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

[Dogtanian]

If we get the Barkley of last seasons effort and quality, then we've done pretty well to bag a midfield three of Kamara, Tielemans and Barkley for nowt in transfer outlay. Add in another defensive type, Dougie and McGinn and we're well stocked in the middle, the Black Death descending on BMH mid-October notwithstanding.

I don’t think RB is available on a free.

Apparently his contract was a one year deal, with a 12 month extension option. Luton will not trigger the extension for a small fee, apparently.

They don't want his wages in the Championship!

[maidstonevillain]

If we get the Barkley of last seasons effort and quality, then we've done pretty well to bag a midfield three of Kamara, Tielemans and Barkley for nowt in transfer outlay. Add in another defensive type, Dougie and McGinn and we're well stocked in the middle, the Black Death descending on BMH mid-October notwithstanding.

I don’t think RB is available on a free.

Apparently his contract was a one year deal, with a 12 month extension option. Luton will not trigger the extension for a small fee, apparently.

They don't want his wages in the Championship!

Perhaps they will throw Marvelous in as well.

[JUAN PABLO]

I heard someone say on one of those villa podcasts . RB was on 30k a week , very suprised if true.

[pablo_picasso]

I know this goes against the majority opinion on here at the moment but i suspect that the 'effort and quality' that Barkley showed at Luton last season (i didn't witness this personally as i didn't watch them much but i'll take your word for it) was because he realised that if he didn't he would be truly fucked and could say goodbye to the gravy train forever. Once back on that train (hopefully not with us) i reckon he'll revert to his prior self and be nothing but a drain on resources. So even if he's free or very cheap i wouldn't touch him with a bargepole. We've just qualified for the champions league, surely we can cast the net a little wider and get someone who hasn't already failed here.

These are my thoughts also...

[Toronto Villa]

You’re suggesting then Emery/Monchi have been completely conned by fake Ross Barkley? And that coming to Villa he will revert back to shit, lazy end loan spell during Covid Ross Barkley (a version that really exist because was injured a lot)?

[Smithy]

I heard someone say on one of those villa podcasts . RB was on 30k a week , very surprised if true.

Yep, very low for a Premier League player with his track record. I do wonder if that was part of the deal and the attraction to Barkley himself i.e. lower wages than he'd expect, but for 12 months only, and he gets to rehabilitate himself in the Premier League in a team where he was likely to play every week.

There is no way his next team is only paying him £30k a week, but I do think it reflects well on him that he was willing to do that in order to play regularly.

I wish I could shake the vision of him meandering around our midfield towards the end of his loan, as without that image, I'd be much more excited about the prospect of adding him to the squad.  The counterpoint to that, of course, is to imagine what Unai and his team could do with someone of his obvious talent, if he's still motivated. Unai has improved pretty much every player he inherited, some beyond recognition, so maybe he could become an extremely valuable squad member for a couple of years?

[Smithy]

Just to add, there are a decent handful of players (Ollie, Big Emi, SJM, Tyrone, Konsa, Dougie, JJ) who spent that season working with Barkley day in, day out.  There is absolutely no way we sign him without the manager asking their opinion on whether he's right for the club at this stage of our development, and I'd imagine he would take seriously the opinions of people like Tyrone and SJM.  We saw one thing on the pitch, they will have seen and understood a lot more.  I think they are professional enough to say "I'm not sure" if there were genuine reservations about his effort/character from back then.

[Dave]

Just to add, there are a decent handful of players (Ollie, Big Emi, SJM, Tyrone, Konsa, Dougie, JJ) who spent that season working with Barkley day in, day out.  There is absolutely no way we sign him without the manager asking their opinion on whether he's right for the club at this stage of our development, and I'd imagine he would take seriously the opinions of people like Tyrone and SJM.

Good point. Although I'm reminded of that (possibly apocryphal) story that we only signed Nicky Shorey because we needed a replacement for Bouma and Steve Sidwell suggested to O'Neill that his mate from Reading would probably do a decent job.

[Toronto Villa]

Just to add, there are a decent handful of players (Ollie, Big Emi, SJM, Tyrone, Konsa, Dougie, JJ) who spent that season working with Barkley day in, day out.  There is absolutely no way we sign him without the manager asking their opinion on whether he's right for the club at this stage of our development, and I'd imagine he would take seriously the opinions of people like Tyrone and SJM.

Good point. Although I'm reminded of that (possibly apocryphal) story that we only signed Nicky Shorey because we needed a replacement for Bouma and Steve Sidwell suggested to O'Neill that his mate from Reading would probably do a decent job.

This is MON you are talking about of course, who often took the laziest, most convenient path to scouting and coaching vs Emery who almost intentionally finds ways to scrutinize data beyond rational levels of scrutiny.

[pablo_picasso]

You’re suggesting then Emery/Monchi have been completely conned by fake Ross Barkley? And that coming to Villa he will revert back to shit, lazy end loan spell during Covid Ross Barkley (a version that really exist because was injured a lot)?

Im agreeing with Clark that Barkley has history of working for a contract & then "settling" once he has it.

It's not a case of "conning" anyone. I am just wary that Barkley has form for this & I don't think Villa should take the risk.

I am happy to be proven wrong though & will publicly admit on here if I am, & I have form for that too.

I just don't think we should take the gamble on him.

And I am a little sceptical to think that Monchi/Emery are going to get every single transfer spot on.

Just because they are involved in a transfer, which will be all of them at Villa, that doesn't mean that we as fans cant hold the opposite opinion on a player to them.

Monchi once signed Olsen, for example...

[tomd2103]

I just can't see Barkley fitting in to the way we play.  We need energy in the central midfield set up we play and I just can't see how he provides that.  As for playing in a more advanced role, we are well stocked in that area.

Would be a strange signing really.

[Dogtanian]

I reckon we're gonna bank on the Barkleys of this world.

[lovejoy]

Controversial statement but should we think about selling Luiz to give us headroom on FFP. he'd get a big fee and he isn't irreplaceable (unlike other players who'd go for a big fee like Martinez and Watkins).

[Toronto Villa]

I reckon we're gonna bank on the Barkleys of this world.

You mean we will only make free transfers this summer?

[rob_bridge]

Controversial statement but should we think about selling Luiz to give us headroom on FFP. he'd get a big fee and he isn't irreplaceable (unlike other players who'd go for a big fee like Martinez and Watkins).

Nothing controversial if you live in the real world. We may have to regardless.

Of the 'stars' who could command big fees he is certainly front of the queue - we have nothing like the quality for Watkins and Emi.