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Aston Villa Transfer News and Rumours, Friday 31 December
Villa Set To Hold Talks With Young
Aston Villa are set to hold talks with Ashley Young in a bid to keep the England winger at Villa Park.
The 25-year-old has stalled on talks about signing a new £75,000-a-week contract at Villa Park and has been linked with a move to Manchester United, Spurs or Liverpool. However, Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner is set to speak to Young before Sunday’s clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in an effort to get him to change his mind.
Young has 18 months left on his current deal and Villa will make a decision regarding his sale after his talks with Faulkner. The club may decide to sell him in January to take full advantage of his £25 million valuation which is likely to fall as his contract moves towards its expiry.
After rumours in the summer linking him with a move to Spurs, Young is favourite to move to Manchester United as Sir Alex Ferguson steps up his attempts to find a replacement for Ryan Giggs.
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Aston Villa Transfer News and Rumours, Sunday 12 December
Manchester United In Bid For Young – Report
Manchester United are lining up a £20 million bid for Ashley Young in January, according to the Sunday People.
The paper suggests that United want to take advantage of player unrest at Villa to put in an offer for one of their star players.
Villa players are believed to have been in talks with new manager Gerard Houllier in a bid to get to the root of the problems that have led to Villa winning just three of his 13 games in charge – and one of those was against a Blackpool reserve side. Some players are believed to have been unhappy at Houllier’s methods although the People reports that some of the senior players have suggested that he will be at the club a lot longer than some of the players if they don’t start to perform.
United are expected to put in a bid for Young in January but if they fail then they will return with another bid in the summer.
One of the attractions of Young to United is that he isn’t cup-tied and will be able to play in the knockout stages of the Champions League. Sir Alex Ferguson also sees him as a replacement for the ageing Ryan Giggs.
Spurs have long been interested in Young, who recently broke off talks with Villa about a new contract. Liverpool and Manchester City are also said to be keen on the 25-year-old who joined Villa for £9.5 million from Watford in 2006.
Villa Set For McGeady Bid
Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier could be set to make an offer for Spartak Moscow winger Aiden McGeady.
The former Celtic player was transferred to the Russian side last summer in a £12 million deal but has failed to settle in Moscow and looks set to leave the club now the Russian season is over.
McGeady was linked with a move to Villa last summer having made his mind up to leave Celtic Park but no bid materialised and the Republic of Ireland international was eventually tempted by a deal from the Russian side.
The 24-year-old has made 16 appearances for Spartak after his arrival from Celtic in August, scoring twice and laying on eight assists, but he was sent off for a late challenge during Spartak’s ‘derby’ game with Dynamo Moscow in the last match of the season.
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Aston Villa Transfer News and Rumours, Wednesday 8 December
Villa In Sissoko Link
Aston Villa are today being linked with a £6 million bid for Juventus midfielder Momo Sissoko. The former Liverpool man has failed to settle in Serie A since arriving in Turin three years ago and Juve could be ready to let him go at the right price.
The Mali international is one of a number of targets for new boss Gerard Houllier along with Manchester United’s Michael Carrick and Arsenal’s Tomas Rosicky, as well as Robbie Keane, Frederic Piquionne and Allan McGregor.
Meanwhile, Villa are favourites to secure the signature of Manchester United keeper Tomasz Kuszczak as new boss Gerard Houllier steps up his search for a successor to Brad Friedel who is out of contract at the end of the season. Kuszczak looks set to leave Old Trafford following the arrival of Danish keeper Anders Lindegaard.
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Aston Villa Transfer News and Rumours, Monday 6 December
Villa Linked With Boro Keeper
Middlesbrough keeper Jason Steele is being linked with a move to Aston Villa. The England under-21 international has been first choice at the Riverside this season but there are reports that cash-strapped ‘Boro are ready to cash in on Steele and Villa boss Gerard Houllier has supposedly been tipped off by his coaching staff that Steele is a good future prospect.
