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Rumour Crazy Aston Villa Plan £108m Raid on Spurs, Leeds, Fulham, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth and Wigan!
Monday, 13 July 09, 07:35 AM · Comments (36)
Villa Finally To Enter The Transfer Market.......
So far the transfer market across the board has failed to really spring into life, but with close seasons starting for most teams already - the next two weeks should see Villa finally add to their incredible shrinking squad. So lets look at some of the targets we have been most linked with and my opinion of our chances of getting the players (considering not once have we even had a bid confirmed yet):
Kyle Naughton: 2/5
By the time you read this the young Blade could be an Everton player, Spurs are widely expected to challenge the Scousers for his signature.....and we don't seem to be in the running anymore - or at least the hacks haven't thrown our name in the hat recently. I hope we do come in at the last minute as he would be a good signing who fits the mould of a typical O'Neill signing.
Fabian Delph: 3/5
We have been heavily linked with the talented Leeds midfielder, reports suggest the Whites have turned down two offers for him - although there is no confirmation we were one of the clubs making those offers. It is also reported we will loan them Delf for a season to persuade Leeds to sell, which I don't think is that plausible as O'Neill rates him pretty highly. Fingers crossed though there is some truth in this one!
Crouch 1/5
If he hadn't already been a Villa player i would take this one more seriously, but unlike Robbie Keane and Spurs I don't think the big robot dancing forward would relish a return to Villa despite the fact he is the type of player O'Neill loves.
Robbie Keane 0/5
Despite some Spurs fans telling me that he only returned to them purely because Liverpool at the time couldn't afford to stump up the second installment of the transfer fee (or some such cobblers) i think we are more likey to sign Lionel Messi (or maybe Lionel Blair). This link is older than Jimmy Savilles support tights and just as well worn.
Stephen Defour: 2/5
I think the Liege midfielder is probably the most popular replacement candidate for Bazza (or that 'money grabbing get' - as porn uncle Benitez describes him) and yet Everton and their Belgian Afro enforcer - Fellani - are determined to drag the player kicking and screaming to Goodison. Now expect Arsenal, Man City and probably Spurs and Sunderland to be thrown in the mix before Defour finally does reach the Premiership.
Downing & Tuncay: 3/5
This is my favourite of all rumours, I rate both players extremely highly and think just their signing alone would mean a successful close-season. Downing although a bit rubbish for England at times, is quality for the Teesiders and the most Barry like player out there, although long term admirers ('Arry has a pic of him in his wallet) Spurs are surely to scrape together some cash to rival Villa if we did bid. Tuncay is almost a cert - because.....he played well against Villa, in fact he scored against us - therefore O'Neill is guaranteed to register some sort of interest!
Bentley: 4/5
Another one most Villa fans want and expect to happen, although we all fear that 'Arry' thinks he can use Bentley as some sort of bargaining chip to get one of our players which just won't happen, so this one will take quite a bit of time to complete. Man City have also been linked, but Bentley has already said he's in talks with us - so we can ignore the fact nothing has happened since that comment and keep hoping.
Distin & Campbell: 1/5
Neither would be a bad signing, just can't see either happening.
Hangeland: 1/5
We really missed that boat, i think if he does go anywhere it will be Arse or Chelski sadly.
Amir Zaki
11mil, 11 ruddy mil???? Think i'm glad we missed out on that one, i mean he isn't bad but.....actually this is a totally dead link so i'm cheating shoving him in.
All foreign player links: 0/5
I live for the day when one of the Miguels, Falcaos etc. etc. actually turns into a real link, but i bet fifty of your shiney earth pence it won't happen.
Sales:
The blanket response is O'Neill is unlikely to let Knight or Reo go until we have replacements and he has said many times that Carew won't be leaving. Have the journos not seen the size of our squad lately - our team has already been reclassified as an endangered species on the basis of poorly recovering numbers (although no Villa fan would mind if Salifou, Shorey and Harewood were clubbed to death - not by angry baby seal hating Canadians but by locking them in Gods Kitchen in Brum for eight weeks).
