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

[Somniloquism]

Rogers has levelled Diaby's goals and half his assists just over half a season. So we replaced one but yes, still down on Doug's with Bailey and McGinn's levels both dropped as well.

[Drummond]

Adding the pace and guile that we have up front takes pressure off at the back. Teams will fear us getting out quickly and won't press us as high up the pitch. Torres and Tielemans specifically will have an out ball again.....

[Footy-Vill]

Rogers has levelled Diaby's goals and half his assists just over half a season. So we replaced one but yes, still down on Doug's with Bailey and McGinn's levels both dropped as well.

Onana hasn't shown the necessary has he? Scored a couple of goals but generally has not shown anything spectacular and dominant of midfield.
Not just the transfer fee but the ability and positional play.
He doesn't out of possession well .

I would forecast if he doesn't start actually showing up he not going to be given many starts.
I'm very disappointed by him at the moment I need some convincing

[Dick Edwards]

Strange that Douglas Luiz didn’t get a loan somewhere

[Footy-Vill]

I don't know what Motta problem is with Luiz.
I'm glad he didn't come back to the premier representing for another team like Man city , Chelsea or Arsenal that would have annoyed me.

[Percy McCarthy]

Jacob seems remarkably well informed he’s my favourite Villa writer.

Mine too. He played to academy level (Bournemouth I think?) and also speaks really well on pods.

[Toronto Villa]

Jacob seems remarkably well informed he’s my favourite Villa writer.

Mine too. He played to academy level (Bournemouth I think?) and also speaks really well on pods.

John Townley of the Mail seems a good bloke too, but is hard to listen to on podcasts. Struggles tpo string sentences together at times. But Tanswell is very good and comes across well.

[Footy-Vill]

Covered pretty much everywhere..... but quality is probably lacking down our entire right side.

1) We desperately need a top drawer RB - A right sided version of Luca Digne or Maatsen is critical. Someone who can defend and doesn't give away silly fouls or penalties all the time, and doesn't get a nose bleed when they enter the attacking third.
2) Bailey was brilliant last season, but for whatever reason, be it form or injury issues, he's faltering a little so far. If there are funds available after snapping up a RB, competition for that right winger spot should be next on the list.

...and that's it. We don't need anyone else.

Good insight -great posting!
Your desires were met! And then some!

[Footy-Vill]

If we have any money to sign a player in January, then it must be a right back.

Gracias Garcia as he can be known !

[Footy-Vill]

Why would we swap Duran for anybody?

Because of the financials and fitting Emery system.

[Footy-Vill]

I’m increasingly a fan of Konsa at RB but I do think we should aim to upgrade.  Percy’s stats are illuminating but I suspect the results are partly due to a more defensive formation and also because Konsa replaces Cash rather than the excellence of Carlos.

Buying Konsa II should be a priority.

I think Pau needs a powerful dominant partner alongside him. A right-footed Mings, or indeed Mings himself if he could play there. Konsa and Pau are porous. And you’re right, Carlos and Pau undoubtedly benefit from Konsa at right-back instead of Cash.

Fair play this looks like the call for Disasi without actually naming him!

Must there be some good insight at times on posts here and what was needed and expected to be signed this window

[Footy-Vill]

We are desperate for a right winger. We haven't replaced Diaby and have nobody that can compete with Bailey, who is having a poor season thus far.

A right back would also be nice, but given the rules in place to protect the Sky 6, I'm not sure we are in a position to sign one top player, never mind two.

Very accurate !
Got a few in now so I think We’re gonna be ok!

[Beard82]

I don't know what Motta problem is with Luiz.
I'm glad he didn't come back to the premier representing for another team like Man city , Chelsea or Arsenal that would have annoyed me.

I love when your angry!

[LeonW]

One of the busiest winter transfer windows I think ever for Villa since they came into affect.

Major outgoing in Duran, plenty of loans out and some big 'names' in.

Philogean was good business in that we got him back relatively cheaply with the sell on clause and sold him for a profit probably not justified by his performances, Emery having assessed that he was not currently up to it after 6 months. Malen has shown some very good moments at Dortmund, but this season he's dropped off leading to his arrival. But he's an established Dutch international and definitely an upgrade on Philogean with the potential to really see a good return on our investment. So credit all round on this one.

We've got pretty good at loans out for our youngsters and I suspect this is the case again for the majority. Ned is a strange one; out to Leipzig with an option to buy for what we bought him for, plus a bit more. Perhaps having looked at him for a year, Emery felt he wasn't up to it, either immediately and/or in the future. He's been replaced similarly by the new lad Garcia for in and around the same amount from the Spanish second division. Neither he nor Ned would be immediately better than Cash. So right back is a long standing area of improvement we've not addressed in two transfer windows now. Konsa at right back is not the solution, so not good here.

Carlos, I think has never been good enough and was on a huge wage. Getting him out for close to 9m was reasonable to cover the amortized value of his remaining contract. Doing so without an immediate replacement, not good, despite his desire to leave. Diassi very much TBC, despite EPL experience. Will likely see Konsa at right back in some of the bigger games. Probably a like for like here, with the potential for Diassi to exceed expectations during his loan.

Bunedia / Asensio. Clearly in terms of ability, it's not a debate in that Asensio is a much higher calibre of player than Bunedia. However, he is another who has dropped off; at PSG in the French farmers league and so again, very much TBC. Meanwhile, Buendia (with EPL experience) we were starting to get up to speed and then only loaned him with no obligation to buy to Leverkusen. If he ends up doing an El Ghazi and doesn't play, his value for a future sale diminishes further rather than not being so involved at Villa. As Emery has really wanted Asensio for a while and he can play in both Buendia and Bailey's position, probably more on the good side but still very much a qualified one.

Duran / Rashford. Probably the biggest debate; both players with immense talent, both having had their moments of not dedicating themselves totally to the club paying their wages. Both with questionable tracking back qualities. The club must have made the ultimate decision that pulling the trigger now whilst Duran was relatively hot and having little loyalty to the club was the better option when money was on the table and he wouldn't immediately return to haunt us. Replacing him with a loan option of the calibre and proven previous track record of Rashford 'looks' to be an improvement and speaks to our standing now to have been able to do so. But, Duran was a hothead who delivered the unexpected and had a great goals to game ration. Plus, was still a player on the up. Rashford has to be considered a 'name' in that he's had his baggage and hasn't performed for the last 2 years. More to the point, he looks to have downed tools at points. It's a great opportunity for him to prove the doubters wrong with less background noise, with the added carrots of playing champions league football and getting back into the England squad. Everyone's credibility on this decision is on the table here; Rashford's to achieve in a stable environment under an elite manager,  for denigrating him and getting rid without an alternative and Emery for going with Rashford as a viable Duran alternative whilst we're in the knock out stages of the champions league for the first time in 40 odd years, still in contention for qualifying again this season. Replacing a player who is our top scorer in the champions league and was amongst the goals in the EPL is Rashford's (and Villa's) challenge. If Rashford fails to match Duran's output (because that's what he's here for), it's an expensive flop but only a short term one in that it's a loan. If we spend the money well that we got from the Duran sale in the summer, it gives us a bigger array of options and we can at least avert a potential big name sale in the summer. But it may be at the cost of having no European football to offer, so this is very much rolling the dice.

In conclusion; I think this winter transfer window could end up being a pivotal moment in the Emery period. Hopefully we're more right than wrong here.

[Sexual Ealing]

You can say that again.