Villa are looking to strengthen their goalkeeping options as Brad Friedel gets set to retire and could be set to make a bid for Steele in January. However, they are likely to face competition for Steele’s signature from Arsenal. The Gunners are believed to be ready to pay £4 million for Steele in order to solve goalkeeping problems of their own.
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Aston Villa Transfer News and Rumours, Sunday 5 December
Villa Interested In Michael Carrick – Report
Aston Villa are interested in Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick though they face competition from Fulham for his signature.
The Sunday People suggests that Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to let Carrick go at the end of the season but may even consider transferring him during the January transfer window. The paper says that the former Spurs man is happy at Old Trafford but it suggests that Sir Alex may have to wheel and deal to bring in new faces at the club and that Carrick may find himself being sold to bring in some cash.
Villa and Fulham Vying for Keane
Aston Villa are also said to be ready to go head-to-head with Fulham to sign Spurs striker Robbie Keane after boss Harry Redknapp said on Friday that Keane could go in the January transfer window.
Redknapp ruled out a loan move stating that whoever offered the most money for Keane in January would probably land his signature. That has led the Sunday People to speculate that both Fulham and Villa were leading the race to sign him. However, relations between Fulham and Spurs are said to be poor after Spurs signed Peter Crouch from under Fulham’s noses last year while Villa have been eyeing up a move for Keane since last summer.
The Irishman was linked with a move to the Vancouver Whitecaps, who will be playing in Major League Soccer next summer, but Redknapp denied on Friday that there had been any talks with the Canadian club.
Celtic Looking for Ireland Loan Deal
Celtic are said to be interested in taking Aston Villa’s Stephen Ireland on loan in January.
Ireland and his representatives were due to have talks with Villa officials last week. The former Manchester City midfielder has been unsettled since his £8 million move from Eastlands as part of the deal that took James Milner to City. Ireland has found first-team football hard to come by and does not see eye-to-eye with new boss Gerard Houllier.
The Sunday People suggests that Ireland would jump at the chance of a move to Celtic if he can’t secure a move to another Premier League club though Celtic would look at Villa paying some of his £60,000-a-week wages.
Villa are said to be interested in French striker Nolan Roux. The 22-year-old has scored four times this season for surprise club Brest in the French League.
Gerard Houllier is also reported today to be keen on signing former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse from Panathinaikos.
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Aston Villa Transfer News and Rumours, Tuesday 30 November
Aston Villa Transfer News and Rumours, Tuesday 30 November
Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland is set for talks with the club over the next few days to sort out his future at Villa Park.
The Irishman arrived at Villa Park during the summer as the £8 million makeweight in the James Milner deal but has started just three games under Gerard Houllier as he struggles to make an impact. Now Ireland and his representatives are set to meet Villa bosses in order to ascertain whether he stays at Villa Park or goes in January.
Villa To Revive Keane Interest?
Aston Villa are set to bid £6 million for Spurs striker Robbie Keane in January, accoridng to reports. Villa were linked with a move for Keane during the summer but baulked at his £75,000-a-week wages and the £12 million fee Spurs were then asking for him. But with Keane pushed further down the pecking order at White Hart Lane and desperate for first-team football the two sides could come to a compromise deal.
Spurs are looking to bring in new faces and want to clear the decks to free up cash for new players.
Villa are also said to be interested in Gothenburg’s teenage striker Robin Soder. The 19-year-old has also attracted the attention of AC Milan and Genoa.
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Aston Villa Transfer News and Rumours, Friday 26 November
Villa Slap £80 Million Price Tag On Young
Aston Villa have slapped an £80 million price tag on winger Ashley Young, according to the Daily Mail.
The news comes as Manchester United and Liverpool are said to be showing an interest in the 25-year-old who last month stalled on negotiations to extend his current deal.