I think we will sign someone before the week is out, you heard it here first!
So far the transfer market across the board has failed to really spring into life, but with close seasons starting for most teams already - the next two weeks should see Villa finally add to their incredible shrinking squad. So lets look at some of the targets we have been most linked with and my opinion of our chances of getting the players (considering not once have we even had a bid confirmed yet):
Kyle Naughton: 2/5
By the time you read this the young Blade could be an Everton player, Spurs are widely expected to challenge the Scousers for his signature.....and we don't seem to be in the running anymore - or at least the hacks haven't thrown our name in the hat recently. I hope we do come in at the last minute as he would be a good signing who fits the mould of a typical O'Neill signing.
Fabian Delph: 3/5
We have been heavily linked with the talented Leeds midfielder, reports suggest the Whites have turned down two offers for him - although there is no confirmation we were one of the clubs making those offers. It is also reported we will loan them Delf for a season to persuade Leeds to sell, which I don't think is that plausible as O'Neill rates him pretty highly. Fingers crossed though there is some truth in this one!
Crouch 1/5
If he hadn't already been a Villa player i would take this one more seriously, but unlike Robbie Keane and Spurs I don't think the big robot dancing forward would relish a return to Villa despite the fact he is the type of player O'Neill loves.
Robbie Keane 0/5
Despite some Spurs fans telling me that he only returned to them purely because Liverpool at the time couldn't afford to stump up the second installment of the transfer fee (or some such cobblers) i think we are more likey to sign Lionel Messi (or maybe Lionel Blair). This link is older than Jimmy Savilles support tights and just as well worn.
Stephen Defour: 2/5
I think the Liege midfielder is probably the most popular replacement candidate for Bazza (or that 'money grabbing get' - as porn uncle Benitez describes him) and yet Everton and their Belgian Afro enforcer - Fellani - are determined to drag the player kicking and screaming to Goodison. Now expect Arsenal, Man City and probably Spurs and Sunderland to be thrown in the mix before Defour finally does reach the Premiership.
Downing & Tuncay: 3/5
This is my favourite of all rumours, I rate both players extremely highly and think just their signing alone would mean a successful close-season. Downing although a bit rubbish for England at times, is quality for the Teesiders and the most Barry like player out there, although long term admirers ('Arry has a pic of him in his wallet) Spurs are surely to scrape together some cash to rival Villa if we did bid. Tuncay is almost a cert - because.....he played well against Villa, in fact he scored against us - therefore O'Neill is guaranteed to register some sort of interest!
Bentley: 4/5
Another one most Villa fans want and expect to happen, although we all fear that 'Arry' thinks he can use Bentley as some sort of bargaining chip to get one of our players which just won't happen, so this one will take quite a bit of time to complete. Man City have also been linked, but Bentley has already said he's in talks with us - so we can ignore the fact nothing has happened since that comment and keep hoping.
Distin & Campbell: 1/5
Neither would be a bad signing, just can't see either happening.
Hangeland: 1/5
We really missed that boat, i think if he does go anywhere it will be Arse or Chelski sadly.
Amir Zaki
11mil, 11 ruddy mil???? Think i'm glad we missed out on that one, i mean he isn't bad but.....actually this is a totally dead link so i'm cheating shoving him in.
All foreign player links: 0/5
I live for the day when one of the Miguels, Falcaos etc. etc. actually turns into a real link, but i bet fifty of your shiney earth pence it won't happen.
Sales:
The blanket response is O'Neill is unlikely to let Knight or Reo go until we have replacements and he has said many times that Carew won't be leaving. Have the journos not seen the size of our squad lately - our team has already been reclassified as an endangered species on the basis of poorly recovering numbers (although no Villa fan would mind if Salifou, Shorey and Harewood were clubbed to death - not by angry baby seal hating Canadians but by locking them in Gods Kitchen in Brum for eight weeks).
