2024 January transfer window - hopes, needs, expectations and rumours.

[jwarry]

Werner is exactly the sort of signing we need this window.  No team is going to sell their best strikers now and if they did there are loads of teams who will fork out millions.  Werner is off the radar a bit now and if you look back at Unai’s career he has a history of reigniting careers.  Bring it on I say

[jwarry]

His finishing was mostly arse biscuits at Chelsea.

But then so was Ollie's for a fair while before Emery's arrival.

I'm not mad keen on rehabilitating players who have struggled elsewhere. How many other top 4/5 aspiring teams go that route. But if Emery, Monchi and co see a worthwhile project there then fair e muff.

Yes his goal record wasn’t great at Chelsea, but look at the rest

[pauliewalnuts]

Werner is exactly the sort of signing we need this window.  No team is going to sell their best strikers now and if they did there are loads of teams who will fork out millions.  Werner is off the radar a bit now and if you look back at Unai’s career he has a history of reigniting careers.  Bring it on I say

He’s also quite versatile in terms of how he’s played across the front three.

[Villan82]

We go into this window in a strong position. I am no finance guru but if the club can do some clever financial engineering and get in 2-3 reinforcements for a squad that is looking a bit jaded I think we can look ahead with confidence.

Our left hand side of Ramsey and Moreno really had us flying last season. It's a real shame they have both been injured and struggling to return to form. If Emery thinks Timo Werner is the answer to that question then I back him.

[Monty]

I'm just not sure if what we really need is another front-runner when we seem to only have one player to set them free in the first place. Across their careers, in good form and bad form, Watkins, Bailey, Diaby and Zaniolo have virtually always played closer to goal than halfway, and their aim has always been to get a run at a defender or at space in and around the box. Elsewhere, we have Bouba, a top regainer and retainer, we have Doug, a puller of strings, we have SJM, a play-switcher and late-burster, but we only have one Tielemans who can knit it all together with sudden and unexpected angles.

I accept that we need to worry about an injury to Watkins, but we've already seen what happens with an injury to Tielemans (and indeed to Buendia), and it doesn't look good.

Nothing against Werner, who regardless of his spell at Chelsea I actually rather like.

[SoccerHQ]

Timo Werner rumoured to be on his way in

You’re usually more in the know than the average poster on transfers.  Do you know if wer looking to be strengthening the 1st 11 or signing back ups?

Genuinely not heard much recently. Very tight lipped at Villa these days

Believe they will be looking to upgrade the 11 and in turn the squad. However could defo be some short term options if it strengthens us for the second half run in.

For me priority needs to be

Right back
CM
Forward

Chambers, Traore, Dendonker out - Duran loan move 

Good stuff Vinnie. I can remember you saying we wanted Tielemans when Slippy was still here so we'll have club targets and it's a case of timing needs to be right and UE to give the o.k the player will fit into his system which Werner should be able to.

No surprise on the outs either. I imagine Nuno will fancy taking Donk to Forest given he played regularly under him at Wolves. Chambers needs to move on for his own good and you'd think Luton or Sheffield United would be happy taking him on loan.

Soft spot for Bert but six months left on his deal and just loads of injuries so no real point keeping him around. Hause is probably another we need to pay up if possible.

[Bad English]

I find it amusing that many ITK people post in that telegraph style. You see it a lot on Twitter:

"Hearing murmurs that... Fairly sure of... deal almost done but am told there are obstacles....

Not a dig by the way. Just an observation.

[Border villan]

God bless the Donk and all, but he's leek and potato when we need a vichyssoise in there.

Apologies if I'm not focusing on the main issue here, but isn't vichyssoise literally a leek and potato that you've just stuck a hand-blender through for 30 seconds?

Is “hand blender” a euphemism?

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

I think Werner would be a decent loan signing, he works the defence well and does offer a threat, just needs to get his shooting boots on. I think as Monty mentioned he’s quick which is good but we don’t really play to those strengths, see Diaby’s struggles.

[Ian.]

I think Werner would be a decent loan signing, he works the defence well and does offer a threat, just needs to get his shooting boots on. I think as Monty mentioned he’s quick which is good but we don’t really play to those strengths, see Diaby’s struggles.

We did play to Diably’s strength at the start of the season.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

I think Werner would be a decent loan signing, he works the defence well and does offer a threat, just needs to get his shooting boots on. I think as Monty mentioned he’s quick which is good but we don’t really play to those strengths, see Diaby’s struggles.

We did play to Diably’s strength at the start of the season.

We certainly need to start utilising his talents more than we currently are.

[Ian.]

I think Werner would be a decent loan signing, he works the defence well and does offer a threat, just needs to get his shooting boots on. I think as Monty mentioned he’s quick which is good but we don’t really play to those strengths, see Diaby’s struggles.

We did play to Diably’s strength at the start of the season.

We certainly need to start utilising his talents more than we currently are.

We do, he’s a cracking player and it’s a mystery why his form has dipped. I’m not sure if it’s him or the way we play. He fitted in perfectly at the beginning of the season and worked well with Cash, whose form has also dipped.

[curiousorange]

Can't recall who said it but it was probably on Twitter, but as Diaby's strength is his pace, he needs that early ball to allow him to blast past defenders. Playing it into his feet and expecting him to run directly at them is setting him up for failure.

[LeonW]

Definitely not sold on Werner as a permanent option. Leipzig took him back to rehabilitate him after they sold him to Chelsea and he’s not returned to his previous form a year and a half in. Plus he turns 28 in March.

A loan move wouldn’t make sense to me either. It can take a bit for players to get up to speed with Emery’s system. Would seem strange to take an out of form player for 6 months and adjust him to our set up.

However, this is what Emery and Monchi have been masters at in the past; flipping distressed or under valued assets. So I’m going to put my faith in them until they give me reason not to.

[Toronto Villa]

Can't recall who said it but it was probably on Twitter, but as Diaby's strength is his pace, he needs that early ball to allow him to blast past defenders. Playing it into his feet and expecting him to run directly at them is setting him up for failure.

I’ve been saying that for ages. I used the example of how Barry used to get the ball to Young so he had room to attack. We sometimes ate too predictable in our set up. Along with that opponents have planned against his abilities. That’s something he will need to develop and learn from. He’s still a young player. Lots of time to improve.