Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: J P Fear 
Date:Sunday December 30 2007
Time: 5:40PM
UK time is: 06:36:28
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The Sunday Transfer Speculation
The Sunday Mirror say - in a report with no quotes or substance - that Birmingham City are interested in signing a second Villa defender, this time Gary Cahill for £2m. Cahill is also being linked to Sheffield United and Sunderland.
Rumour rating? They already have one in Liam Ridgewell, hopefully they won't get a second, especially as Gary Cahill is a great prospect and should remain a Villan.
The Lancashire Evening Post says that Roy Keane is looking at bidding £3million for Pompey midfielder/full back Matt Taylor. What has that to do with us? Well according to them Aston Villa, Reading and Everton are also interested in the 26-year-old.
Rumour rating? He is bound to end up somewhere as he is too good to spend time on the bench at Pompey surely? To Villa? Who knows.
Another report claims Villa are interested in Spanish Under-21 full-back José Ángel Crespo who is a Sevilla youth academy product. His current deal runs until 2010 so any purchase won't come cheap for the 20-year-old.
Rumour rating? Seems a bit of a random link to me, doubtful.
The Sunday press have again linked Aston Villa with Spurs striker Jermain Defoe. He is also being linked with Portsmouth, Chelsea and Manchester City. Reports claim he will definitely move in January.
Rumour rating? He'll go somewhere, whether Martin O'Neill thinks he will fit into the Villa team with two small quick forwards already in Young and Gabby I'm not sure. I'd rather see us go for a striker who is playing and scoring regularly though. The Spurs fans always seem quite split on him although given the chance he does seem to know where the goal is!
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Your Comments
Matt Taylor always looks good but then again, you only see the highlights and those great goals he scores. Not sure on Defoe, surely there is a reason he doesn't get played for Spurs, he has been super sub for a few years now. Does look good on his day but again, when you only see highlights you only really get a taste of the player when scoring.
The Fear
I think Matty Taylor would be a good addition for us as he can play left back or left midfield and Berger has had his day unfortunately.
If we had Taylor we could then leave GB in the middle of the park if there were injuries to Freddie or Ash. Also he does pop up with the odd wonder goal which we seem to lack. The only fly in the ointment as far as I can see is that Pompey are going to be depleted by the African Nations Cup so I'd be surprised if they sold him in January, unless they need the money of course.
Jon.H
Out of the rumours I've heard for players in that position, I'd rather have Riise than Taylor, but who knows if there is any truth in any of it. Oh, I'll be WELL miffed if Cahill leaves, but if he goes the Sty... *shudders*
Sheriff Kimbo
Matt Taylor - why do we want a player who can't break into the Pompey team? All the others are lazy journos shooting fish in a barrel. Defoe? Gone off him, no thanks.
Saurat
We are four point's off a champions league place what a good selling point to attract top class players, we need to spend at least 30 mil and have a good crack at achieving 4th spot. If under Ellis we was in the same position we would be getting on his back to spend, maybe randy should order MON to spend.utv
chris the villan
Trying to look at the Cahill issue another way - If he was that good why is he not in the team now - or at least not on the bench yesterday? Is a lack of pace at the highest level the issue? I like Cahill but I just wonder whether, if we are aiming for the top 5 or 6 is he good enough at that standard? To get there we need better players than we have now. The test could be - if he was sale who would buy him? Manure or the Sty? If the latter then perhaps it tells its own story. After all he got left out of the U-21s team as last summers competition progressed. No I don't want to see him go, but just raising the point as to whether he is good enough to take us forward?
Gordonsleftboot
Kimbo's right about Cahill still don't understand the knight transfer.
chris the villan
We need 2x Laursen's and 2x Gabby's in the transfer window. From somewhere a Jimmy Rimmer and I think we will be ok for europe.
morky13villa
we need more men to throw in and around our young boys, experience, and good heads. i think i know what morky means when he says we need two more laursens, players that appitamise his bravery and commitment to their games - not sure defoe represents that for me, he comes accross as a spoilt little boy sometimes with his ego and tantrums.
Stig
Not sure what Defoe would give us he isn't any better that the players we have. I have doubts about Cahill he gets pulled out of position by good strikers. We need right sided defenders and midfielders as that is where we are weak. We score plenty of goals and our conversion rate of chances to goals is as good as anybodies so another striker would be a waste. I think now we are one of the best counter attack teams in the league but we find it difficult to break down teams who sit back and defend. A fast right winger would be ideal as Gabby's real position is as a striker. Whatever we do I still think we have a real chance at a top 6 place and a top four place is out of reach for now.
daveldvilla
Whoever we're looking at, or whoever we're linked with, there's no doubt that January is a very important month for us incoming transfer wise. MON has to get it right. We are in a great position to challenge for a competitive european football placing, i.e. top six, lets not throw this golden opportunity away by sitting still and not improving a squad thats craving for both more numbers, and more importantly, more quality. I wouldn't allow anyone to leave the club, not Gary Cahill, not Luke Moore, not anyone. We need numbers to see us through.
glensider
Cahill and Curtis as the preferred partnership in 18 months time when Lausen's legs have gone again and Mellberg is getting a suntan in Spain.
Villan444
I agree with Glensider, get the numbers in first then look at getting rid of the rest of the deadwood. The only player I would let go straight away is Sorensen, not because he is a bad 'keeper but because his attitude stinks.
Jon.H
if we don't unveil someone at midnight I'll be well *****ed off :)
eltoro
a lot of speculation around this Crespo guy!! We do need a solid Right back, if we get one we should let Melberg go and ake the cash!
We also need a centre half, as Cahill would be the only cover if we had one injured/banned and surely Laursen cant play 40 games this season.
leelindsay
James Milner anyone?
glensider
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