I think we will sign someone before the week is out, you heard it here first!
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Posted by Dan Collacott
| Comments (36)
36 Comments · Add yours
Yeah I pretty much agree with all of these. I am afraid that David Bentley is all to likely, which is a shame. Fabian Delph would be a good one for the future as well as the here and now. Agree with you about Sol Campbell, would love to see him at Villa Park
You would be getting two players that give 100% on the pitch if you land Tuncay and Downing. I agree with you that Downing is a bit rubbish for England, but hopefully a move to a team like Villa would make him a better player than he already is. £18million for the pair would be a steal.
You have brought mirth to my otherwise dull and boring day!! I have to agree with almost all of your comments, apart from Distin & Campbell, not too keen on either of them...plus you missed out the Bent rumour that has suddenly surfaced today,apparently we can get him for £12 mil + Carew, Ash Young and a phantom of the opera mask!! UTV
Thing is being a spurs fan there will be three second tier teams battling for players of this standard so i see Spurs, Everton and Villa all being linked for the same players this summer.
Throw City in the mix too, although they are trying for a higher standard of player.
Spurs need a left winger, striker (target man), Midfielder and possibly a new Left back and Centre back..which is pretty much what Villa are looking for..i believe Spurs will offer better wages and can pay more money, but Villa have European football to offer so it will be interesting.
Ive always liked Villa as a team, a team that has always tried to do things the right way and it was a shame to see your season crumble in the second half. I would of loved to of seen you take 4th place, especially at arsenals expense!
Goodluck next season, its going to be tough and i think 4 teams will be battling for 5th and 6th..Spurs, Villa, Everton and Marab City! But may the hard work and great managerial leadership of us, villa and everton win over the bank rolled city!
Pretty much agree by and large, although Shorey should stay he was very good the end of last season. It may be an option to play him in front or Bouma occasionally
I think the Bent link is just lazy journalism
Villain200...."I think the Bent link is just lazy journalism "....i think most of the players we are being linked with fall into that catergory...i mean to say, TITUS BRAMBLE??????
Titus Bramble was psychotic journalism!
Veloso & Mesut Ozil are good players to be linked with - but as yet not really any substance there.
The press are desperate to auction off Young and make out a bid for Downing would cast doubt over his Villa future? Whereas i don't rate Downing as an out and out winger - great left foot and engine but he rarely takes on and gets past players, but his crossing, passing and set-pieces are very good. He could play the Barry role very well.
Cant believe u write all this crap on ur blog
Reply to varba:
I used to tatoo it on the arses of unwitting pensioners, but writing it in a blog seemed easier..........
we should try our hardest to get these naughton,delph & hangeland in, the rest can piss off.
but we won't because o'neil is shit in the transfer market.
This is getting a bit silly now. Still no new signings. It's a bit ridiculous.
Come on MON, just sign some quality AND quantity please! Otherwise, all the hard work of the last two or three seasons will be for nothing.
I keep telling myself to just not bother refreshing the likes of News Now, hoping for the situation to change, but it doesn't change.
I do not think we will buy anyone. Ashley Young will leave, closely followed by Carew. Why? Because they are hungry for success, and if we do not strengthen our squad, we will not be successful.
If nobody signs by the end of this week, I think a few of our current stars might be looking at the greener grass over the fence.
I am also a big fan of the Downing/Tuncay rumour. That Tuncay looks like a fantastic player, shows some really great touches and runs all day. Downing will be out until the New Year most likely, but by that time Ashley will probably need a break anyhow. I don't think there is any question that we desperately need a centre half and I would not consider it to be a successful closed season unless we bring in a quality player to replace our Great Dane. Regarding other rumours, I was thrilled to be linked with a german international from Bayern last week. I checked him out on you tube and he looks to be the mut's nuts. Any german international will add quality to our midfield and a rock solid winning attitude! I also have a good feeling about Bentley coming good this year.
