HA! Some Aston Villa Transfer Gossip + Lerner

Ok so as you would expect with the hints from Martin O’Neill that he doesn’t expect to do any business this January, the transfer gossip isn’t exactly at a premium, to be fair transfers full stop aren’t exactly flowing all over the place – surely it is time to scrap this useless transfer window and either go back to the old season OR make it so all clubs can only do transfers in the summer? Anyway, ramble aside, there are just a few bits of interest.

In the Daily Star there is a report by Dave Armitage saying that Villa owner Randy Lerner is jetting over to re-assure fans that he hasn’t lost interest in Villa.

Well, is he really? He often jets over to games, now fair enough he has had problems at the Cleveland Browns this year so he has had to spend more time over there, but he is secure in his confidence in the staff at Villa and most of us – from my conversations and also posts I see online – seem pretty secure in our confidence in him?

The report says Randy will come over to settle the nerves and whispers of possible lack of funds after MON said he wasn’t going to be spending.

Seems very little in this report and the conversations I’ve had to ask about the rumours of possibly looking for investors or sales have been totally dismissed, and the General in his thread in our forum has also clearly stated that Randy is here for the long term:

I would ask everyone to settle down re. rumors of multi-billionaires, etc. Randy is the Chairman of the Board and owner of Aston Villa Football Club. He is totally dedicated to the Club…its history, tradition and ethos. He is NOT a short term owner…he is in it for the long term. This Club is a dream come true for Randy and many others (me included) and nothing will change that. I have yet to see multibillionaires running around Villa Park!! If I do see one, I will see if he can spot me a tenner.

One really spurious link I’ve seen says both Blues and Villa are after Porto’s Colombian international striker Radamel Falcao who came from Juan Pablo Angels former club River Plate. Really can’t find any decent sources etc so best to just leave it at that me thinks!

Meanwhile paper reports are saying that Chelsea and England midfielder Joe Cole has seen a break down in contract talks with Chelsea. The player is a free agent come the summer. Hmmm, I wonder?!?!?

Finally apparently Leeds are now interested in Villa striker Marlon Harewood who has recently returned from a half season loan deal at Newcastle United. He has already been linked with both West Ham and Hull.

Meanwhile I’m (not) told that Thierry Henry is so sorry for his handball against the Republic of Ireland that he wants to make it up to Richard Dunne by moving to Villa and pushing us into the Champions League. :O) What? Just as likely as all the other transfer links isn’t it? My source is my neighbour!