Villa Targets And Who You Want

Vital Villa asked, in a poll suggested by CPAVFC and voiceoftheholte: Who do you most want to see Villa buy?

Sneijder (49%)
Jermain Defoe (21%)
Wright Phillips (17%)
Luke Young (3%)
Micah Richards (2%)
Drenthe (2%)
Alan Smith (1%)
Craig Gordon (1%)
Babel (1%)
Forlan (1%)
Scott Carson (1%)
Other/s (1%)
Harewood (0%) (off to Wigan)
Nugent (0%) (off somewhere, I forget where!)

First choice Sneijder has apparently set a transfer deadline himself telling clubs who want him they have until August 14 to get him!! He told Novum TV ‘I am not a guy who will miss games on purpose so that I can leave Ajax until August 31. I can tell you that when I play those games I will stay with Ajax no matter what.’

AVFC48 this morning asked what price Defoe (21%)? Babel £11.5m what price Defoe?

The Daily Star this morning claim that Martin O’Neill is after £8million rated Manchester United striker Alan Smith who polled above with a massive 1%! A poster called Cropped posted this on our site earlier backing up the Star’s claims: I live in South Manchester. I drink in the pubs where people connected with United and City drink. Last nights topic which might interest you was of Alan Smith moving to Villa. Beer talk but from those who have an ear to the ground. The word was also that he is not the same player. Caveat Emptor Premiership managers… If only I knew what Caveat Emptor Prem meant I’d be laughing.

Shaun Wright-Phillips, third choice in the poll with 17%, according to the Express and Star, is not for sale.

The Independent are claiming that Charlton have slashed the price they want for 28-year old England International Luke Young (3%) quoting £2.7 million. Young signed a four year deal with the Addicks last season but now they are relegated, he wants to leave. There’s loyalty for you! Alan Pardew said: We’ve had a few phone calls about Luke. I’ve got a lot of time and respect for Luke and I appreciate where he is in his career. If a decent club comes in and I thought the fee was right I’d let him go. I’ve obviously brought in a replacement already in Yassin Moutaouakil, who I feel is going to give real competition to Luke whether he stays or not.’ Boro, Newcastle and Manchester City are also believed to be interested. At that price I should think a lot more will also have an interest.

In other news, Villa miss-fit and former Manchester United midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba is apparently about to go on a season long loan to Lille. The report says that Villa will have to pay half of Jumper Jumpers wages. One report last month suggested he had been made a free agent and was looking for a club. Guess until it is announced on the official site, your guess is as good as mine on that one, if you care that is!

Oh, and some reports suggest we are after Spurs defender Anthony Gardener for about £3million. I’d stick with Cahill and Ridgewell over Gardener any day of the week, from the comments the Spurs fans leave on Vital Spurs, I get the feeling they would personally drive the player up to Villa Park to get shot!

Gareth Barry says in Sporting Life that he was surprised when Villa sold Gavin McCann: ‘It was a big surprise when Gavin left the club a few weeks ago. He certainly did a great job for us over the last four years. But we’ve got an automatic replacement in Nigel. I’m sure he can step into Gavin’s place and hopefully improve us along with the other players who will be coming in. ‘He was captain at West Ham and you need lads who can be vocal out of the pitch, and in reality you need 11 leaders. I’m sure Nigel will be bringing those leadership skills into the squad.’