Summer 26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[olaftab]

It's no coincidence that professional non-drinker James Milner played in the Premier League at 40 years old.

Why are you ignoring the shocking accusations, muted by a court order taken out by James, when papers almost revealed that he had severe dependancy issues and had moved on from Tetley bags to much stronger Yorkshire weed?

[paul_e]

He needs to add a few more goals to his game (because he has the capability to be hitting double figures every season) and needs to get through the injury problems.

Considering how good we are at set-pieces, how massive he is and how it took about 180 seconds of his Villa career to score from a corner, it seems ludicrous that he's not getting ten goals a season for us from that route.

Yep, that one and then the 'fox in the box' goal against Leicester a couple of games later had me convinced he could become a big goalscorer for us. I really hope we can find a way to unlock that in him because it's all there.

Onana is arguably a decent decoy for most moves.  Defenses doubling up on him so space is created elsewhere. 

IMO The objective of our set piece moves isn't gaining an advantage in 50/50 duels inside the six yard box (a la Arsenal) its finding space and time for shots from the edge of the area (scrabbling the xG calculator in the process).

A very fair point.

Although I'd counter that by the fact that we have scored several over the last couple of seasons by launching it into the six yard box (a couple for Barkley, a couple for Watkins, one for Tammy, Onana got one against Brighton), so it's not as if we're not doing it at all.

Also for the "create gaps around the box" plan to work there needs to be a threat that we can score the meat and potatoes corners. Which means they still have to be a big chunk of what we do and we might as well try to score from those as well.

[Dogtanian]

It's no coincidence that professional non-drinker James Milner played in the Premier League at 40 years old.

Why are you ignoring the shocking accusations, muted by a court order taken out by James, when papers almost revealed that he had severe dependancy issues and had moved on from Tetley bags to much stronger Yorkshire weed?

Cos he can afford better solicitors than me! 

[PaulWinch again]

Are we really in the market for a player like Rashford, more his wages really?

Had we qualified for the Champions League, we were a year ago. So now that we have qualified for the Champions League, why wouldn't we be now?

I strongly suspect there are two stumbling blocks:

- Whether Rashford thinks he has a more attractive option, Barcelona being the obvious one
- Whether Man Utd now want to sell to a rival

I suspect the first one is the main challenge and we need to see what plays out, but I’ve no doubt if he wants to join then it is definitely something we would want to make happen.

[chrisw1]

I'd love us to sign Rashford, but only if Unai thinks it can work with him principally playing on the left and occasional cover for Watkins.  On that basis, if we can cover the wages he feels like an almost perfect signing to me.

But he obviously wants to stay at Barcelona so it feels like the type of deal that could only be done right at the death.  I'd prefer us to have a more organised window this time, not be scratching around on the final day.

[robleflaneur]

More rumblings that we are trying to lure Mingueaza on a free;

https://sportwitness.co.uk/aston-villa-move-decisively-for-free-transfer-villans-competition-tough-match-to-win/

Apparently, Juventus didn't want to pay 2m EUR for him in January, and now we are favourites.

It does make sense - we like a free, he can play CB and RB, and it appeals to Emery's famous sense of whimsy to play a centre-back pairing of Mings & Mingueza.

Rumours of a deal with front of shirt sponsor M&Ms are just speculation.

And also can play LB..