One think is for sure - none of our current starters should be sold. These links to Ashley and john C should be dismissed immediately.
UTV
This Mesut Ozil looks great and just what we need and if he cost 12m that will be very well spent as we got 12m for Barry and this guy is just 21 and looks more of a threat as the ball just sticks to his feet. We need a player like this that can be a bit special if we are to progress as we are going to stand still buying the safe premiership options. O’Neil needs to start taking a few chances and future stars like this. Buy him now for 12m and he will be worth 50 in a few years
I hope we get Bentley, Delph and Defour, but god knows who will replace our backline!?
Also I dont want the others you mentioned!
What is p*ssing me off about players linked with leaving is because the assumption that players like Young and Carew would not want to stay at Villa -either top 4 or London. It's lazy journalism of the lowest order, those players are on good contracts and owe Villa and MON the attention they are getting, I bet they will sill be here and so will NRC (who will step up next season), Bouma will return at some point and that will feel like a new signing too. Sidwell will also prove himself and with the expected arrival of Downing and Tuncay and the MON work effort will propel the 'more average' players we have will mean have another great season.
All optimism in my house!!
However I live in Leeds so optimism is not found in great quantities in this season - although the prospect of Delph is all you hear, please take a gamble on him and next season we will have Chelski and Man U buzzing around again
Spurious thread title catches the mood of rumour sites of these times.
i am not convinced by any of the rumors so far, out of all those above i would take bentley as a sub for our wingers, but it would have to be 3mil ish, as he just is not that good.
i hope the reports are all false as they show a startling lack of ambition:
they are either unproven prem players at vastly over inflated prices, really old and slow players, or over hyped rubbish
we need some class at the club, if we are not signing to replace our first team players, then i will not be happy - we need first team players, not more subs!!!
why is everyone SO HYPED over stewart downing????????? is it just because he has played for england? seriously, the guy didnt get one premiership goal last season (and had 70 shots!) and made 148 crosses with 4 FUC*ING assists yet we are reportedly willing to pay 12million for him. in that case, why dont they give the groundsman 12million quid to go spend on horse shi* and pile it up on the left wing. im sure it would be more effective!
seriously, are we actually considering paying 12million pounds for someone who should consider himself lucky to make it to the subs bench at villa? meanwhile we have two other wingers, milner and young with 8 and 7 assists respectively, with young scoring 7 goals and milner scoring 3. moreover. milners assists are equal 6th in the EPL alongside cesc fabregas, yet people say, 'ohh he was average, he still has a lot to prove'.
it annoys me so much that o'neill could be considering downing, and almost as much, tuncay. gabby (who went very cold towards the end of the season i know) has been called 'retarded' by some of OUR fans, yet the guy scored almost double the amount of goals than tuncay, with less actual shots and people still want tuncay! im sorry to say fellas, you're going to be very disappointed by january and you're going to want to ship the fool out by then. but hey, 18million pounds for the next sidwell/heskey combination, no biggie... we could spend that on someone worth 20mil and get three times the player and o'neill could turn them into 6times the player that either of those gumps are!!!!!! FU*K ME what is going through his head? its like he becomes a completely different person come transfer time.
then again, i hope im just completely wrong and it is just crap journalism and that o'neill feels the same way.. by some miracle however, i think im going to have to put my money with the british media.. and id generally feel safer leaving $1000 with a junkie for a week than believing anything from those tabloids
I am getting more nd more fustrated with MON he is the most over the top manager on the side of the pitch but when it is transfer time he goes below radar and does nothing. We needed more players in the squad years ago and last season for europe but in january who did he get HESKEY who i must say is a waste of money, never liked hi never will do. We push comes to shove we will never compete top 4 as the likes of man utd, chelase, liverpool, now man city have got some quality playerss. and they are going thick and fast. It will be a case of mid table this year for VILLA as we wont be able to cope with the stress of europe and the leauge with an average squad.
