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

[chrisw1]

You're right, we do have a strong team. But it does need reinforcing and minor refreshing. If we could do that AND buy players for the future, I think we would.

But we only have enough for one or the other.

But it doesn't need to be one or the other - if Bowen would cost £50m and £8m a season in wages, use that same money on a 24 year old version.

How many affordable 24 y/o would be pretty much bankers to hit the ground running and chuck in 15-20 goals/assists per season?  That's what Bowen offers and why the club will be looking closely at him.

[Drummond]

Bowens stats have dropped over the past couple of years. I don't think he's worth more than £25m and he'll go for more than that.

[Dave]

You're right, we do have a strong team. But it does need reinforcing and minor refreshing. If we could do that AND buy players for the future, I think we would.

But we only have enough for one or the other.

But it doesn't need to be one or the other - if Bowen would cost £50m and £8m a season in wages, use that same money on a 24 year old version.

How many affordable 24 y/o would be pretty much bankers to hit the ground running and chuck in 15-20 goals/assists per season?  That's what Bowen offers and why the club will be looking closely at him.

And if that's the route they take, fine. Feels very Merson if we do. Sure we'd get a couple of solid seasons and good memories out him, but fun though Merson was at the time we'd still have been better putting that £7m we spent into I dunno, Ljungberg* and Solano in their early 20s instead.

I'd just prefer to sign the guy who might get 7-10 goals next season and is getting 25 goals two seasons after that. Rather than be moaning about the big contract that we gave to the slowing-down 32 year old.

(*I know, we tried)

[kippaxvilla2]

I know we don't normally comment on such things but something like 'Villa have confirmed Rogers will not be sold this summer' might help.  I mean we do hold all the cards after all.

Wouldn't we look a bit daft if we did then sell him?

No because such a statement would not be issued if we were in fact open to selling him.

[Garyth]

How many affordable 24 y/o would be pretty much bankers to hit the ground running and chuck in 15-20 goals/assists per season?  That's what Bowen offers and why the club will be looking closely at him.

Fees and Goal involvements for players in 2025/26 who transferred :

Semenyo 21  (fee: ~£62.5 million)  (9 at City after moving)
João Pedro 20 (~£55M)
Cherki 16 (~£34M - Lyon were in financial trouble)
Gyökeres 15 (~£66M)
Ekitike 15 (~£80M)
Mbuemo 14 (~£70M )
Kroupi 13 (~£12M)

Players who didn't make this list: Isak, Woltemade, Eze, Cunha, Kudus

Both Watkins (19) and Rogers (16)  in the top 10 of the overall list puts our season in context. (Bowen was 5th)

The Kroupi fee stands out as a smart bit of business.

[Sexual Ealing]

Yes, we aren't the Stoke City of the Tony Pulis era.

[Dave]

I know we don't normally comment on such things but something like 'Villa have confirmed Rogers will not be sold this summer' might help.  I mean we do hold all the cards after all.

Wouldn't we look a bit daft if we did then sell him?

No because such a statement would not be issued if we were in fact open to selling him.

But we very clearly are open to selling him. As long we receive an enormous amount of money.

[aev]

I know we don't normally comment on such things but something like 'Villa have confirmed Rogers will not be sold this summer' might help.  I mean we do hold all the cards after all.

Wouldn't we look a bit daft if we did then sell him?

No because such a statement would not be issued if we were in fact open to selling him.

But we very clearly are open to selling him. As long we receive an enormous amount of money.

And we could spend some of that on Emerson Royal.

[ChicagoLion]

Yes every player has a value that we would accept.
Where this may not apply is an offer that is too close to the end of the window.