The event of this summer’s deadline day brings perhaps the biggest task for CEO Keith Wyness and his team, finding a way to move on Micah Richards and Gabby Agbonlahor. It’s dirty work, but someone’s got to do it.
Both players are two of the biggest wage drains on the club and have fallen sharply from grace after being captain and vice-captain respectably at the start of last season. In many ways, they were the poster boys for Villa’s dramatic relegation failure last season.
GABBY
It’s been largely radio silence in terms of any movement for Agbonlahor. There were some earlier rumours about a possible move to Turkey and the revelation from BBC journo Pat Murphy that Agbonlahor had turned down a potential loan move to Reading.
Considering Gabby posted a family holiday snap from a water park today on Instagram, he doesn’t seem too active in finding a solution to his footballing situation.
MICAH
There’s been a sporadic interest in Richards throughout the transfer window
First there was Sunderland who were interested in triggering his £5m release clause, that has since expired, but a management change at the club suppered that deal. Then there were a spate of Turkish club links – one Trabzonspor fan seemed so convinced the player was heading their way he created this video celebrating Richards’ time at Villa – but they seem to have faded away with a potential season-long loan to West Ham now in the offing.
MOMS fielded a few messages from West Ham fans yesterday asking for thoughts on the defender and this morning has spurned a few reports quoting ‘sources close to West Ham’.
It seems that the Hammers needed Richards as at least backup for a troublesome right-back spot.
Arsenal full-back Matthieu Debucy had been a reported option, but West Ham have settled on signing free agent Alvaro Arbeloa, the 33-year-old former Real Madrid right-back. So the trail looks dead now.
MOMS was told that Villa had some centre-back cover lined up, but it’s uncertain if that will go ahead now, if Richards stays.
Upshot
As we’ve discussed previously, Wyness and Villa owner Tony Xia have done a decent job of moving out the mistakes of the last transfer window and other deadwood, even if it meant letting a few go on frees (for example: Bennett, Okore and Lescott).
The Villa fire sale though hasn’t extended to Richards and Agbonlahor so far, as their high wages complicate the picture for any club interested. It seems now season-loans are the only option.
The reality is Villa will no doubt end up paying a percentage of the wages for such loans. Despite being a Premier League club, even West Ham may try to broker Villa into paying some percentage of Richards’ wages.
It’s unlikely Agbonlahor will get any traction in the Premier League, so a loan move abroad or in the Championship may see Villa having to foot a hefty percentage of his wages.
For MOMS money, moving both of these players out of the club today would be the club’s biggest achievement on deadline day.
UTV
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Many players believe their own hype and agents hype, the successful shelf life of a player should be no more than 5 years after that there is a comfortable view of a over inflated pay-packet and the ability to milk the reputation for all its worth. In this case Mica didnt do himself any favours last season and certainly Villa Careerist Gabby have both clipped wings as far as reputation goes, At least Gabby showed in the first 4 years that he was an asset to the club. The last twelve months has shown up their liabilities in reputation and still taking inflated wages from the club. If they were true devotees to this club they would have gone by now. Its a shame but back up maybe required for January so if they are able to keep up in the fitness programme then they may have some use early next year. In the meantime is Paddy Riley still with the club ??????? its all gone quiet on that front. We must applaud RDM the staff and the Doctor for this transfer window looks very functional and sends a message out to the Villa fans the intent for this season. Now its up to the training staff to get a great dressing room buzz and that winning feeling back as this will reflect on the pitch. Happy days (with fingers crossed behind back)
Not a fan of Micah, but we are pretty short on right sided defenders now, Hutton as CB anyone? Ironically we are heavy with right sided attacking options.
Gabby, well he can have one more chance in my book. When the ANC starts he could be given a chance, especially since Villa could now have 4 players going.
In fact this last spate of Transfers have me a little concerned, seems a little too much too fast. But what do I know, I would play Gollini in the next game if I were in charge. Though he screws up again he’d get dropped for a bit.