Winter transfer window

With Wesley out injured for some time we are in the market for a striker.

Christian Benteke on loan from Crystal Palace is a very obvious move for us.

* Palace have 28 points - a decent enough total they won't mind sending Benteke out to a rival where he could regain his form.
* Palace won't want to sell him, we won't want to buy him since our current policy is to bring on players under 25, but Palace will be eager to see his value increase on the back of a successful loan spell.
* Benteke loan will be a 'fairytale' move popular with Villa supporters and player alike, with script written for him to bag the goals that keep us in the PL
* Unlike many other possible signings we could make Benteke is proven PL level goalscorer, has experience of the club, will settle in immediately. He is effective at set pieces, both in attack and on the defence. We have been terrible at set pieces defensively this season, and have we even scored a goal from a corner yet? I can't remember. The perfect signing at both ends of the park.
* Benteke will jump at the chance to return to the club where he showed his best form, where he could return to form again before the World Cup, even if it starts in December this year.
* Incidentally Palace did not have Christian on the subs bench today for their game against Norwich. His replacement Conor Wickham scored the equalising goal. Unless he's injured they're getting ready to ship him somewhere.

Out-of-form popular ex-player seeking to regain his form is the perfect replacement for younger player, now out injured, still learning the position.


Other than striker, we could do with a winger (buy), and possibly a goalkeeper on loan as Heaton is also injured. If we cannot buy a good winger we could keep Grealish on the wing and buy a good box-to-box central midfielder.

Need a striker, a winger and a midfielder at the very least. Apparenlty Smith has said we're hopeful of bringing a centre-forward before the City game so hopefully we shouldn't have too long to wait to see who it is, wouldn't Batshuayi on loan with an option to buy, his goals to minutes ratio is very good. As for the winger I'm not sure, Bowen and Benrahma are the ones being talked about but they'd cost big money and for the same money we might players in Europe with more experience playing at higher level, plus their teams are going to be very reluctant to sell them, especially Brentford who are challenging for promotion.

Today showed us though that we need improvements.

In -

Danny Drinkwater on loan until the end of the season.

Good signing. Solid player whose game is built on the unselfish work, tackling, interceptions and water carrying rather than goals and assists. Better than anything we have at this in CM.

Speculation -

Reports of Krzysztof Piatek leaving AC Milan for the Premier League. Newcastle, West Ham and Villa possible destinations. This player has Alan Shearer like qualities, seems like a perfect PL CF.

Not completed yet but on the verge of signing former Liverpool goalkeeper Reina, should be good cover for Heaton, as good as Nyland has been in his last few games, I think it's wise of the club not to risk going into the rest of the season relying on him.

Also looks like we're getting Louie Barry formerly of West Brom, then moved to Barcelona, meant to be one of the best youth players in the country, his family are Villa fans, probably explains why we've managed to get him over other clubs that are intereted, will be fascinating to see how he does, in the U23s initially, but one report said he'll training with the first team, and may well make his senior debut before the season's over.

Now could with signing a striker or two...

deadbuzz wrote:Not completed yet but on the verge of signing former Liverpool goalkeeper Reina, should be good cover for Heaton, as good as Nyland has been in his last few games, I think it's wise of the club not to risk going into the rest of the season relying on him.

Also looks like we're getting Louie Barry formerly of West Brom, then moved to Barcelona, meant to be one of the best youth players in the country, his family are Villa fans, probably explains why we've managed to get him over other clubs that are intereted, will be fascinating to see how he does, in the U23s initially, but one report said he'll training with the first team, and may well make his senior debut before the season's over.

Now could with signing a striker or two...

Some positive news!

We need a striker signed before the Brighton game.

Wouldn't have helped us today against Man City though. What a nightmare. Not sure why Smith started Hourihane left of the 3 midfields in a 5-3-2. He cannot defend. Not really at fault for any of the goals (Drinkwater has had problems) but that's our weak side and every one of their four goals have exploited this area. I can understand the counter-attack logic but it seems we really couldn't afford to hope for that. Should have played Nakamba or Lansbury.

Mbwana Samatta for £9 million would be a great pick up, possibly the bargain of recent seasons if it turns out well. 27 years old, with Champions League experience and goals behind him.

Looks like a Darren Bent type of finisher with great reactions and a little more bustle and hustle.

For 5'11 tall he scored a lot of headed goals in the Belgian league.

All seems very quiet at the moment, thought we might have signed at least another striker, we're still short with just Samatta and Davis who's injured more often than not.

Well its all over we got 2 strikers in 3 if you count the young lad Barry from Barcelona, a midfielder and a keeper, lets all get behind them and see what unfolds. Over all though not much happening even the mega bucks clubs not spending. UTV