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

[Mellin]

Kroupi in the summer please.

Rayan looked like he had talent as well. Why are Bournemouth hoovering up players like that whilst we're signing Guessand? Recruitment is the missing piece of the puzzle at the minute.

[eamonn]

It might be that they can promise a quicker "pathway" to the first team than us and their agents feel that will in turn get the player a bigger move within a year or two if they do well.

[eye digress]

I can see us playing Bogarde and Onana with Luiz slightly ahead.

My thinking too. I think we've looked most potent when we've had Kamara and Onana in tandem, with Tielemans just ahead orchestrating the movement of front 4. So the formation you suggest would be the best simulation of that.

Big bazooka stuff though, could play a whole match like that? Or is it just an option on 60 mins?

[Mister E]

It’s our job as a club to ensure our best players feel we are the best place for their careers. If we carry on as we have been under Emery then we will keep more of our top players and attract excellent ones. For years before Emery arrived, certainly most of the ones many of us remember we have failed in that regard. It’s why we have lost the likes of Yorke, Barry, Milner, Delph, Jack etc. We have to change that by winning trophies. And while Emery is a massive piece of that, the financial rules will also inhibit our progress versus whose clubs already higher up the football food chain. We can’t pay the transfer fees and more importantly the wages. Or when we do we have to be absolutely certain the players will be a success. There has to be minimal margin of error.

You're right that it's about winning trophies but it's also about growing the commercial revenue quickly so that we can afford the salaries we'll need to be paying. Each factor - winning on the pitch and building revenue - drives the other, and there's some pressure to achieve in both areas in the next 12-15 months otherwise our current momentum may fizzle out.

[Mister E]

It might be that they can promise a quicker "pathway" to the first team than us and their agents feel that will in turn get the player a bigger move within a year or two if they do well.

Hopefully, us starting to give games to Hemmings, Jimoh and KY may demonstrate that there is a good pathway at villa.

[nigel]

 Don’t know if this has been posted before.

Read an article yesterday evening linking us with Brahim Diaz, from Real Madrid.
The numbers mentioned were £39m with a shed load of add ons.

[eye digress]

At last, someone who can take a penalty...