Summer transfer window 2017/18

I think Elmo will be more of a cover player for our wingers, as opposed to full back as we already have 3 players there. If Adomah is injured then i can certainly see this being the case and i think he would be fine in this division as he gets down the line well and can cross a ball.

One thing to consider also is what a player brings to the training ground and dressing room, which we don't see. If Bruce thinks a few things are missing in those areas then maybe that's why he's going to his tried and trusted players? When you think about it, this is what could be missing as the talent is there throughout the squad, but for some reason it doesn't reflect on the pitch.

Kodjia's removed all references's to Villa from his instagram and his profile picture is an old one of him whilst at Bristol City, probably something of nothing, I think his twitter is still Villa themed.

Meanwhile...

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What that means I don't know, but looks like a lot is happening behind the scenes, surely we'll be getting rid of a few right-backs, central midfielders too.

deadbuzzardalive wrote:Kodjia's removed all references's to Villa from his instagram and his profile picture is an old one of him whilst at Bristol City, probably something of nothing, I think his twitter is still Villa themed.

Meanwhile...

｛99%+100%+(85%+0%+50%)/3+(50%-50%)}-100%-99.9%-90%-65%-95%-(85%+50%)-10%

What that means I don't know, but looks like a lot is happening behind the scenes, surely we'll be getting rid of a few right-backs, central midfielders too.

It would be suicidal for us to sell Kodjia while there's no recognisable plan B or other striker on more than, what, one goal last season?

Before his injury it seemed almost inevitable, even Bruce wasn't ruling it out, saying something along the lines of that we're not inviting offers but everyone has their price.

He did exactly the same to his instagram before joining us, it's probably nothing though.

deadbuzzardalive wrote:Before his injury it seemed almost inevitable, even Bruce wasn't ruling it out, saying something along the lines of that we're not inviting offers but everyone has their price.

He did exactly the same to his instagram before joining us, it's probably nothing though.

I agree with you btw, although reading it back it sounds like I was slightly ridiculing what you were saying!

I wonder how much Tony is involved in all of this. It's his money, he wants to get back into the PL ASAP, does he have advisors on the case and would he/has he overule(d) Bruce on any of this? We have a really nice backbone now of Chester/Terry, Lansbury/Jedi(despite me disagreeing with our dependence on him)/Veretout/Hourihane and Kodjia. I'm not sure about Jedi in defence if we're bringing in Wheelan to take the DM role. Surely we need Jedi/Wheelan covering the same position and Samba/Baker covering the defence?

I'm overthinking this. If we sell Veretout or Kodjia it says a lot about our ambition, and how much Xia trusts Bruce.

A few stories on twitter that Gabriel Kunda Jr is going to train with us, a few seasons back was apparently highly rated, but seems to have lost his way a bit.

He's also being linked to sha.

Cannot see Kodjia leaving, suicide for us if that happens.

NARLA24 wrote:Cannot see Kodjia leaving, suicide for us if that happens.

IF we got 25m and spent the money on creative players then I don't think it would be that bad tbh. It may be different if we had no alternatives, but we do have Mccormack and Hogan waiting in the wings after all. Anyway it looks like Elmo and Whelan will be done deals and who the mystery third player is remains to be seen. I pray it's a number ten or a right winger. Someone like Jota would be nice.

Think Bree may have to be sent on loan tbh, at least until Xmas maybe because the last thing we wanna do is hamper his development. Send him to someone like Forest, Burton or back to Barnsley maybe? Could make sense. Because many might hope that we sell some players but the likes of Hutton only has a year left on his contract so why would he be bothered to move? Richards has two years left himself and Gabby one. But the good Dr seems to be indicating that movement out is on the way so let's hope it's the less fancied players and not the likes of Veretout.

The third player will probably be Samba, would be nice to get some exciting signings though, to boost our creativity; Tom Lawrence is being mentioned on twitter, but not sure if it's come from the most reliable of sources.

Veretout going to St Etienne for £4.5m according to Gregg Evans.

deadbuzzardalive wrote:Veretout going to St Etienne for £4.5m according to Gregg Evans.

Oh crap. What a waste (for us).

FoxyAV wrote:

deadbuzzardalive wrote:Veretout going to St Etienne for £4.5m according to Gregg Evans.

