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

[Tuscans]

I'll be annoyed if we let Bailey go.

Huh?

Let me rephrase that. Can I… No, actually I'll just repeat the post. I'll be annoyed if we let Bailey go.

Okay, I'll ask why will you be annoyed?

I think he's a really good player having a tough time. Last season he looked unplayable at times. Too soon to bin him off in my opinion.

Fair enough, I'm at the other end of the spectrum and think he's passenger offering nothing and would like him to move on.

[Tuscans]

Seems reasonable from Tom Collomosse

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14351713/Marcus-Rashford-signing-Aston-Villa-TOM-COLLOMOSSE.html

‘Kin hell, I couldn’t even find the article.  what a shite website.

Put 12ft.io/ in front of http and you can read most paywall sites.

[jwarry]

Seems reasonable from Tom Collomosse

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14351713/Marcus-Rashford-signing-Aston-Villa-TOM-COLLOMOSSE.html

‘Kin hell, I couldn’t even find the article.  what a shite website.

Here

If you follow the line pushed by Aston Villa’s recruitment team, the club’s transfer policy is a thorough process that leaves little to chance.

An evolving list of about 500 players, which is reduced carefully to shortlists of eight or 10 for every position. That narrative bears little relation to Villa’s activity in January.

As Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio prepare to join on loan on Sunday for combined salaries at the thick end of £500,000 a week, it feels a little like Villa are making it up as they go along.

Transfer chief Monchi has a grand reputation and a title – president of football operations – to match. He is one of the highest-paid in his field in the Premier League but Unai Emery runs the show at Villa Park and there is scepticism within the game about how much influence Monchi actually wields.

Has he presented the profiles of Rashford and Asensio to Emery after weeks of exhaustive research? Or does Emery say simply ‘Get me these guys’ and off Monchi goes to do his bidding? Work that one out for yourselves.

There is a chance Rashford and Asensio score and create the goals that help Villa qualify for the Champions League. They are experienced internationals and, at their best, very effective players.

The list of forwards Emery has worked with successfully is impressive: Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Cavani, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gerard Moreno, Ollie Watkins. You question Emery’s coaching skill at your peril.

Unfortunately, it is two years since Rashford played well consistently and the 27-year-old arrives with more baggage than your average flight from London to Sydney. Villa need Rashford to hit the ground running but he has not played since December 12.

Asensio, despite enormous potential as a teenager, has never been a key man for a major club. That is why he started barely 100 league games in seven seasons for Real Madrid and has made little impact at Paris Saint-Germain. For context, Jude Bellingham has already started 45 times and is only halfway through his second season.

Where do they all fit in? When he has competition for his spot, Watkins goes into his shell – as he did when Jhon Duran, now sold to Al-Nassr, was snapping at his heels. Watkins, Rashford, Asensio, Morgan Rogers, Donyell Malen. At least two of them will not play regularly.

A well-organised recruitment division would not need Asensio on a short-term loan because they would have secured a younger, better version long ago.

If Villa approach the market so carefully, why did they not try to secure a player like Desire Doue when he was breaking through at Rennes? The 19-year-old is now at PSG and is one of the reasons Asensio, who turns 30 next January, is available.

After Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Wolves, Emery admitted that in an age of tighter spending regulations, it was difficult for Villa to keep up with revenue-generating monsters like Liverpool, Arsenal and the Manchester clubs.

To have any chance of achieving that regularly, Emery needs a solid recruitment strategy to match his coaching brilliance. Yet Villa move at random, jumping this way and that and swooping on opportunities as they arise.

That leads to unforced errors, like allowing defender Diego Carlos and attacking midfielder Emi Buendia to leave before their replacements were through the door.

With only one fit centre-back and an attack deprived of creativity, Carlos and Buendia would have been handy at Molineux. Wolves have been one of the poorest teams in the league this season yet there are reasons to be cheerful for Vitor Pereira now.

The noise around Matheus Cunha has died down as the Brazilian has signed a new deal with a £62.5million release clause, keeping him at Wolves at least until the summer.

Pereira’s squad is the best in the bottom four and now have a chance to make it safely to May and rebuild. For both these clubs, though, the stakes are extremely high.

[JUAN PABLO]

If we get 40 - 50m for Bailey we've done well

never are we getting that ..   more of a loan wouldnt it?

[jwarry]

If we get 40 - 50m for Bailey we've done well

never are we getting that ..   more of a loan wouldnt it?

Especially as they have must spent 30+m

[Villatillidie25]

Seems reasonable from Tom Collomosse

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14351713/Marcus-Rashford-signing-Aston-Villa-TOM-COLLOMOSSE.html

‘Kin hell, I couldn’t even find the article.  what a shite website.

Here

If you follow the line pushed by Aston Villa’s recruitment team, the club’s transfer policy is a thorough process that leaves little to chance.

