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

[Ger Regan]

New: Hull City in talks to sign Leon Bailey from #AVFC. Villa prefer a permanent move, which is being considered. Trabzonspor & Celta Vigo have also registered interest, but staying in England thought to be preferable.
@TheAthleticFC
@J_Tanswell

I really like Bailey and I’ll always cherish that period where he was outstanding and maybe one of the best wingers across Europe. However he needs a fresh start and reignite his career. I hate seeing him disappearing into himself for us and fans getting on his back. As well as that really amazing spell he seems a really nice lad. Also, his accent is just so cool.

I hope this happens or someone else can take him off our hands and his career kick starts again.

That's where I am too. He contributed enough that I wish him well wherever he goes

[PeterWithe]

That’s some downward spiral to go from one of the best wingers in Europe to ending up at Hull

[Tuscans]

Sancho MrkII absolute cumnut he is. Get rid soon as.

[Rotterdam]

Take any amount we can get for him and I'll drive him to Hull.

[Tuscans]

Take any amount we can get for him and I'll drive him to Hull.

Let him walk, he's been good at doing that.

[KevinGage]

Sancho MrkII absolute cumnut he is. Get rid soon as.

Bit harsh, that.

Played a big role in us getting CL in 2024.

I also have a theory that the injury he sustained towards the back end of that campaign may have knobbled him James Chester-style. Hasn't had the same pace or nip since then.

He's always had a low pain threshold. But played with one leg virtually hanging off in those last few games to get us over the line.

From 2024/25 onwards he's been even less effective than the the 2021/23 period - where he could disappear for long stretches but still come up with a moment of brilliance.

[PaulWinch again]

Agreed, he had one amazing season.

[Ger Regan]

That is ludicrously over the top

[garyellis]

Anyone think we may do any shopping at Chelsea after the “cooling off” period?

[Percy McCarthy]

No to J Rowe for me. Beyond one good game against us what is it that makes him a particularly compelling signing?

I don’t think it’s particularly compelling but it was either him or Rogers when we signed Rogers. Sliding doors for both players? Could it be that Rowe was just now coming back from the World Cup while Rogers was mildly impressing in Serie A?

[Dave]

No to J Rowe for me. Beyond one good game against us what is it that makes him a particularly compelling signing?

I don’t think it’s particularly compelling but it was either him or Rogers when we signed Rogers. Sliding doors for both players?

According to whom?

[Sexual Ealing]

New: Hull City in talks to sign Leon Bailey from #AVFC. Villa prefer a permanent move, which is being considered. Trabzonspor & Celta Vigo have also registered interest, but staying in England thought to be preferable.
@TheAthleticFC
@J_Tanswell

I really like Bailey and I’ll always cherish that period where he was outstanding and maybe one of the best wingers across Europe. However he needs a fresh start and reignite his career. I hate seeing him disappearing into himself for us and fans getting on his back. As well as that really amazing spell he seems a really nice lad. Also, his accent is just so cool.

I hope this happens or someone else can take him off our hands and his career kick starts again.

That's where I am too. He contributed enough that I wish him well wherever he goes

Yep.

[Dogtanian]

Villa's nightmare summer window: 'Gut punch, after gut punch'

Sky Sports' Lewis Jones:

Aston Villa should have been attacking this summer from a position of strength. Champions League football secured with a fourth-place finish. European silverware in the cabinet. A manager in Unai Emery who had every reason to believe the foundations had finally been laid for Villa to become genuine top-four regulars.

Instead, the early movement in this window has lurched towards nightmare territory.

Aston Villa’s sales this summer
Morgan Rogers – Chelsea, £117m*
Lucas Digne – Paris Saint-Germain, £8.5m*
Youri Tielemans – Manchester United, £36m
Donyell Malen – AS Roma, £21.6m
Enzo Barrenechea – Benfica, £10m
Lewis Dobbin – Southampton, £10m
*deals still to be completed
Total: £203.1m

Youri Tielemans, the metronome of Emery's midfield and arguably the team's most influential player over the last 18 months, has headed to Manchester United. Paris Saint-Germain are expected to activate Lucas Digne's release clause after the World Cup, stripping Villa of one of the Premier League's most reliable attacking full-backs.

And now comes the biggest gut punch of them all. Rogers, Villa's standout performer and the face of the club's exciting future, is on the verge of joining Chelsea in what would be a record sale.

You are looking at a squad being ripped apart. What must Emery be thinking?

His message after lifting the Europa League trophy was clear. This was not the end point. Villa had to build from here. The momentum had to be maintained. Instead, the project appears to be moving backwards.

Johan Manzambi is expected to arrive and there is plenty to like about his potential, but potential does not replace proven Premier League quality overnight.

Emery has built a reputation on solving problems others cannot. But even the best managers need stability. He is staring at the prospect of reconstructing the spine of his team while competing on multiple fronts.

He has worked miracles before. He may need to produce his greatest one yet.

Do you think we’ve upset this guy or what? 

[Percy McCarthy]

No to J Rowe for me. Beyond one good game against us what is it that makes him a particularly compelling signing?

I don’t think it’s particularly compelling but it was either him or Rogers when we signed Rogers. Sliding doors for both players?

According to whom?

Speculative journalism as far as I recall.

[Dante Lavelli]

Don’t mind that being the narrative within media circles as it will deflect attention and reduce the pressure. However I don’t feel like that and hope the club don’t too.