Henri Lansbury Finally Done
By all reports Henri Lansbury will finally sign on the dotted line for Villa after weeks of speculation. Tony Xia tweeted there is a 99.9% chance the signing will be announced Friday lunchtime (unless he’s speaking about another signing!)
With a takeover for Nottingham Forest falling through and manager Philippe Montanier getting the boot too, it’s perhaps not the easiest time to do business with Forest, so Villa will be glad to have the deal all wrapped up.
it’s reported that Villa may have gone to £3.5m to get the deal over the line.
MOMS just hopes he gets a proper haircut before his official press photos at Bodymoor Heath.
Bedeau Incoming
According to BBC Radio Manchester and BBC online Aston Villa are close to agreeing a deal to sign teenage defender Jacob Bedeau from League One side Bury.
At 17-year-old Bedeau is certainly one for the future, although priced at a fee understood to be around £750,000, it suggests the player has talent.
Bedeau made his debut for Bury in November and has played seven times since.
“The interest that has been shown is on a major level, it is not just paper talk,” said Bury manager Chris Brass on BBC Manchester regarding Bedeau and other young Bury talents
Red Herring Rhodes?
There’s been a ton of conflicting reports regarding Jordan Rhodes. Will it happen? Does it need to happen?
If you’re playing a formation with one main striker, the fact that Villa have already got Jonathan Kodjia as the main man makes you wonder if it’s wise money to be splashing, considering there’s Ross McCormack and Jordan Ayew also waiting in the wings.
I think any truth in the matter of Villa enquiring about Rhodes would be based on either seeking a loan deal or a cut price £6-7m offer. That would make some kind of sense.
If Middlesbrough are holding out for £10m or so, then I can’t see Villa risking it considering the wages they would also have to pay Rhodes to attract him to the club and the spectre of Financial Fair Play (FFP).
With Villa struggling in mid-table, FFP is becoming increasingly front and centre of Tony Xia’s thinking. If he dropped another £10m+ on a striker then if Villa didn’t get promotion this season or the next, then Villa could be tricky waters financially with parachute payments fading from memory.
The focus should be more on building a team that can service the existing striker talent at the club, or else it be like collecting angels to put on top of a Christmas tree, before you have an actual decorated tree to support them.
Furlong Hopes
There’s been a few ‘speculative’ reports regarding potential Villa interest in QPR right-back Darnell Furlong. The attacking full-back had a successful period on loan to Division One Swindon earlier in the season, but has only made one appearance so far since his return for QPR.
Does the 21-year-old have the necessary talent to be a first teamer straight off the bat?
There’s no doubt Villa need someone now to take over from Alan Hutton, so any purchase needs to be a first XI starter from the off.
Barnsley’s James Bree would be a better bet in that respect, a player who Villa have been linked to this window. The question is will Barnsley let the 19-year-old go along with Conor Hourihane to Villa? After all, they’re two of their best players.
Speaking of which…
Hourihane Limbo
Still quiet on the Conor Hourihane front, as the Barnsley midfielder ponders the best deal for himself. Signing for a club now, or riding it out at Barnsley to then be a free agent in the summer.
Villa will obviously want to grab him now, as a Premier League club could no doubt take a punt on a free, if the Irishman’s agent plays it clever. More on Hournihane’s position here.
Update – reports indicate that Hourihane is expected to have a medical soon. Watch this space.
Weimann Wolves
In other news…ex-Villan Andreas Weimann has rejoined Paul Lambert at Wolves on a loan until the end of the season.
UTV
Follow MOMS on Twitter for sanity in the transfer window here – @oldmansaid
Looks like things are going in the right direction. Perhaps a little late for play offs.
If we don’t get the midfield players we need, i’m for bringing Carles Gil back.
Looks like things are going in the right direction. Perhaps a little late for play offs.
If we don’t get the midfield players we need, i’m for bringing Hil back.
I would love to think it’s true and it would be a good signing if so, but believe it when you see it.
As for Rhodes we should definitely sign him and sell McCormack Kodjia and Rhodes playing together would be formidable and well worth paying out for, if the worst came to the worst he is a saleable asset, not much of a gamble.