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

[Goldie.7]

Archer is a very good player in a very poor team. I rarely rave about any academy players but Archer has got that natural Defoe finishing instinct.

It's a shame he can't return this month to be honest. Watkins is currently on a 1 goal in 8 match run and Duran is a walking red card let alone goal scorer.

[Somniloquism]

Although as Watkins is barely getting shots away during that time, ie chances have dried up due to us playing the ball slowly in recent cases, why would playing Archer instead of him change that?

[RamboandBruno]

Let's be totally honest here, we spend so much time talking about Archer mostly because a popular forum legend knows him, and therefore we've followed his progress closer than we would most other players.

We need to accept, though, he's not our player any more, and he almost certainly never will be again. Two (three?) previous managers didn't rate him enough to play him frequently, and he didn't pull up any trees when he did get the chance, so he's been sold with a buy-back clause,.

What that has caused is people acting like he's just on loan - he isn't. Yeah, it's complicated, but at the same time, when Dougie was on his first deal with us and a clause was active, I don't remember us acting like he considered him on loan to us. Yes we have the option to have him back - but in exchange for a lot of money.

We sold him for £19m. Any buy back is going to be in excess of that figure. Probably around 25m. With 25m to strengthen the squad, would we really want to go out and spend it on Archer given his past with us?

I think we need to move on. It'd be better for the player, too, rather than getting bounced about like an unwanted step-child.

100% agree with this.

[lovejoy]

Selling with a buy back is ducking the FFP isn’t it? We effectively take a gain up front and with a buy back get to spread the cost.

[Mister E]

Let's be totally honest here ... bounced about like an unwanted step-child.

100% agree with this.

I see it differently. Based on what we know of the deal, Archer will be returning if SheffU get relegated: I don't believe that is optional, nor will we pay more than we received from them. If they're relegated, it effectively is a loan.
What was in it for us? - FFP benefits, for sure. But I don't think we'd have agreed to having him back unless Emery et al believe that this season in the Premier League will enhance him and make him a player for next season. And, if we believe that Emery is not enamoured with Duran, Archer's return makes more sense; as a number 2 to Watkins or a player to come on as a sub to offer something different.

[PaulWinch again]

That’s why the whole he comes back if they’re relegated makes zero sense to me. Has that ever been confirmed? I’ve never heard of a clause like it.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

That’s why the whole he comes back if they’re relegated makes zero sense to me. Has that ever been confirmed? I’ve never heard of a clause like it.

It makes total sense on Sheff Utd's side. If they can no longer afford to eat at the head table they'll need to adjust their budget. Financially there were lots of reasons to sell Archer to them, on the football side next to none other than PL experience. Those highlighting Archer's lack of goals there and concluding that he's therefore not good enough should realise if we'd sent Watkins there he'd probably have had a similar impact. I'd bet that even Haaland would struggle there due to Sheff United being for lack of a better word, shit.

[Gareth]

The Athletic are reporting that discussions betw Villa and Napoli for a loan of Dendoncker

[PaulWinch again]

But from our perspective why do we want someone back who we clearly deemed sellable? If we really wanted to keep him it would have been a loan. I hope Cam makes it, but he just doesn’t look exceptional to me - good finisher and he’ll have a good career, but upper end of the top flight? Can’t see it.

[Dave]

That’s why the whole he comes back if they’re relegated makes zero sense to me. Has that ever been confirmed? I’ve never heard of a clause like it.

It makes total sense on Sheff Utd's side. If they can no longer afford to eat at the head table they'll need to adjust their budget. Financially there were lots of reasons to sell Archer to them, on the football side next to none other than PL experience.

And sense on Archer's side. If he's thinking "I'd much rather stay at Villa, but I also want to play in the Premier League. So I'd take bit-part at Villa over playing all the time in the Championship. But if there is a way that I can guarantee playing loads in the Premier League but knowing that I'm not risking a commitment to next season in the Championship if we go down..."

[VinnieChase84]

The Athletic are reporting that discussions betw Villa and Napoli for a loan of Dendoncker

We’re beyond light in this area unless we’ve got an incoming

[VILLA MOLE]

The Athletic are reporting that discussions betw Villa and Napoli for a loan of Dendoncker

We’re beyond light in this area unless we’ve got an incoming

Not linked to anyone so probably 😃

[VillaTim]

The Athletic are reporting that discussions betw Villa and Napoli for a loan of Dendoncker

are there any credible links to this one ?

[KNVillan]

The Athletic are reporting that discussions betw Villa and Napoli for a loan of Dendoncker

are there any credible links to this one ?

There is from Fabrizo Romano

https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1749836470032932875?t=M_TynzYuUVk1kemjAYMddA&s=19

[Gareth]

The Athletic are reporting that discussions betw Villa and Napoli for a loan of Dendoncker

are there any credible links to this one ?

I’d say they are pretty credible, we aren’t talking Fottball insider guesswork