Young has long been a target for Tottenham Hotspur but the Mail reports that United and Liverpool both lead the way in the race to sign the England international. Liverpool are said to be keen to sign English talent while United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is said to be an admirer of Young’s wing-play.
Young was in talks with Villa last month on a new contract said to be worth £75,000-a-week however he decided to bring a halt to negotiations amidst rumours of an impending move. His current deal runs to the summer of 2012.
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Aston Villa Transfer News and Rumours, Monday 22 November
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Houllier Wants Juninho – Report
Gerard Houllier wants to bring former Lyon midfielder Juninho to Aston Villa according to reports from France.
Radio Monte Carlo reports that Houllier is looking to sign the 35-year-old from Qatar club al-Gharrafa which Juninho joined after leaving Lyon in 2009. He worked with the dead-ball specialist while he was manager at Lyon and is believed to be ready to offer him a six-month contract in January.
Juninho scored 100 goals in 344 games during his eight years at Lyon before leaving for al-Gharrafa in a two-year deal worth 2.5 million euros. During his first season in Qatar he helped the club win the treble of league, Qatar Stars Cup and Qatar Crown Prince Cup.
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Aston Villa Transfer News and Rumours, Monday 22 November
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Villa Tipped for Wheater Bid
Aston Villa are set to make a £1.2 million move for Middlesbrough defender David Wheater.
The 23-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and Boro are looking to cash in on the player by selling him in January.
Stoke were being linked last week with a move for the former England Under-21 international whose career has gone off the rails after Boro’s relegation from the Premier League in 2009. Boro have a payroll of around £28 million a year and many of the current squad look set to leave the club, which is struggling near the foot of the Championship after many tipped them for promotion back to the Premier League.
Wheater played for current Villa assistant Gary McAllister during his short spell as coach at Middlesbrough at the start of the season so he is well-known to the Villa set-up.
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Aston Villa Transfer News and Rumours, Saturday 20 November
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Aston Villa Transfer News and Rumours, Saturday 20 November
Aston Villa want Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson either on a loan deal or in a permanent move.
The 23-year-old Republic of Ireland international is on the fringes of the first team at Old Trafford and has struggled to get into starting line-up but he remains very much part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s plans and Villa boss Gerard Houllier faces an uphill struggle to secure his signature.
A loan move is the likeliest option as this would at least give Gibson the opportunity to get a few games under his belt.
Gibson has played just 44 games for United in five years, the majority of those being Cup games and in Europe. He has loan spells away from Old Trafford previously, at Belgian side Royal Antwerp in 2006-07 and at Wolves in 2007-08.
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ston Villa Transfer News and Rumours, Saturday 13 November
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Villa Show Interest In Kazim-Richards
Aston Villa are keen on Fenerbahce midfielder Colin Kazim-Richards.
The former Bury, Brighton and Sheffield United man moved to Turkey in 2007 and played in the Turkish side that got to the semi-finals of Euro 2008, but a series of incidents including his alleged involvement in a sex scandal involving other Fenerbahce players, plus a motoring accident in which he broke his wrist, denying he was drunk at the time, led the Turkish side to seek an alternative club for him.
Kazim-Richards – or Kazim Kazim as he is known in Turkey – spent part of last season on loan at French side Toulouse before moving back to Fenerbahce for the start of this season.
Despite such a varied career Kazim-Richards is still only 24 and Villa boss Gerard Houllier is said to be keen on a move for him when his contract expires next summer. Villa are expected to commence negotiations in January.
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Martin O’Neill Set For Saudi Job
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O’Neill Set To Coach Al-Hilal
Former Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill is about to be appointed manager of Saudi Arabian club side Al-Hilal.
O’Neill has agreed a two-year deal worth £4.5 million to take charge of the Saudi champions but needs to speak to Villa first of all so he can sort out what are being described as “contract issues.”
The Ulsterman left Villa just five days before the start of the season and was most recently linked with the Leicester City job, however it looks likely he will turn his back on the UK and manage overseas for the first time in his career. His number two at Villa John Robertson is expected to join him in the Middle East.
