Summer 2024 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[PaulWinch again]

Barkley has done well at Everton and Luton.  In both instances he was loved by the fans (for the most part at Everton) whereas at Chelsea and Villa he was not an integral piece of the machine.

Not a massive sample size but my guess is he needs to feel loved to play at his best.   

That might be part of it, but I suspect maturity and realising his career was slipping through his fingers has focussed his mind. I think the Luton spell was particularly impressive - not only because he excelled in a different role in the team, but also it’s not a glamour move. Appreciate his options may have been limited, but some players wouldn’t have taken that move anyway and the fact that he worked so hard and did so well is testament to him.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Danish website bold.dk are reporting that Spanish media reckon we're close to signing Barcelona centre back Ronald Araujo for what they're reporting as 100M kroner so about £10M subject to selling Diego.

Seems unlikely. There were reports a couple of months back that Bayern wanted him but Barcelona wanted £100m.

I've seen his market value around 70 million euros as well. Maybe the kroner exchange rate has changed rapidly!

It's also reported in AS in Spain and in the last hour here. Some interesting comments about the weekend with Monchi and Unai..

'Aston Villa is considering moving towards signing Barcelona's Uruguayan defender, Ronald Araújo, according to Catalan daily Sport.

Coach Unai Emery and sporting director Monchi were in Barcelona this weekend and met with Barça officials to inform them about the interest in Araújo.

With qualification for next season's Champions League assured, the English are looking to improve the squad and the Uruguayan international is the favorite to reinforce the central axis of the defense. Before moving towards signing Araújo, the Birmingham club wants to make room in the squad by selling Brazilian defender Diego Carlos, who has already played in Portuguese football, representing Estoril and FC Porto B.'

[PaulWinch again]

That last point around DC and Portugal seems weirdly superfluous, almost like it was copied and pasted from another article.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I took it from a Portuguese sports daily, Paul.

[PaulWinch again]

Ah that makes more sense, I’d read it as a Spanish report.

[Olneythelonely]

I do wonder if Footy had suggested signing Barkley on Saturday how many would have reacted. That's not a criticism, football fans are a weird bunch. I think it's a pretty risky buy but maybe we are as skint as keeps getting mentioned in the press.

I know what you mean, but I don’t think it’s too outrageous to feel more comfortable about signing a player that Emery wants, compared to a suggestion from a Jesus bot.

[Brazilian Villain]

Haven't watched much of Barca in recent seasons. He'd be an upgrade on Chambers, right?

[AV84]

Barkley has done well at Everton and Luton.  In both instances he was loved by the fans (for the most part at Everton) whereas at Chelsea and Villa he was not an integral piece of the machine.

Not a massive sample size but my guess is he needs to feel loved to play at his best.

We could love him here! I mean we're not entirely sure Jhon Durán even wants to be here but we still love him.

[Dave]

"Coach Unai Emery and sporting director Monchi were in Barcelona this weekend and met with Barça officials to inform them about the interest in Araújo".

Hmm, I'm pretty sure Emery was in London masterminding the Palace performance.

[AV84]

"Coach Unai Emery and sporting director Monchi were in Barcelona this weekend and met with Barça officials to inform them about the interest in Araújo".

Hmm, I'm pretty sure Emery was in London masterminding the Palace performance.

Could actually explain the performance.

[Brazilian Villain]

"Coach Unai Emery and sporting director Monchi were in Barcelona this weekend and met with Barça officials to inform them about the interest in Araújo".

Hmm, I'm pretty sure Emery was in London masterminding the Palace performance.

I knew someone would pick up on that.

Seems to be a couple of versions, and it was likely a few weeks ago. https://x.com/FootballTalkHQ/status/1792626034174574719

[rob_bridge]

Indeed and Barkley can’t really have done more to show he’s motivated and wants to make the most of his remaining career.

We'll see and see what the terms are.

He was good enough talent wise to have 80 caps by now and hasn't looked like an international for a very long time.

If it was under any other head coach it would be a huge red flag

[coreyfeldman]

Indeed and Barkley can’t really have done more to show he’s motivated and wants to make the most of his remaining career.

We'll see and see what the terms are.

He was good enough talent wise to have 80 caps by now and hasn't looked like an international for a very long time.

If it was under any other head coach it would be a huge red flag

He wasn't far off an England call up this season imo, every time I saw luton he was excellent.
We're right to have our doubts of course but it's important to acknowledge how good he was in difficult circumstances this season. To me he looks like someone with something to prove again and could be a valuable addition.
He also is big and hits them from distance, which is surely what we all want from a midfielder at the villa

[PaulWinch again]

Indeed and Barkley can’t really have done more to show he’s motivated and wants to make the most of his remaining career.

We'll see and see what the terms are.

He was good enough talent wise to have 80 caps by now and hasn't looked like an international for a very long time.

If it was under any other head coach it would be a huge red flag

He hadn’t, but he was talked about in that context this year. We’re not going to be throwing ridiculous money at him.

[aldridgeboy]

Apparently the Dendonker 9m deal with Napoli has fell through, so he’ll be returning ( for now )