As the English summer begins to hot up, the first real sniffs of potential transfer activity are fast becoming apparent.
With Villa favourites to win the Championship next season, it might be a good time to take advantage of exclusive offers from new betting sites , with the current odds of Aston Villa winning the league averaging out at 8/1.
Steve Bruce is looking to get some short-term old heads in and the right ones may make those odds tempting. As MOMS frequently mentions on the podcast, this maybe one cost-effective way to bolster the squad in the short-term for a promotion push, but if the quality is there.
Do the two most reported about players – John Terry and Glenn Whelan – fit that bill?
Also, another burning question is will there be a major exodus to complete the clear out that began in earnest, last summer? Will Jordan Amavi, be the first outgoing player once the window opens in July 1st?
The week’s main issues discussed below…
‘That would mean Villa’s scouting department coming up trumps, which based on recent seasons is an ask.’
John Terry
MOMS said in the last Transfer Wrap that it would be unlikely for Chelsea’s John Terry to sign for Villa due to mainly common sense reasons (mainly age).
Supposed interest from the Blues in Terry has made this more of a hot topic and has spurned many a Birmingham Mail story already.
The whole £100k-a-week wages talk between some football Einsteins on Twitter is absolute garbage. Neither Villa or the Blues would fork out those kind of wages. If Villa even entertained paying him that, then my faith in the Villa board would drop to zero and there may be serious trouble ahead, if Villa aren’t promoted next season.
If Terry doesn’t want to play golf on overseas and head to somewhere like the MLS, then is he actually worth signing?
Pros
The pros of signing Terry on a season’s deal are adding his experience and temperament to the team. I would say ‘winning mentality’, but it’s easier to have a winning mentality when you’re playing alongside some of the most expensive and best players in the world, as Terry did at Chelsea. Also, as we’ve seen before, a ‘winning mentality’ can turn into a ‘losing mentality’ within 90 minutes playing for Villa. Terry is a proper leader though.
If he stays fit, he’d be one of the best defenders in the division despite his fading powers.
There is a commercial benefit. Despite his dubious character, being ‘a name’, Terry would potentially help the club shift some extra season ticket sales. He certainly also offers curiosity value for the more casual fan too.
Cons
Will he really contribute to the promotion push or would he end up more of a circus sideshow? Terry played only nine league games last season and lets not forget he’ll turn 37-year-old in December.
Would he actually improve Villa? Well, one of the departments that Villa don’t really have an issue with is defence, which is currently good enough to mount a promotion charge. However, if they do manage to offload Tommy Elphick and/or Micah Richards, then there is a case for bringing him in for the short-term.
To be honest, MOMS isn’t bothered either way on the Terry front. In an ideal world, it would be better to get a younger talented centre-back with potential to be sound in the Premier League, but that would mean Villa’s scouting department coming up trumps, which based on recent seasons is an ask.
Further thoughts on John Terry at Villa.
Glenn Whelan Competition
On the subject of old-timers, there doesn’t seem to be any movement on Villa’s reported interest in Stoke City’s Glenn Whelan. As mentioned in a previous MOMS Transfer Wrap, Villa had allegedly tabled a £500k bid, but Stoke want double the price.
Various local papers are now reporting that Gary Rowett and Derby are interested in the Irish international.
He’s certainly a player that would improve many Championship sides, but is he the man Villa need to fix their malfunctioning midfield going forward? Is it more creativity that Villa actually needs?
Jack Colback Whispers
There’s been suggestions from a few shonky transfer rumour sites that Newcastle’s 27-year-old midfielder Jack Colback could be on Steve Bruce’s radar. Colback played 26 times in the league for the Magpies last season, although he is better known for his time at Sunderland.
Despite being the kind of industrious hard-working midfielder Bruce likes, the suggested price tag of £5m is pretty unrealistic, and if true is unlikely to interest Villa.
Jordan Amavi Listed?
According to an interview in French Daily Nice-Mati, Jordan Amavi has been placed on the transfer list. Some of the translation of the article seems a bit a miss, so approach with caution, but it would be no surprise, if the left-back departed Villa in the summer.
After coming back from a long-term injury, Amavi wasn’t too impressive last season and Steve Bruce even drafted in the services of Neil Taylor to give him an alternative. There is potential there though and he might benefit from a more progressive style of play, although will that happen any time soon at Villa?
What price Villa would get for Amavi certainly will be interesting, if he is indeed sold. Will they get back what they paid for him? One thing is for sure, they won’t get anywhere near the fantasy amount of £20m that Tony Xia tweeted earlier in the season.
UTV
Some interesting thoughts in the latest MOMS Podcast below or on iTunes
