Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[Rigadon]

The really critical positions for us to strengthen are attacking options.  I think Unai thinks he will get a tune out of Sancho.  Like somebody said above, losing Watkins would mean we’d have to play a different way, because Malen ain’t a CF, not in the PL / this Villa team anyway. 

Midfield is such a critical position for Villa so I actually do get the links to Gallagher.  We are hugely reliant on Kamara and to a lesser extent Onana and both have dodgy injury records. 

[brontebilly]

Wouldn’t be keen on Gallagher at all. Certainly not a position we need. Maybe we’ve got someone on the way out, given Unai’s comments in his press conference, and he’s an option for a replacement.

The most obvious replacement I can see is for Barkley really.

Thats what I thought.  Gallagher replaces Barkley (and Buendia) in the short term and McGinn in the long term. Bogarde steps up to replace the Barkley as a 6.

Don't think Emery has given Barkley a sniff at 6 this season. More at 10 again. Have a lot of options in some positions and then very little at RB, RM, CF

[eye digress]

And playing him at 10 seemed very deliberate, as though resolved to no longer play him at 8.

[Ian.]

I just remember for a while at Palace he was a great attacking threat from midfield, but watching that clip he certainly likes to press.

[ChicagoLion]

Yes I would be surprised if we get Gallagher unless we have some moving out to make room.
Maybe it’s Bogarde which would be a shame. As mentioned we have greater need in other areas of the pitch but Gallagher could be a very good player for us.

[steamer]

I think Bogarde is highly rated and has a long career at V P ahead of him

[RamboandBruno]

Yes I would be surprised if we get Gallagher unless we have some moving out to make room.
Maybe it’s Bogarde which would be a shame. As mentioned we have greater need in other areas of the pitch but Gallagher could be a very good player for us.

Can’t see Bogarde going anywhere to be honest

[Monty]

Bogarde can play three positions as well.

[PeterWithe]

I'd be amazed at Bogarde going, he's being patiently readied to take over from one of Onana or Kamara when someone needs selling.

[Matt C]

Perhaps that second half at Arsenal struck a chord. No Kamara, Onana gets injured and we’re a shadow of the team. That midfield is so critical to how we play and we’ve been here before in 23/24 when Kamara got injured and we limped over the line. Barkley would be a valuable option but he’s just too infrequently available.

We need more depth through the squad to compete at the top end we now operate at - we’re up against state-funded rule-avoiders who just spent 60m on a player mid-season they don’t need/to stop a rival getting him.

[VILLA MOLE]

And that just pisses me off ,  the media get all excited that City spunk another £60 million making it over £400 this year .  Nobody taking a step back asking how is this good for football ?

[OCD]

If we do sell someone, I saw Leeds being linked with Buendia again but at a more reasonable price (for us).

[brontebilly]

If we do sell someone, I saw Leeds being linked with Buendia again but at a more reasonable price (for us).

Madness to sell Buendia after what's he's delivered already this season for us.

[eye digress]

If we do sell someone, I saw Leeds being linked with Buendia again but at a more reasonable price (for us).

For me, that's the obvious out. Would be a genuinely good deal for both parties at around £25m.

[tomd2103]

And that just pisses me off ,  the media get all excited that City spunk another £60 million making it over £400 this year .  Nobody taking a step back asking how is this good for football ?

A decision on the 115 charges was supposed to happen in October 2025 wasn't it?  Can't remember seeing any mention of it at that time.  Have always suspected that they will just delay and delay in the hope that people forget about it and it just goes away.  Meanwhile, I see Cardiff in League One have had a transfer embargo slapped on them for "non-submission of annual accounts".