a bid of 100m or so in for him but I don't think they have the cash.

I'm more worried about Watkins. He's not the most prolific but he improves a lot of teams with bigger budgets than ours. Plus talk of his new contract died over the summer.

[Drummond]

He's Unsi Emery and none of us are.

Well neither is he to be fair. ;-)

[PaulWinch again]

I’m really hoping we still have addition or two coming in.

[Hairbandinho]

Personally I don't see us signing anyone else. We have 3 first team players coming back in the next 4 weeks or so

[Ian.]

Personally, I think, the only one that would really derail everything would be Unai getting pinched.

That’s already been text to me by multiple people today, all saying he’ll be off to manage Spain at the earliest opportunity.