My prediction. for the next week. Bently in, Veloso in delph in bent in
Young out to utd and carew out to spurs and gardner out to sunderland
sunderland have been strongly linked with tuncay over the weekend.....no, don't laugh !
tuncay has settled in the north east, and his representatives have sounded out sunderland to see if there is any interest because he wants to stay in the north east...the noises coming out of the sunderland camp...is "yes please" . . . . so dont count on tuncay joining you just yet !
we have a new , ambitious manager, a new billionaire owner who wants to take the club forward, a huge transfer budget.....and if rumours are to be believed
i would forget about bent, bentley and any other spurs player joining villa. old rubberface redknapp and levy are on a different planet when it comes to a value on there players ! we'd have bent by now if they didnt value him about the same as kaka !
anyway, im sure you'll do well in the market and next seaon - - - good luck boys
Dan, with misleading headlines like that you should be working for the Sun! So, in summary, we are linked with loads of players but we aren't that likely to get any of them? Made my day, for a millisecond I thought we might spend some money
Got to agree with qldvillan about Downing, he very wise. If Downing comes as Young replacement I will be very sad
Peter Lee, good luck to Sunderland also, I hope your optimism for Villa is correct. I expect Sunderland to be 1 of the 2 most improved teams this year along with Man City
Reply to SidCowanslovechild:
Hey Sid, believe it or not i don't generate the headline at the top, although i appreciate without it no-one would click on the link
Reply to Dadams 369:
did u not listen to SAF..? united are done in the transfer window! THEREFORE young will NOT go to MANU
can see bent, tuncay, delph and campbell joining us soon. possibly downing and veloso if the prices are not too over the top. In O'neil we trust
Reply to Dan:
Dan, got to the punters in - still your biggest fan!
Reply to qldvillan:
qld, I hope I'm not going to regret naming you very wise? I'm not sue we can take every word SAF utters as gospel
Sambo, not a very politically correct name
Sid,
I did have my doubts as to whether Ferguson was being serious or not but when you look at the context of the interview what he said seems quite plausible..
“Everywhere in England and in Europe the players' values have shot sky high,"
"I don't think any of the (big money) transfers that you see happening are realistic but for some reason the market seems to have caught fire this summer. It is a very unusual summer and difficult to get value because of that.
"It's always been the case that Manchester United have to pay a bit extra. But this summer we were not prepared to do that because we have got some very good young players.
"There didn't need to be a kneejerk reaction to losing Cristiano Ronaldo. We did very well to keep him for six years. He wanted to go, and we allowed him to do that.
"We shouldn't panic because one or two players are leaving. I think we have a very, very good squad with good young players in all positions."
"It's the end of our business, so forget all these stories about who we're supposed to be getting."
LINK
THEREFORE, I have minimal concern about Ashley Young departing to Manchester United.
Reply to qldvillan:
Makes sense, hopefully no one else will come in for him either
Lorks - we might actually sign Downing!
fee agreed!
Reply to SidCowanslovechild:
apparently liverpool are in for him now as well
Rafa gets right on my tits, devious .....
The way he was moaning about Barry as if he should have just sat there until Liverpool got off their arse. Would love them to miss out on top 4 this year
Tuncay = Baros with skill
well well well.. as it turns out, i am mistaken and SAF was not true to his word.. or maybe he just doesnt really consider this guy as 'business'.. but "Manchester United have signed 21-year-old striker Mame Biram Diouf from Norwegian club Molde." ukeurosport
BUT, here is why... We weren't intending on signing anyone else after last week - we feel we have a full squad - but the situation accelerated to a point where other clubs started to make bids, so we had to decide whether we acted or didn't act.
"We decided to act and he'll be the last person we sign."
also from ukeurosport