Little bit quiet on the gossip front today, we do have Villa assistant manager John Robertson ruling out the rumoured move for Sporting Lisbon’s 23-year-old midfielder Miguel Veloso. He told the Record there was no interest, ‘We have several players on our list, like any other club, but that one is not part of our plans. As a matter of fact, that possibility is not even considered.’
The press in Portugal (so maybe an agent led story to drum up interest in his player?!) said that our scouts were over there watching him the other week, Robertson explained; ‘Last weekend, we were not in Portugal observing any player. In fact, I can assure you that Miguel Veloso is not part of our coach’s desires, or we would have already observed him thoroughly by now.’
The Sun have a picture of Stewart Downing on crutches at Bodymoor Heath. The report, by Chris Moore claims the deal will be sorted today and say Villa will pay around £10m + £2m in add ons.
The report also goes into the rumours that his arrival means the departure of Ashley Young with Manchester United, Chelsea, Spurs and Barcelona all having been linked this summer. However Moore says MON is not going to sell his ‘prize possession’ and repeats what others have already stated, that he will use Ash on the right, Downing on the left and give James Milner a new role in the centre of midfield. Be interesting to see if this leads to us reverting to a five man midfield and one up front?
Portsmouth’s 31-year-old defender Sylvain Distin is being linked in several papers again.
The Daily Mail say that Villa may well be dealing with Boro again soon as MON returns for Tuncay Sanli. The Turkey captain, who they claim is valued at around £10million, is being tracked by Villa, Everton, Sunderland and Fenerbahce. The striker / attacking midfielder joined Boro on a free two years ago. Nice business! Southgate admitted recently ‘He is a top half Premier League player.’
It looks like Villa and Spurs are also both still interested in Leeds 19-year-old Fabian Delph who picked up the Football League Young Player of the Year award last season. I must admit, I do expect Delph to be one of the arrivals at Villa Park this year but hey, I’ve been known to be wrong before! Everton have also reportedly had a bid turned down for the player that Leeds chairman Ken Bates wants £8m for.
Simon Johnson in The London Standard suggests that Chelsea will move for England winger Ashley Young stating they’ll have to pay £25million for him. Nope, can’t see it myself, not unless a) they bid b) Ash puts in a transfer request and even then I can’t see it! The paper say: Villa insist Young is not for sale but Standard Sport understands they will listen to offers of £25m. That would mark a huge profit for Villa, who paid Watford £9.75m for the midfielder two years ago.
The report also repeats the link to Spurs and says Appy Arry would like to do a deal involving David Bentley
The London Standard also claim that Spurs were told not to bother with a late bid to capture Boro winger Stewart Downing as the player had set his heart on moving to Villa.
Some players we have been linked with but who are possibly going elsewhere?
The Daily Mirror claim that Manchester City now want Spurs winger David Bentley and might get him for £12m
The Daily Star claim that Barcelona will sell striker Eidur Gudjohnsen for £5million with West Ham the most likely destination.
Another in the Daily Mirror. They claim that Tottenham might grab Real Madrid striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar who was set to join Stuttgart but prefers a move to the Premiership.
Blackburn are apparently set to snap up giant Serbian striker Nikola Zigic.
Oh and the quotes by Sir Alex Chewalot that Manchester United will be doing no more shopping this summer have been contradicted by chief executive David Gill who claims they might yet still add to the squad. Whow ill be first with the ‘Ashley Young To Man Utd’ story?
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