Aston Villa Miss Out on Forward(s) as Pressure Builds

Never mind getting a ‘world class’ striker in, will Aston Villa get any new striker in? A lack of options and ‘plan B’ in the current squad and the prospect of losing two strikers to the Africans Nations Cup are a cause for concern.

According to recent news the field is also shortening for potential solutions. So, will Roberto Di Matteo finish this transfer window happy with his striker options?

Stefano Okaka

Further to MOMS’ Villa Paper Wrap mention of the Daily Mail linking Villa to Anderlecht’s Stefano Okaka, comes the news that the Italian international has ended up in the Premier League with Watford.

Will this be the sign of things to come as deadline day rapidly approaching with Premier League clubs hoovering up any decent strikers that maybe on Roberto Di Matteo and Tony Xia’s shortlist?

With Watford offering the 27-year-old striker from Anderlecht, a five-year deal and perhaps more wages than Villa would propose at this stage, it’s obvious that the player would prefer the chance to play in England’s top league.

Decent in the air and pacey, the ex-Sampdoria striker might have done a job at Villa Park, but ultimately he’s nothing to lose sleep about despite doing ok on a short loan spell as a youngster at Fulham (three goals in 13 appearances) back in 2010

Albert Adomah

Middlesbrough winger Albert Adomah despite playing coy over an improved deal offered to him by Middlesbrough, seems to be angling for better terms or a Premier League switch. It’s unlikely that the Ghana international will see a return to the Championship as a progressive step in his career having only just got promoted from there.

However, with the winger being omitted from the last Middlesbrough match squad (he wasn’t injured), something is potentially brewing and it’s unclear if Villa are still in the mix.

It was thought last week that Villa had made moves for the winger with Tony Xia stating they were close to wrapping on an attacking-midfielder. With the team in need of more dimension on the flanks, there is some logic to a move for Adomah.

UPDATE – Adama Traore link to Middlesbrough looks linked to Adomah coming to Villa

Patrick Bamford

This rumour of Villa’s interest in the Chelsea youngster has been running for weeks now, but Burnley have now confirmed a loan deal for the striker.

Abel Hernandez

The oldest chestnut of the transfer window. The reports refuse to die down on the potential prospect of Hull City’s Abel Hernandez coming to Villa, although they seem to be very polarised to whether it will happen or not.  This is despite Doctor Tony publicly seeming to call time on the pursuit of the Uruguayan striker in his recent tweets, where he admitted Villa had been chasing Hernandez all summer.

The Sun had stoked the rumour fires which prompted Xia’s tweets by reporting a £20m bid was made for Hernandez with £14m of that to be paid to Hull upfront by Villa, with a further £3m of add-ons linked to ‘promotion achievements’ and a further £3m for ‘goals and appearances.’

MOMS can’t see Hernandez coming Villa’s way when considering all the factors at play.

The search goes on and deadline day might actually be exciting for once.

UTV

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