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

[LeeB]

Regarding a striker, would you prefer a back-up to Watkins now, or a really ambitious purchase in the summer?

I reckon in the summer we could bag a £75m striker whereas I doubt that’s feasible in the January window.

The problem is though that given the paucity of strikers at the moment, I still think it's more likely that someone else might end up seeing Watkins as their £80-£100m striker. That's not a "oh no, we always sell our players" point, more a "we're shopping in the market place where we already own one of the attractive assets" point.

Assuming we're not about to spend £130m on Osimhen (and we're not), you're looking at that £50m-£100m striker who could be amazing or could be not-as-good-as-Watkins is.

The other one I guess is Toney, who would cost in the same region as Watkins with no certainty that he'd be an improvement.

[pablo_picasso]

Azaz to Boro, permanent £2m

I will keep my powder dry until I see that confirmed...

[eamonn]

Is his contract up in the summer (Azaz)? Otherwise, the fee is the chicken-feed we used to charge our nearest and dearest for the likes of Ridgewell and Moore.

[OCD]

It's not bad for a player who would probably get lost trying to find Bodymoor Heath.

[Steve67]

Hope there would be a sell on clause in there too.

[pauliewalnuts]

It's not bad for a player who would probably get lost trying to find Bodymoor Heath.

He was nudging 21 when we signed him from Albion, and has spent that whole time on loan, so you're probably right.

[Dogtanian]

In the Athletic now;

https://theathletic.com/5176663/2024/01/03/finn-azaz-middlesbrough-aston-villa-transfers/

"Middlesbrough are set to sign Aston Villa midfielder Finn Azaz in a £2.5million deal."

[Dogtanian]

No mention of buy-back clause either.

[Gareth]

2.5m + sell on clause would be decent for a guy who I don’t think has ever played any games for us at any age group?

[Steve67]

2.5m + sell on clause would be decent for a guy who I don’t think has ever played any games for us at any age group?

I agree Gareth.  He's possibly a bit too slow for the Premier League but a really good Championship player.  If it is 2.5m, it sounds like a good deal all round.

[VillaTim]

Ngonge in / Duran out would be a class start to the window

No. Duran is becoming more and more effective. We don’t want to waste a year of good work by the coaching team.

at what exactly

[Rotterdam]

Azaz is an example of Villa's business model at post-academy level.
Albion let him go and Villa picked him up out of contract. Fact in wages (some of which may have been covered by the loan club and he may have cost around 500-750k over the four years or so.
They done the same with Rico Richards.

[eamonn]

In the Athletic now;

https://theathletic.com/5176663/2024/01/03/finn-azaz-middlesbrough-aston-villa-transfers/

"Middlesbrough are set to sign Aston Villa midfielder Finn Azaz in a £2.5million deal."

Someone in the comments section says that he is out of contract with us in May so the price makes more sense in that perspective. A clause for an extra £2.5m should Middlesbrough get promoted would have been good though...

[Dogtanian]

In the Athletic now;

https://theathletic.com/5176663/2024/01/03/finn-azaz-middlesbrough-aston-villa-transfers/

"Middlesbrough are set to sign Aston Villa midfielder Finn Azaz in a £2.5million deal."

Someone in the comments section says that he is out of contract with us in May so the price makes more sense in that perspective. A clause for an extra £2.5m should Middlesbrough get promoted would have been good though...

I thought he signd a new contract before the loan deal? That's usually the case if they're getting to the end.

[OCD]

Opportunism seems to play a big part in our recruitment strategy. This Ngonge is another if it happens. His club have got some financial problems and need to sell some of their assets.