The 12-time Saudi champions Al Hilal were until recently managed by Belgian Eric Gerets who left to manage the Moroccan national side after Al Hilal were knocked out of the Asian Champions League by Iranian side Zob Ahan last week. The team currently lie in fourth place in the Saudi Premier League, though their participation in the Asian Champions League has left them with games in hand on the teams above them.
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Aston Villa Transfer News and Rumours Monday 25 October
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Redknapp Denies Interest In Ashley Young
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has denied he has any interest in signing Aston Villa winger Ashley Young. Redknapp was reportedly interested in the 25-year-old during the summer and has been linked with Young again following news that contract negotiations between the player and his club have been halted.
Villa boss Gerard Houllier claims the reason talks have stalled is because Tottenham are “closing in” on the player. Young has been offered £75,000 a week to remain at Villa where his current contract also includes loyalty bonuses of £200,000.
However, Redknapp has flatly denied that Spurs have spoken to Young. “We’ve never made an enquiry for him, no, never. There’s nothing there,” Redknapp said yesterday.
“I’m strong in those positions. I have Aaron Lennon, Gareth Bale, Nico Kranjcar on the left. I can’t get Nico Kranjcar on and he is a fantastic player. It’s hard enough as it is when you have a good squad because it’s a juggling act all the time.
I feel sorry for Nico. He gets three goals for his country in two games and I can’t get him on the pitch again. What am I going to do with another left-winger, give myself another headache?”
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Aston Villa News: Young Halts Contract Talks
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Ashley Young Halts Contract Negotiations
Ashley Young has called a halt to contract negotiations with Aston Villa. Young has been in negotiations with the club about a new £75,000-a-week contract. The 25-year-old winger told The Sun: “I’ve told the people at Villa that I won’t be signing a new contract at the moment.
“I know they want to get it done now but my current deal still has a year to run after this season and I feel there is plenty of time to talk next summer.”
Spurs are said to be keen on signing Young, who joined Villa for £9.65 million from Watford in 2007, but a move in the close season was shelved after Harry Redknapp was unable to meet Villa’s transfer demands and the player’s wages.
“I want to stress that I have no problem with Aston Villa,” Young added. “I love the fans and I’m very much enjoying my football. I want to concentrate on what’s happening on the field and don’t want to get distracted.
“It’s a big season for me and I’m hopeful there are good times ahead under the new manager.”
Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror is suggesting that Young wants a £13-14 million release clause put into his new contract. He also currently receives a £200,000 loyalty bonus from Villa at the beginning and end of each season.
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Aston Villa News: Davies Blasts O’Neill
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Davies Claims He Was A “Spare Part”
Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies has claimed he was no more than a “spare part” under former Villa boss Martin O’Neill.
Davies joined Leicester City on a month’s loan last week and made his debut in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Hull City.
“My career hasn’t just stalled – it had stopped,” Davies said.
“People described me as having a lack of form or an injury but how can you lack form without playing games? I wasn’t allowed to go on loan in January but was kept as a spare part basically.”
Davies spent some time on the treatment table last season following the recurrence of a shoulder injury but rumours of a loan move to Celtic following his return to fitness proved to be wide of the mark.
“I didn’t want to leave Villa – I wanted to go out on loan, play some games then come back and fight for my place but I was denied that opportunity because I was told I was going to get games and then was not even involved. To be cast aside was a bitter pill to swallow.
“Were promises broken? Yes, but I was more angry than hurt as I knew I should have been allowed to go out on loan and play matches.”
Davies was impressive in his debut on Saturday, which was also the first game in charge for new boss Sven-Goran Eriksson.
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Aston Villa Transfer News and Rumours, Saturday 16 October
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Houulier Mulls Bid For Keane
New Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier has rekindled the club’s interest in Spurs striker Robbie Keane.
