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

[PeterWithe]

I think we can calm down about the lad Rowe now

I don’t know about that, I was impressed. He didnt get at Cash as much and we’d planned to starve him of the ball but I thought what he did, he did well. Good first touch, shielded the ball very well to drag players toward him before playing simple but intelligent passes, a few great whipped crosses and that little lofted ball through that set up what seemed their only decent attack.

No doubt last weeks was the game of his life,  but if he hadn’t done that then, I’d have looked at last night and thought him a player to keep an eye on.

[Baldy]

True, but for me personally that still doesn’t say one good game against us is the answer. I’m not saying that is what you’re saying by the way.

I agree, I'm not sold on him, as we're seeing, the PL looks so much stronger than other top flights across Europe.

Agreed, I've convinced myself that the current top 18 (eighteen) clubs in the EPL would have a genuine chance of winning the Europa League if they entered. Basing this on Man Utd and Spuds last year and Forest this year. Money talks and we are a lot stronger in depth than any other league in europe.

[AV82EC]

True, but for me personally that still doesn’t say one good game against us is the answer. I’m not saying that is what you’re saying by the way.

I agree, I'm not sold on him, as we're seeing, the PL looks so much stronger than other top flights across Europe.

Agreed, I'v convinced myself that the current top 18 (eighteen) clubs in the EPL would have a genuine chance of winning the Europa League if they entered. Base this on Man Utd and Spuds last year and Forest this year. Money talks and we are a lot stronger in depth than any other league in europe.

That’s because the Premier League is the Super League.

[Londonvilla]

Aston Villa tussle to sign in ‘high demand’ Bayern Munich player

Aston Villa are in the battle to sign Bayern Munich’s Noel Aseko in the summer.

The defensive midfielder has already attracted attention of clubs in Germany and across Europe, including Aston Villa.

In February 2025, Bayern Munich allowed him to join Hannover 96 on loan and later that year, extended his stay until the end of this season.

In the event of a sale, the Bavarian club would be looking for a fee of around €10-12m, which should be affordable for Aston Villa.

https://sportwitness.co.uk/aston-villa-in-tussle-to-sign-player-in-high-demand-summer-move-could-be-on-cards/

Add this new name to the list

[cdbearsfan]

Going to have lots of fun replying "bless you" whenever anyone just posts his surname.

[paul_e]

He looks good, he'd be yet another attempt to find someone to backup and later replace Mcginn from those highlights, seems suited to a slightly more free role than we play in our main central mid.

[eamonn]

Have we had a Noel/Christmas Villa player before ?

[OCD]

He's described as a defensive midfielder but he looks like more of a creative player in those clips.

[LeeB]

Have we had a Noel/Christmas Villa player before ?

Noel Blake, unfortunately.

[KevinGage]

Barcelona not taking up the option on Rashford at the end of the season, apparently. Even with a reduced fee.

Not the right fit tactically.

You’d imaging Unai will be all over that if any sort of deal is possible.

[Stu]

Don’t think we’re allowed to spend the money for his wages.

[Stu82]

Don’t think we’re allowed to spend the money for his wages.

That’s our issue, more than transfer fee with scr.
Need to get some big earners out before we can plan that, Sancho going would help.

[paul_e]

Don’t think we’re allowed to spend the money for his wages.

That’s our issue, more than transfer fee with scr.
Need to get some big earners out before we can plan that, Sancho going would help.

This isn't really true, the SCR calculation still includes amortised fees so we still need to consider transfer costs. The simplest way to do that now that incoming fees are also spread over 3 years is to keep net spend down to a minimum. This is why moving on Malen, Guessand, Barrenechea, Iling-Junior, Nedeljkovic and Dobbin (all players we own but are out on loan and should generate decent fees between them) is important because we remove the amortisation of their incoming fees and remove their wages without any impact on the squad.

Add in the savings on Elliott, Sancho and Luiz and we're left with, realistically, 2 useful players gone from the squad, more than half a million a week in wages freed up and a big chunk of amortised fees gone without really weakening us beyond losing a bit of cover.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Don’t think we’re allowed to spend the money for his wages.

That’s our issue, more than transfer fee with scr.
Need to get some big earners out before we can plan that, Sancho going would help.

We need to stop overpaying on agents fees too.

[Stu82]

Don’t think we’re allowed to spend the money for his wages.

That’s our issue, more than transfer fee with scr.
Need to get some big earners out before we can plan that, Sancho going would help.

This isn't really true, the SCR calculation still includes amortised fees so we still need to consider transfer costs. The simplest way to do that now that incoming fees are also spread over 3 years is to keep net spend down to a minimum. This is why moving on Malen, Guessand, Barrenechea, Iling-Junior, Nedeljkovic and Dobbin (all players we own but are out on loan and should generate decent fees between them) is important because we remove the amortisation of their incoming fees and remove their wages without any impact on the squad.

Add in the savings on Elliott, Sancho and Luiz and we're left with, realistically, 2 useful players gone from the squad, more than half a million a week in wages freed up and a big chunk of amortised fees gone without really weakening us beyond losing a bit of cover.

Fair dos’s, the sale of above will help a lot also. Point I badly made was that scr puts more emphasis on the wages as % of turnover which we have been getting in loans and free signings on higher wages, which is now not such an attractive option as before.