The first official day of the transfer window hasn’t disappointed in terms of rumour mongering. In the morning, the Benteke rumour mill switched direction from White Hart Lane to Anfield, while news of Villa being hot on the heals of Senegalise midfield dynamo Idrissa Gueye seemed to cement somewhat in the evening.
A few Premier League clubs have been sniffing around the Lille player, with Southampton, Crystal Palace and West Ham allegedly in the mix, although originally it was thought Gueye was bound for Olympique Marseille.
“Joining Manchester United would be a dream. I’ve always supported them. I adore them.” – Idrissa Gueye
With Lille in financial difficulty and needing to asset strip and sell players, Gueye was being eyed up by Marseille before last season had even ended. However, the uncertainty of Marcelo Bielsa’s position as Marseille boss has meant they haven’t had chance to seal the deal with Lille yet, presenting Villa with a chance to hijack the deal with an accepted offer reported to be in the region of £9 million.
It’s been suggested in the French media that Lille are keen to conduct the transfer this week, due to their financial circumstances.
The New Tigana
Gueye is highly regarded and certainly a step in the right direction if former France international and Senegal coach Alain Giresse is to be believed.
The midfield partner of Platini in France’s great national team of the early 1980’s describes Gueye as being “as good as Jean Tigana”, a fellow member of the “Carré Magique” midfield of the 1984 European Championship winning French team.
Giresse, now the coach of Mali, adds: “Gueye has stature, he has a good sense of anticipation and responds quickly. He is precise in his use of the ball and has started to add goals to his game too.
“In the dressing room, he is quiet and discreet, he has a good state of mind, he is a competitor.”
Most fans will agree, it’s good to see an upgrade in the type of player Villa are scouting, although MOMS has found one obvious problem with Gueye…it turns out he’s a big Manchester United fan.
He was quoted in an interview on French TV earlier this year, saying: “Joining Manchester United would be a dream. I’ve always supported them. I adore them.”
Oh well, nobody’s perfect.
In the tradition of transfer rumours hype, Wikipedia already lists Gueye as a Villa player and he’s not the only player, fans up to online mischief have added another midfielder to the Villa squad on the open source site.
Another Midfielder?
According to Wikipedia, Gueye will be joined next season in Villa’s midfield by Argentine Esteban Cambiasso, who last season impressed at Leicester City.
The former Inter Milan man of 10-years and Foxes supporters’ Player of the Year last season is a free agent and despite turning 35-years-old in August is seen as a no-brainer to consider as a decent squad member and maybe deserving of a year’s contract.
You only have to look at the contributions of Pirlo (36) and Frank Lampard (37) to see that age doesn’t get in the way of class.
One thing is for sure, Nigel Pearson’s sacking will certainly put a question mark on Cambiasso re-signing for Leicester. So it may just be a question of whether Sherwood sees a role for him at Villa, or not?
While We’re Here
In other news, it’s mooted Villa are interested in Copenhagen’s Swedish Under-21 left-back defender Ludwig Augustinsson, who is also supposed to be on the Liverpool radar too. Villa had scouts at the Under-21 European Championships, which Sweden won, with Augustinsson impressing in Sweden’s organised backline.
Since Villa now seem to buy a left-back every year to solve the problem position, the Swede is currently the favourite to fit the bill for 2015.
Previously mentioned as a possible Villa target, Burnley’s keeper Tom Heaton signed a new three-year deal to keep him at Turf Moor, which suggests the Villa interest couldn’t have been that strong in the first place. Chelsea are also reported to have upped their bid to £8 million in the chase for Stoke’s Begovic, another reported Villa keeper target. Thus begging the question how serious will Villa’s quest for a new number one be?
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Keeping Benteke and Delph is a must if we are to be a serious top half team. Not woried about Vlaar going, too inconsistent and injury prone
Yep. Fair comment.
astonvillaben@virginmedia.com Two new full backs required and a striker such as Charlie Austin brought in to support Bentikie.
Do not sell prize assets, build around them.
Agree
Worried that this signing is Delphs replacement…
Well, Cleverley needs replacing (or upgrading). So hopefully that’s the starting point here.
I’m surprised Stoke City have apparently signed Shaqiri from Inter. He would have been a great acquisition for us. I didn’t even know he was for sale?
Crystal Palace signing Cabaye from PSG is another such example of what you’re talking about here.
I don’t think we are in a serious need for no. 1 but I do feel left back and right back is a necessity and a creative midfielder oh and Charlie Austin!