Stoke manager Gary Rowett has confirmed to the BBC that they have indeed made another bid for James Chester.
The offer is said to be worth “up to £10m” but the Potter boss thinks that the club’s new investors could complicate any transfer for our no.5.
Most fans on Twitter think we should now reject any bids for the 29-year-old between now and the end of the transfer window:
Chester must not be sold #thecaptain
— Vernon Morrissey (@villa_vernon) 26 July 2018
Rowett should reconcile the fact that Chester will only go if we need the money, i.e. he’d prefer to stay at #avfc. We can’t afford to lose CBs, otherwise it’s Hutton and Elphick and we’d struggle
— Mr Thompson (@mrthompson81) 26 July 2018
Please God that if we're stuck with Bruce we can stick with Chester & Jack ????????????????????????
— Rob Aston ???????????? (@RobA19) 26 July 2018
Lol financial issues resolved ????????
— Andrew Clarke (@andywayneclarke) 26 July 2018
Viability issues should be resolved because of takeover but FFP still needs to be addressed. All the indications are that the club needs to generate 30m to 40m pre Feb to comply. Bye bye Jack and Chester sadly #AVFC
— Michael O'Connor (@oconomick) 26 July 2018
Met Chester after the game, asked if he is staying…
His words “ I really hope so”.Fingers Crossed then. ????????
Excuse the dodgy photo ????????#avfc #utv #villa @VillaBible @HeartOfTheHolte @ClaretBlueAVFC pic.twitter.com/r8UR3oyJgX
— Andy Bowker (@AndyBowkA) 25 July 2018
Don't think we should sell to another Championship side. I don't think the move would interest James anyway. A bit different if it was a Prem team.
— Mark Branigan (@81villans) 26 July 2018
Chester will only go if there is a significant profit on him (we paid 8m for him)
Jack is pure profit, so it makes total sense to sell him now.— Rich (@Bisqwit) 26 July 2018
Verdict:
We do still have to bear in mind that we need to make up £30m to £40m to stay within Financial Fair Play regulations, but there are other areas of the squad where sales could be made.
Steve Bruce is very light on centre-backs after the departures of John Terry and Chris Samba this summer. Mile Jedinak can help out at the back, but that still only leaves us with three recognised centre-halves in Chester, Tommy Elphick and Micah Richards.
With the latter unlikely to get any game time, we are stretched pretty thin, and we would have to sign a replacement for the Welshman if he were to be sold anyway.
After NSWE’s takeover, is there any need to sell Chester? Let me know in the poll: