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

[London Villan]

Luca Digne and Konsa both live in the Smoke - so it can be done.

[Dave]

The basic summary of the transfer window is that we have a possible once in a lifetime chance to do something spectacular, but the rules are preventing us from doing so, again. While Man City can spend £60 million on a bench warmer. Depressing.

A team we’ve just dumped out of the cup in style can outbid us for players because they throw on a few NFL games a year and we don’t. Of course, football is all about sporting merit.

They can* outbid us for players because they've spend most of the last 15 years being good and we've spent most of the last 15 years being shit.

Them being a lot better than us during that very important time in establishing your football brand (spit) has resulted in greater levels of prestige and money.

*not that they necessarily have in this instance.

I know how it works, I just think it’s bullshit.

But given what would benefit us right now is "how rich and generous the guy who owns your club happens to be is the only thing that matters'", we're not exactly demanding a levelling of the playing field, are we?

[Smithy]

The basic summary of the transfer window is that we have a possible once in a lifetime chance to do something spectacular, but the rules are preventing us from doing so, again. While Man City can spend £60 million on a bench warmer. Depressing.

A team we’ve just dumped out of the cup in style can outbid us for players because they throw on a few NFL games a year and we don’t. Of course, football is all about sporting merit.

They can* outbid us for players because they've spend most of the last 15 years being good and we've spent most of the last 15 years being shit.

Them being a lot better than us during that very important time in establishing your football brand (spit) has resulted in greater levels of prestige and money.

*not that they necessarily have in this instance.

That is the correct answer.  While we were getting relegated, they were enjoying the first of four consecutive seasons in the top 4, and the champions league money/profile that comes with it.  Plus they had a chairman who built a commercial monster along with it.

What they have, we CAN get, but we're not going to be able to short-cut our way to it in the way Man City and Chelsea did pre-FFP. 

We need consistent and regular top 6 league finishes, and the European football that comes with it.  That brings fans, sponsors and money.  If we have 3 or 4 back-to-back seasons in the Champions League, then I have no doubt we'll be competing financially on something very close to a level playing field with these teams. 

But unfortunately, the days of money buying your way into success are long gone.  If you aren't there already, it's not happening.  These days, we need that success first, to earn the money that will allow us to stay competitive long term.

Thankfully, Unai has shown so far he's more than capable of helping us get there.

[cdbearsfan]

The basic summary of the transfer window is that we have a possible once in a lifetime chance to do something spectacular, but the rules are preventing us from doing so, again. While Man City can spend £60 million on a bench warmer. Depressing.

A team we’ve just dumped out of the cup in style can outbid us for players because they throw on a few NFL games a year and we don’t. Of course, football is all about sporting merit.

They can* outbid us for players because they've spend most of the last 15 years being good and we've spent most of the last 15 years being shit.

Them being a lot better than us during that very important time in establishing your football brand (spit) has resulted in greater levels of prestige and money.

*not that they necessarily have in this instance.

Either way, it's bollocks. If a team happens to be better at one point in history it doesn't mean rules should be established to ensure they have an advantage for the rest of time. Having a tax-payer funded massive stadium and being able to charge London prices doesn't hurt, either.

[AV82EC]

Makes it all the more important to get HS2 done,  Bodymoor only 10 minutes from the new Interchage station, they can all then live in London for all I care.

[Stu]

The basic summary of the transfer window is that we have a possible once in a lifetime chance to do something spectacular, but the rules are preventing us from doing so, again. While Man City can spend £60 million on a bench warmer. Depressing.

A team we’ve just dumped out of the cup in style can outbid us for players because they throw on a few NFL games a year and we don’t. Of course, football is all about sporting merit.

They can* outbid us for players because they've spend most of the last 15 years being good and we've spent most of the last 15 years being shit.

Them being a lot better than us during that very important time in establishing your football brand (spit) has resulted in greater levels of prestige and money.

*not that they necessarily have in this instance.

I know how it works, I just think it’s bullshit.

But given what would benefit us right now is "how rich and generous the guy who owns your club happens to be is the only thing that matters'", we're not exactly asking demanding a levelling of the playing field, are we?

Football was never a level playing field but it also didn’t arbitrarily restrict ambitions, which is exactly what is happening now.

[VILLA MOLE]

Makes it all the more important to get HS2 done,  Bodymoor only 10 minutes from the new Interchage station, they can all then live in London for all I care.

dont forget for the chimney arena  too 

[Crown Hill]

Luca Digne and Konsa both live in the Smoke - so it can be done.

As far as I'm aware Konsa lives in Lichfield. He lived in Higham on the Hill near Nuneaton until recently then moved there.

[London Villan]

Just going by the info in Rise of the Villains.

[Dave]

Given Konsa's spent twenty years growing up in one, then nearly ten years working in the other and has earned several million pounds while there, I'd bet a lot that he owns very nice houses in both London and the Midlands.

[Chip Butty 111]

If i was a Villa player I'd live in the Cotswolds...perfect if you've got millions to chuck at property and offers a level of privacy. Appreciate it wouldn't appeal to the Grealish types and party boys..

[Dante Lavelli]

If i was a Villa player I'd live in the Cotswolds...perfect if you've got millions to chuck at property and offers a level of privacy. Appreciate it wouldn't appeal to the Grealish types and party boys..

Is there a Wilmslow equivalent in the midlands?

[Demitri_C]

The basic summary of the transfer window is that we have a possible once in a lifetime chance to do something spectacular, but the rules are preventing us from doing so, again. While Man City can spend £60 million on a bench warmer. Depressing.

A team we’ve just dumped out of the cup in style can outbid us for players because they throw on a few NFL games a year and we don’t. Of course, football is all about sporting merit.

They can* outbid us for players because they've spend most of the last 15 years being good and we've spent most of the last 15 years being shit.

Them being a lot better than us during that very important time in establishing your football brand (spit) has resulted in greater levels of prestige and money.

*not that they necessarily have in this instance.

Spot on Dave. That period under Mon had we kicked on from there and been a Cl side each season like other clubs had we would have the sponsorships, revenue etc. While we were on the decline other sides  like spurs and chelsea continued to grow while we went other way. Now those rules have come back to bite us for those years of decline

[algy]

If i was a Villa player I'd live in the Cotswolds...perfect if you've got millions to chuck at property and offers a level of privacy. Appreciate it wouldn't appeal to the Grealish types and party boys..

Evesham way on would be great, I reckon - it's lovely round there.  They're on sufficient money that if they were after a night out somewhere, they could just pay for a fancy hotel for a night or two.

[jwarry]

If i was a Villa player I'd live in the Cotswolds...perfect if you've got millions to chuck at property and offers a level of privacy. Appreciate it wouldn't appeal to the Grealish types and party boys..

Is there a Wilmslow equivalent in the midlands?

Knowle and Dorridge used to be the Wilmslow - Alderley Edge in the West Mids but don't know if they still are these days