The Sunday Transfer Rumour Mill

It is that time of year again and despite some people protesting, lets face it, we all love the rumours and tittle tattle don't we?

One report I saw yesterday linked Wes Brown. There was no substance in this link, just the fact that Wes might be moving away from Manchester United as the player doesn't think the clubs final offer is enough for him. Sir Alex Ferguson told the press yesterday: 'Wes hasn't agreed anything. That is entirely up to Wes, but we have made him a good offer and it really now is up to himself. It's a possibility that we might lose him. It's disappointing.'

But the link to Villa? I'd say no chance, we surely have enough central midfielders, that said he is young and English, so fits the profile Martin O'Neill appears to be going for. Maybe MON wants to build the England team at Villa as opposed to managing it for the Nation!?

Rumour rating? Poor. With Zat Knight, Curtis Davies, Gary Cahill, Martin Laursen and Olof Mellberg already in place, unless we let Laursen and Mellberg leave on free's in the summer and don't complete the purchase of Curtis Davies, there would be no need for Brown.

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Peter Crouch I've seen linked again and I believe this is one that might well be a goer. For that I guess we'll have to watch this space.

Rumour rating? Likely in my opinion. Crouch wants to play football and although he is at a big club, he is spending most of his time on the bench, he has already proved himself better than a bench warmer.

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The Sunday Express claim that Manchester United are after £15million-rated 21-year-old striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, also supposedly tracked by Arsenal.

Rumour rating? Unlikely but every player has his price. Do we need the money? Only Randy and MON know that, I doubt it. Wouldn't send out a brilliant signal to let a rising star leave the club but then, business wise it would make for a very good transaction as he came through the youth ranks.

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Reports last week suggested a deal has already been done for Liverpool's on loan goalkeeper Scott Carson. Martin O'Neill it seems disagrees! The Villa boss said: 'Is the Scott Carson deal going through? He is here for the season and we have heard nothing from Liverpool at all. Of course, that doesn't mean that you couldn't start talking about something beforehand and I'm aware Rafael Benitez mentioned something about it a week or so ago. But Liverpool haven't spoken to us and haven't spoken since Scott was capped for England.'

Rumour rating? Likely, but probably not until the end of the season. Scott has settled at Villa and doesn't want to go back to the Liverpool bench. Main question I guess is he worth a record breaking £10m or can Villa negotiate a better deal!?

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The News of the World claim that Villa will sign £5million rated Derby County winger Giles Barnes. He was strongly linked to West Ham but it is now reported that Villa have jumped ahead of them in the queue.

Rumour rating? Likely, exactly the sort of profile MON seems to be looking at, young, English and still developing.

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Villa, Fulham and Everton are being linked to Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.

Rumour rating? No idea, with no quotes, sources or substance to the report, I've no idea on this one!

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