An evolving list of about 500 players, which is reduced carefully to shortlists of eight or 10 for every position. That narrative bears little relation to Villa’s activity in January.

As Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio prepare to join on loan on Sunday for combined salaries at the thick end of £500,000 a week, it feels a little like Villa are making it up as they go along.

Transfer chief Monchi has a grand reputation and a title – president of football operations – to match. He is one of the highest-paid in his field in the Premier League but Unai Emery runs the show at Villa Park and there is scepticism within the game about how much influence Monchi actually wields.

Has he presented the profiles of Rashford and Asensio to Emery after weeks of exhaustive research? Or does Emery say simply ‘Get me these guys’ and off Monchi goes to do his bidding? Work that one out for yourselves.

There is a chance Rashford and Asensio score and create the goals that help Villa qualify for the Champions League. They are experienced internationals and, at their best, very effective players.

The list of forwards Emery has worked with successfully is impressive: Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Cavani, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gerard Moreno, Ollie Watkins. You question Emery’s coaching skill at your peril.

Unfortunately, it is two years since Rashford played well consistently and the 27-year-old arrives with more baggage than your average flight from London to Sydney. Villa need Rashford to hit the ground running but he has not played since December 12.

Asensio, despite enormous potential as a teenager, has never been a key man for a major club. That is why he started barely 100 league games in seven seasons for Real Madrid and has made little impact at Paris Saint-Germain. For context, Jude Bellingham has already started 45 times and is only halfway through his second season.

Where do they all fit in? When he has competition for his spot, Watkins goes into his shell – as he did when Jhon Duran, now sold to Al-Nassr, was snapping at his heels. Watkins, Rashford, Asensio, Morgan Rogers, Donyell Malen. At least two of them will not play regularly.

A well-organised recruitment division would not need Asensio on a short-term loan because they would have secured a younger, better version long ago.

If Villa approach the market so carefully, why did they not try to secure a player like Desire Doue when he was breaking through at Rennes? The 19-year-old is now at PSG and is one of the reasons Asensio, who turns 30 next January, is available.

After Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Wolves, Emery admitted that in an age of tighter spending regulations, it was difficult for Villa to keep up with revenue-generating monsters like Liverpool, Arsenal and the Manchester clubs.

To have any chance of achieving that regularly, Emery needs a solid recruitment strategy to match his coaching brilliance. Yet Villa move at random, jumping this way and that and swooping on opportunities as they arise.

That leads to unforced errors, like allowing defender Diego Carlos and attacking midfielder Emi Buendia to leave before their replacements were through the door.

With only one fit centre-back and an attack deprived of creativity, Carlos and Buendia would have been handy at Molineux. Wolves have been one of the poorest teams in the league this season yet there are reasons to be cheerful for Vitor Pereira now.

The noise around Matheus Cunha has died down as the Brazilian has signed a new deal with a £62.5million release clause, keeping him at Wolves at least until the summer.

Pereira’s squad is the best in the bottom four and now have a chance to make it safely to May and rebuild. For both these clubs, though, the stakes are extremely high.

What a dreadful article. While I agree Rashford is a move that’s likely come about late in the window after Duran was sold (I don’t think at the beginning of the month we expected to sell him), we’ve been linked regularly with Asensio and similar players (eg Felix) so clearly it’s not on a whim but we now have the financial muscle to action it.
The article also seems to negate everything good that we have done and even suggests we should be signing up and coming players before they hit peak - sound like Duran or Rogers by any chance?
Whether you agree or disagree with the Rashford and Asensio moves, this article just paints a bitter picture and I’d go as far to say one with an agenda.

[Gareth]

Was about to say that was an awful article with an agenda…tho it is from that rag so to be expected

[Tuscans]

🚨🧨 RB Leipzig have an option to buy Kosta Nedeljkovic at the end of his loan — €10.5m + €4.5m in add-ons.
@philipphinze24

[villadelph]

That article was crap. What aboutisms and lack of situational awareness.

[Tuscans]

🚨🧨 Samuel Iling-Junior is having a medical at Middlesbrough.

[Demitri_C]

🚨🧨 RB Leipzig have an option to buy Kosta Nedeljkovic at the end of his loan — €10.5m + €4.5m in add-ons.
@philipphinze24

With option to buy?? What a pointless signing  if we selling at that price should Leizpig  take the option up.  Unai dont rate him

[jwarry]

🚨🧨 RB Leipzig have an option to buy Kosta Nedeljkovic at the end of his loan — €10.5m + €4.5m in add-ons.
@philipphinze24

With option to buy?? What a pointless signing  if we selling at that price should Leizpig  take the option up.  Unai dont rate him

Yes Unai not keen so move on

[Beard82]

Seems reasonable from Tom Collomosse

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14351713/Marcus-Rashford-signing-Aston-Villa-TOM-COLLOMOSSE.html

‘Kin hell, I couldn’t even find the article.  what a shite website.