Former boss Martin O’Neill was keen to take the Republic Of Ireland international to Villa Park during the summer when it became clear the Keane would only be peripheral player at White Hart Lane this season.
O’Neill’s departure put Villa’s interest on hold but Houllier is interested in a cut-price January move for the disaffected striker.
The Villa boss is monitoring Keane’s situation after reports of a bust-up with Spurs boss Harry Redknapp.
Keane’s lack of first-team football was given by Ireland boss Giovanni Trapatoni as the reason Keane missed two glorious chances for his country against Slovakia this week.
“Keane could have scored if he was in his best condition,” the manager said. “It is clear he is not fit for 90 minutes.”
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Aston Villa Transfer News and Rumours, Friday 8 October
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Reo-Coker Attracting Interest from Turkey
Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker could be on his way to Turkey after attracting interest from Galataseray.
Reo–Coker is out of contract at the end of the season and can talk to overseas sides from 1 January. However, the 26-year-old has forced his way back into contention under Gerard Houllier after being linked with a move away from Villa Park during the summer.
Villa have yet to begin talks with Reo-Coker about a new contract but Houllier is said to be keen to offer a deal and talks are expected to begin in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, the Istanbul side are said to have been in contact with the player’s representatives about a summer move to Turkey.
Carew Weighs Up Options
One player who could move on from Villa Park is John Carew. Like Reo-Coker, Carew is out of contract next summer but the 31-year-old says he is open to offers.
“I’m in a very comfortable position,” he said yesterday. “The spell at Villa has been fantastic and I have enjoyed myself in England, but I will now see what opportunities and challenges turn up.”
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Aston Villa Transfer News and Rumours, Sunday 3 October
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Carrick Plays Down Villa Rumours
Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has played down rumours linking him with a move out of Old Trafford.
Gerard Houllier is keen on signing Carrick for Aston Villa, according to the Sunday People, and while the 29-year-old is a rare choice for United these days a he did put in an appearance in their 1-0 Champions League win in Valencia on Wednesday.
“I have seen some stories suggesting I’d be leaving last summer but I take no notice. It’s part of the game. I have never thought I was on my way out of United, not for one minute. It has never entered my mind and neither has the manager said anything to me.”
Carrick picked up an Achilles injury during United’s Community Shield clash with Chelsea at the beginning of August and said it could be difficult to get back into the side after injury:
“I have had an Achilles ¬problem for a while, but I have had an injection and, thankfully, that has cleared it up.
“It can be difficult because the ¬manager has so much talent available in midfield. He’s got guys like Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs still at their peak, and Nani, Fletcher, Anderson, Park and Gibson all want a place in midfield too, so it’s competitive. To play a full 90 minutes for United in Valencia and be part of a great result was a boost.”
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Aston Villa Transfer News and Rumours, Thursday 30 September
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Villa Keep An Eye On £5m Vossen
Aston Villa and Everton are both keeping tabs on Belgian striker Jelle Vossen. The 21-year-old has hit 13 goals in nine games this season for his club Racing Genk after rejoining them from Cercle Bruges during the summer. Genk are said to rate Vossen at £5 million.
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Aston Villa Transfer Rumours, Wednesday 29 September
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Houllier To Make Decision Over Trio
New Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier will decide in the next three months whether to let Nigel Reo-Coker, Steve Sidwell and John Carew leave the club during the next transfer window or to keep them until the end of the season.
All three are out of contract next summer and can speak to foreign clubs in January.
Both Reo-Coker and Sidwell played in Villa’s 2-1 win over Wolves on Sunday while Carew has an impressive scoring record of 52 goals in 127 games since Houllier sold him while manager of Lyon in 2007.
All three are out of contract in the summer so Houllier can expect to receive nominal transfer fees for the players but the three each earn over £50,000 a week the new boss’s reasoning for selling them would be to get them off Villa’s wage bill.
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