Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: J P Fear 
Date:Tuesday August 28 2007
Time: 10:29AM
UK time is: 09:47:55
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Villa Transfer Speculation Frenzy!!
Right, this is the week we have to get 3-4 (at least) signings in and the press seem to be on a transfer rumour feeding frenzy, lets just hope the club is on a transfer spending frenzy!
One report says that Villa will bid £20million for Spurs striker Jermain Defoe and West Bromwich central defender Curtis Davies. I can't see how that adds up though? Defoe is an England striker, surely he'd cost more than £10million? That said, he is on the last year of his contract, if he continues to refuse to sign a new one, then he could walk for nothing next summer, something the board of Spurs will avoid at all costs. The Star claim Villa will bid £11million, hope it is true, hope we get him as he has more change of getting to 20 goals for us than any of our current players. However I can see Manchester United sneaking in and grabbing him.
Davies has been linked all summer long, there must be some sticking point and you can only assume it is the price. So if he is considered too expensive, surely we move on and look at the next target?
Well, according to some papers, we have moved on as O'Neill refuses to pay £10million for the Baggies defender. The latest links claim we are now looking at bidding £4million for Fulham defender Zat Knight, who as it happens is a Villa fan. The giant defender was linked during the O'Leary reign as well. I'm not convinced he is the next step up or European standard, but hey ho, suck it and see as they say! Strange link though, the 27-year-old has only just recently signed a new three year deal at Fulham.
Another report suggests we'll bid £7million for Werder Bremen defender Per Mertesacker. I thought his agent had ruled out a move?
The Guardian claim that we are also after Tottenham winger Wayne Routledge who has struggled to hold down a place in the Spurs side since moving from Crystal Palace. Routledge has spent most of his White Hart Lane career on loan at Pompey and Fulham. Not sure what is wrong with him, always looks a very handy player to me, maybe the Spurs fans will pop on and let us know in the article comments why he hasn't had a run for their team. I know an injury set him back when he first moved, but what happened then!?
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Your Comments
Would Routledge be a replacement for Maloney if went back oop North?
tarzan
If Owen cost £8m in the final year of this contract maybe Defoe should cost less
Christo
Not sure why we would need another winger. Can't see the Routledge rumour being true because of that. Zat Knight would be a decent enough stop gap signing to provide cover, but he isnt the next step up as has been said already.
DeanoVilla
If Routledge aint good enough for Spurs and has been sent out on loan to mid table clubs then it really is a no no and as for Zat well I just cant make up my mind.
Christo
Why did we let Ridgwell go. We are not getting anything better for suggested players costing 3 times more.
To make things worse we have done our neighbours a favour
Is this the Value for money Mon has been searching?
Once again his petnob let us down with SD looking sharper
FatKev
good point christo, personally i'd have got Owen though with this release clause, but i guess defoe is very hungry now to prove himself and make that England team too, just wish SWP moved too :-P and we bidded for Adriano too :-P
shortshadyuk
Time is running out and I guess that only time will tell about these "world class" players that the General spoke about. The Knight deal seems to have some substance - I agree with FatKevs comments regarding Ridgewell - Lets get Defoe and Curtis I say and then Johnson from Cheski!
VillaBob
Owen's wages would have been a slight stumbling block! near 100k per week I believe!
tarzan
I hope we put a bid in for Adriano then that would get people talking
Christo
This week is going to be none stop surfing for me. come on MON don't let me or everyone else who loves the Villa down. we are desperate for success, we have watched this great club sleep for too long whilst other clubs with less tradition over take us. Come on MON do it for the fans....... get Randy's wallet out and splash the cash.
*Holte*End*Star*
Zat Knight? Why? We need a right back! He's no better than Ridge. Routledge? Why? We don't need another winger! Johnson is a sensible move. I'm happy with Defoe and Davies. All five together would be acceptable to improve the squad as a whole.
