Winter 2025 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[john e]

If it’s a loan deal, it might be worth the risk

My only problem is you Unai couldn’t handle Durán and his off field issues, and got rid as soon as he could
He likes players who he can coach and who do as they’re told like Watkins, Rogers, Pao
I’m not sure Rashford fits into that bracket

But when on form he’s a very decent player

[Three Spires Villa]

There is not a chance we’d be paying £300k a week.

Whatever we pay is too much

[LeeB]

And look, if I was his agent and was genuinely looking out for his career and getting him back on track, I'd look at who would be the one coach above all others I'd choose to work with him and it would be Unai Emery, the striker whisperer himself.

[PaulWinch again]

There is not a chance we’d be paying £300k a week.

Half? How much is it worth paying to find out?

Well the potential upside is that at his best he improves the side significantly. Short-term I’d say worth a gamble. But I doubt it’ll happen anyway.

I really hope we have a centre-half sorted, that’s the most pressing concern.

[Pete3206]

I think my problem with Rashford aside from the fact he's lazy with an appalling attitude is that I've never rated him. Great in fits and starts but never been a consistent performer. England caps have stacked up because of the club he plays for.

Rubbish.

[Mellin]

I want a permanent centre half signing who can push the other centre halves, and allows us to play Konsa at right back, for certain games.

Then loan in another attacker, I’d be happy with Ascensio, Felix and even Rashford if we are only picking up a small portion of their wages.

We’ve sent Swinkels, Gauci, Barry and possibly Ned out on loan cos Unai doesn’t think they are good enough for us atm.

 I’d like us to bring back Illing-Jnr and Enzo, they are playing regular football in a good league, must be better than sticking a 3rd choice keeper on the bench, but then I’ve no idea if we do have a recall on their loans.

We certainly need a centre half but why would we ever want Konsa at right back. He’s an outstanding centre half and should be no where near right back.

Maybe Bosco noticed where Konsa played in all our outstanding defensive performances over the last season-and-a-half. Just a hunch.

I too want a centre-half to allow Konsa to move to right-back in certain games. As can be seen by simply watching our games and remembering what happened in them, Konsa/Pau is pretty porous central defensive partnership. Not as good as Konsa/Mings from 22/23, or Carlos/Pau from the last season and a half. If we want Pau in, he needs a better partner.

Couldn’t disagree more to be honest. I’ve watched him numerous times at right back and he simply isn’t one. He’s also said he doesn’t want to play in that position.

I agree with the problem, not the solution. Torres and Konsa together doesn't work defensively. One partnership should be Mings and Konsa, the other should be Torres and new centre half, who absolutely needs to be a defender first and foremost. Injuries and suspensions lead to this mixing around, but that's the base. If Torres and the new Martin Laursen are playing, then Konsa goes to the bench, not right back.

What I'd give for Laursen right now. Best centre half in the league at the time, with some very, very strong competition.

[RamboandBruno]

Without knowing him, he’s always struck me as a decent human being who has just lost his way in terms of his career and just looks unhappy. There’s obviously a decent player in there though.
I don’t really get the antagonism towards him by some posters and the need to slag him off on how he looks?
The issue for me is his agent has obviously been touting him around some of Europe’s big hitters, who seemingly don’t want to go there. Given this if he comes to us-is he going to see it as a backwards step in his career? Is he going to get motivated again by playing for Villa? Risky.

[Dave]

I think my problem with Rashford aside from the fact he's lazy with an appalling attitude is that I've never rated him. Great in fits and starts but never been a consistent performer. England caps have stacked up because of the club he plays for.

Rubbish.

He scored 34 goals in a season as recently as two years ago.

[ozzjim]

There's a top player in him. Unai has a huge amount of confidence in himself to rehabilitate a player.

Can we please, please buy a centre half though.

[PaulWinch again]

Without knowing him, he’s always struck me as a decent human being who has just lost his way in terms of his career and just looks unhappy. There’s obviously a decent player in there though.
I don’t really get the antagonism towards him by some posters and the need to slag him off on how he looks?
The issue for me is his agent has obviously been touting him around some of Europe’s big hitters, who seemingly don’t want to go there. Given this if he comes to us-is he going to see it as a backwards step in his career? Is he going to get motivated again by playing for Villa? Risky.

On his character - exactly, it doesn’t add up. On the comments about his appearance - we’re all adults, grow up. On the risk point, yeah it’s a gamble but for a short-term loan I’d be ok with it.

[dave.woodhall]

If there's one manager who can get his old form back, it's Unai.

[olaftab]

Sort of things we said about Coutinho and Gerrard.

[Monty]

And Unai is not infallible on signings. Yes, he pushed for Rogers, but he also handpicked a return for Philogene.

[Lsvilla]

I think most of us would trust Unai with just about any footballing decision and he's earned that right by what he's achieved with us so far. I can't help but feel that this is very much at the outer edge of that trust though if it happens.

[Drummond]

Sort of things we said about Coutinho and Gerrard.

No I don't think we did. We hoped it would work, because they knew each other and that's about it.