Here

If you follow the line pushed by Aston Villa’s recruitment team, the club’s transfer policy is a thorough process that leaves little to chance.

An evolving list of about 500 players, which is reduced carefully to shortlists of eight or 10 for every position. That narrative bears little relation to Villa’s activity in January.

As Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio prepare to join on loan on Sunday for combined salaries at the thick end of £500,000 a week, it feels a little like Villa are making it up as they go along.

Transfer chief Monchi has a grand reputation and a title – president of football operations – to match. He is one of the highest-paid in his field in the Premier League but Unai Emery runs the show at Villa Park and there is scepticism within the game about how much influence Monchi actually wields.

Has he presented the profiles of Rashford and Asensio to Emery after weeks of exhaustive research? Or does Emery say simply ‘Get me these guys’ and off Monchi goes to do his bidding? Work that one out for yourselves.

There is a chance Rashford and Asensio score and create the goals that help Villa qualify for the Champions League. They are experienced internationals and, at their best, very effective players.

The list of forwards Emery has worked with successfully is impressive: Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Cavani, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gerard Moreno, Ollie Watkins. You question Emery’s coaching skill at your peril.

Unfortunately, it is two years since Rashford played well consistently and the 27-year-old arrives with more baggage than your average flight from London to Sydney. Villa need Rashford to hit the ground running but he has not played since December 12.

Asensio, despite enormous potential as a teenager, has never been a key man for a major club. That is why he started barely 100 league games in seven seasons for Real Madrid and has made little impact at Paris Saint-Germain. For context, Jude Bellingham has already started 45 times and is only halfway through his second season.

Where do they all fit in? When he has competition for his spot, Watkins goes into his shell – as he did when Jhon Duran, now sold to Al-Nassr, was snapping at his heels. Watkins, Rashford, Asensio, Morgan Rogers, Donyell Malen. At least two of them will not play regularly.

A well-organised recruitment division would not need Asensio on a short-term loan because they would have secured a younger, better version long ago.

If Villa approach the market so carefully, why did they not try to secure a player like Desire Doue when he was breaking through at Rennes? The 19-year-old is now at PSG and is one of the reasons Asensio, who turns 30 next January, is available.

After Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Wolves, Emery admitted that in an age of tighter spending regulations, it was difficult for Villa to keep up with revenue-generating monsters like Liverpool, Arsenal and the Manchester clubs.

To have any chance of achieving that regularly, Emery needs a solid recruitment strategy to match his coaching brilliance. Yet Villa move at random, jumping this way and that and swooping on opportunities as they arise.

That leads to unforced errors, like allowing defender Diego Carlos and attacking midfielder Emi Buendia to leave before their replacements were through the door.

With only one fit centre-back and an attack deprived of creativity, Carlos and Buendia would have been handy at Molineux. Wolves have been one of the poorest teams in the league this season yet there are reasons to be cheerful for Vitor Pereira now.

The noise around Matheus Cunha has died down as the Brazilian has signed a new deal with a £62.5million release clause, keeping him at Wolves at least until the summer.

Pereira’s squad is the best in the bottom four and now have a chance to make it safely to May and rebuild. For both these clubs, though, the stakes are extremely high.

What a dreadful article. While I agree Rashford is a move that’s likely come about late in the window after Duran was sold (I don’t think at the beginning of the month we expected to sell him), we’ve been linked regularly with Asensio and similar players (eg Felix) so clearly it’s not on a whim but we now have the financial muscle to action it.
The article also seems to negate everything good that we have done and even suggests we should be signing up and coming players before they hit peak - sound like Duran or Rogers by any chance?
Whether you agree or disagree with the Rashford and Asensio moves, this article just paints a bitter picture and I’d go as far to say one with an agenda.

I agree - its fitting a narrative to situation that doesnt exist.  Desire Doue - they mention cost 50m - money we dont have.  Basically - file under the same as the rest of the paper.  Completely ignoring reality, and if it doubt just try and make people indigient.  Its a hateful paper read by hateful people. 

[Gareth]

🚨🧨 RB Leipzig have an option to buy Kosta Nedeljkovic at the end of his loan — €10.5m + €4.5m in add-ons.
@philipphinze24

With option to buy?? What a pointless signing  if we selling at that price should Leizpig  take the option up.  Unai dont rate him

The price we paid it was a punt…you’d probs say the same with Rogers that’s worked ok :-)

Get your money back and move on

[Dick Edwards]

🚨🧨 RB Leipzig have an option to buy Kosta Nedeljkovic at the end of his loan — €10.5m + €4.5m in add-ons.
@philipphinze24

With option to buy?? What a pointless signing  if we selling at that price should Leizpig  take the option up.  Unai dont rate him

The price we paid it was a punt…you’d probs say the same with Rogers that’s worked ok :-)

Get your money back and move on

And some. Didn’t he cost us £8m? If we end up collecting the add-ons that’s a near 100% profit in a year