Oh crap. What a waste (for us).

Whatever happened to not letting players leave on the cheap anymore, Veretout played Champions League football last season and by all accounts performed quite well so £4.5M is far too cheap.

This is Pat Murphy on the BBC website...

Ahmed Elmohamady will link up again with his former manager Steve Bruce, signing for £1m from Hull City while Jordan Veretout will move to St Etienne for £5m rising with add-ons to £7m - the same amount he cost Villa two years ago from Nantes.

There's also a significant sell-on fee if Veretout leaves St Etienne.

Villa remain in the market for one more player,possibly two.

Ahmed Elmohamady has now been confirmed on a three year contract. Never scored more than three goals in any one season or created more than six; not exactly the type of 'winger' I had in mind to solve our creative problems, Hull fans are delighted to see the back of him.

I hope he does better than the above suggests, but for me it's bewildering signing.

SHA are still paying Bruce an allowance, aren't they?

As it stands with Richards, Bacuna, De Laet, Bree, Hutton and now Elmohamady, we've got six right-backs at the club.

Surely one of De Laet, Bree or Hutton are leaving; Bree won't be sold, no one's going to buy De Laet after his injury, so that leaves Hutton, hopefully we can do a deal with Sheffield Wednesday.

deadbuzzardalive wrote:As it stands with Richards, Bacuna, De Laet, Bree, Hutton and now Elmohamady, we've got six right-backs at the club.

Surely one of De Laet, Bree or Hutton are leaving; Bree won't be sold, no one's going to buy De Laet after his injury, so that leaves Hutton, hopefully we can do a deal with Sheffield Wednesday.

Well apparently Richards is a "centre-back" now (yeah right) according to Bruce and Bacuna has played more in midfield during his tenure. So that leaves Hutton, De Laet and Bree. Bruce also said the other day that De leat is "way off" and it will take time to get his fitness up to scratch. So I'd imagine he won't be fully fit until late October/November time. So that leaves Hutton, Bree and Elmo. All he'd need to do is loan out Bree and I guess that's sorted. As I can't see Hutton moving unless Wednesday match his wages.

I think Bree's worth keeping around, as he can cover centre back, and I think he's also played as defensive midfielder. I'd have him as first choice right-back.

Also Percy tweeting that Whelan is having his medical today.

deadbuzzardalive wrote:I think Bree's worth keeping around, as he can cover centre back, and I think he's also played as defensive midfielder. I'd have him as first choice right-back.

Also Percy tweeting that Whelan is having his medical today.

What we don't need is to hamper his development though. And that would most certainly happen if Hutton and Elmo are here. As I suspecr Bruce will most likely be relying on "experience" this season. Especially if things are getting tense and he needs results fast. I'd send him to Burton until December and then see where he's at.

I reckon Hutton will leave, but it might mean us having to accept a lower bid for him so Wednesday can afford his wages, also I could be wrong but I think Bruce uses Elmohamady more as wing-back/winger than a right-back in a flat back four.

I wouldn't want him playing instead of any of Adomah, Grealish or Green though.

Veretout didn't turn up for his St Etienne medical, reports that Fiorentina are going to hijack the deal and offer the whole 7M upfront; we were linked to Babacar the other day, pity we can't do a swap deal.

We've hardly spent any money, with player sales and parachute money surely even with FFP we can afford to sign a really top creative player.

FoxyAV wrote:

deadbuzzardalive wrote:Veretout going to St Etienne for £4.5m according to Gregg Evans.

Oh crap. What a waste (for us).

Apparently he skipped his medical as Fiorentina has bid 7 mill

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154526679606721&set=gm.1486117521447872&type=3

Someone has posted this on FB, that looks like Whelan to me

I welcome Elmohamady personally, all we had on the right was Adomah who hasn't done a fat lot here, Green who is very raw & inexperienced and Bacuna! He has been brought in to strengthen us there and i think we needed it. I have always liked him too for some reason and of course so has Brucey boy!

Hutton won't be going anywhere as he only has a year left on his contract and nobody is going to pay his wages.
I agree with @AstonThriller that Bree should go out on loan at least till Xmas to get some game time!