VillaYamYam
We let Ridge go because he wanted out, pure and simple. Knight would be a very useful squad player, but hopefully his signing wouldn't end any interest in signing Davies from West Brom, although logic and knowledge of AVFC would suggest it would. Routledge would be a gamble, but if he came off, Ash on the left, Routledge wide right, now that would be pace on both flanks. A defending teams nightmare. Defoe, we should really pay the asking price and ensure we get him, no ifs, no buts. We need a proven goalscorer, and he's one of the very best out there. We cant continue with our shot shy strike force. Plus a right full back please. Dont forget the right back Mart.
glensider
I just have a feeling MON will dumbfound all of us. How? ...is anyone's guess. We can only hope he gets it right and we're firmly in the top-half of the table by x'mas.
villacross
tarzan - wages should'nt be a barrier - there's no longer a "cap" on player's wages, but god knows how the rest of the squad would take it in the unlikely event that someone was paid £100k per week.
villacross
BBC sport are saying the Zat Knight deal is on. They are usually quite accurate.
HolteEnder43
Put in a bid for Adriano Christo? Get people laughing, dont know about talking. Lets keep it real here. Half the problem this summer is that supporters feel cheated, purely because speculation has been rife concerning virtual unapproachables.
glensider
I think Routledge would be a worthwhile acquisition. When we switch to an attacking 4-4-2 like the second half v Fulham he would be ideal. Gabby is NOT a wide player. He should only be considered as a central striker, but plays wide right on occassions because we have no one else. SWP would have been better, but he is getting regular football at Chelski now, so routledge would give us better OPTIONS with Young and Maloney both prefering wide left.
Zat Knight is a reasonable squad player, not an exciting signing, but a solid one.
I don't rate Glenn Johnson and would much prefer Justin Hoyte if we can't get the Porto lad.
Defoe would be a definite yes. A great acquisition.
I think we also need another central midfield player, but can't think of a suitable one available. Perhaps, this is where our foreign scouts earn their money.
We haven't got long!
krfeskivilla
Villa to get Adriano, Inter sponsored by Nike - A years loan deal for him and will boost the AVFC name.
KSarge1
Not according to Sky
tarzan
Zat Knight is ours according to Soccernet.
Scot Dutch
If Man City stand a chance for him then so do we
Christo
According to the Express & Star........
Villa to pay £3.5m for Knight
Villa should complete the £3.5m signing of Fulham defender Zat Knight today - but it will not end their chase for Albion’s Curtis Davis.
even with Knight signing (if he does) MON still wants to strengthen
*Holte*End*Star*
Adriano............ we can but dream. KSarge1 your right about the Nike link, isn't Fulham's kit made by Nike? :-)
*Holte*End*Star*
Glensider, Adriano for his international career needs first team footy, all the big teams wont give him it unless he is match fit, this is our only chance to grab a world class forward, raise our profile and hve one signing worth screaming about, we give him a get out clause of 20m so if we dont get into europe he could possibly move for profit, we need a seriously good forward and a creative/flair midfielder ala Nasri were u having a dig at Christo for his comment or just on rep? i think his point was a valid one
shortshadyuk
If Knight plays second fiddle to Cahil (as ridge did) Knight will want out in 12 months. - Good money spent for reason. Harewood+Knight+Routledge = £11m or Yakubu £11m - which is better value and would improve our team more.
qKing
15:30 and still no signings.
Dear Father Chrimbo, i would like for christmas (or a little bit earleir if poss) a couple of things listed..... 1)RB, 2)LB, 3)CB and a 4)a striker. I've been a good boy (appart from spending more time on the net than doing my job)
*Holte*End*Star*
Defoe, Routlege deal at £20mill must be a serious "goer" for Spurs. £10mill for Davies, still only a possibility and if it happens, it surely will be 11th hr? Knight at £3-4mill a good banker that looks fairly certain. Johnson from Chelsea - let's hope as we can also for goal-scoring all-rounder Dica. Mertesacker? still can't see this one yet.
villacross
Just heard on BBC that Knight is signed for £3.5mill. Seems he is a Villa supporter, so was Ridge but Ridge probably had more versatility, much younger with more potential - the mystery of this window deepens.
villacross
No......I'm a Villa fan to but Villa would be crazy to buy me - demand too much money to come out of retirement. Ridge gone for 2 mil, knight in for 4mil? Wheres the sense in that. I can only assume it's a stop gap cover for Laursen. Wasn't Knight injured on the weekend anyway? Ridge wanted out anyway I suppose.
myleftfoot
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