Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: J P Fear 
Date:Thursday July 17 2008
Time: 11:46AM
UK time is: 14:38:29
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Thursday's Aston Villa Transfer Press Talk
The Sun claim that both Newcastle and Everton are fighting for the signature of Tottenham right-back Pascal Chimbonda for around £4million. Villa had been linked with the Frenchman but those links seem to have dropped off in recent weeks.
The press are having a field day over the Gareth Barry with plenty of different reports. The Guardian say that the former (I assume!) Villa captain 'was last night facing up to the sobering possibility of starting the season as an Aston Villa player, after it emerged that Rafael Benítez was beginning to explore other options in the transfer market.' Liverpool are now being strongly linked to Spurs striker Robbie Keane. This report claims that Rafa is exasperated' at Villa holding firm on the £18million valuation for the 27-year-old England midfielder.
The Daily Mail claim Barry's return to training 'descended into farce yesterday as he ended his first session back on the treatment table' having picked up a foot injury. They say this injury will kill any thoughts of him returning to take part in this weekends Inter game v Odense BK.
The Sun say that Barry was able to avoid a face to face 'confrontation' with MON saying that the Villa boss snubbed the player. This is sensationalist reporting, MON wasn't due in and left the training session to his coaches and assistant manager. MON was apparently trying to seal the signing of Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel. So there was no snub!
The Independent say that Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger's interest in Gareth Barry is waning as he isn't convinced the player is worth the £18million price set, however they have sold Alexander Hleb to Barcelona for £15million so would have the funds!
The Guardian say that Blackburn Rovers are looking to sign Scott Carson from Liverpool leaving Villa the chance to take Brad Friedel for £2.5million. This goes against the quotes from the Blackburn chairman last week saying Friedel was still in their plans
Links according to the official site today:
Michael Johnson (Man City)
Brad Friedel (Blackburn)
David Bentley (Blackburn)
Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough)
Anton Ferdinand (West Ham)
The Mirror expand on the Friedel link saying MON wants to sign him in time for the weekend Intertwobob cup game against Odense. The deadline is Friday for him to be able to play. The paper saying 'Rovers do not want to lose Friedel, 37, but they are struggling to compete with the huge package O'Neill is willing to give him to move on a three-year deal.'
The Daily Mail yesterday linked both Everton and Aston Villa to Manchester City's 20-year-old midfielder Michael Johnson.
The Birmingham Mail say Villa are confident of tying up the deal for Blackburn Rovers keeper Brad Friedel and are also confident of beating Spurs to the signing of David Bentley.
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Your Comments
I just want something definite to happen, no more reports or speculation, but only firm signings on the dotted line!!!
romanianvillain
There was quite a bit of talk in the press about how the Villa players would deal with Barry coming back in. Surely the players would be happy to see Gareth and would welcome him back to training? I find it hard to imagin them giving him the cold shoulder. Does anyone know anything about how the training session went?
PTP
I second that I am sick of reading the same stories being banded around that dont seem like anything will come of them or if they do we will be aiting another few months. I know tranfers cant be done over night but I want to see lots of new quality players holding our beloved shirt in the next couple of weeks.
Tez86
All this transfer speculation and still no RB on the horizon. That is the issue that worries me most. Surely we cannot go into next season without at least one specialist in that position?
Obediah
Cant go into the season with one keeper either!!!
young_jonah
Surely the Barry "injury" is a red herring? If he plays in the Intertwobob cup does that preclude him from playing in any other Eufa competition this season?
I still think Liverpool will come back again and we'll get Finnan as part of the deal.
Silver Fox
I should know this but I don't I'm ashamed to say ... who plays right back for the very successful reserves side? Are they worth a run in the team? I saw Lund play there in the friendly at Walsall last year and wasn't overly impressed. Did he play there all year?
Silver Fox
not totally sure Silver Fox, hopefully someone will know, that said, massive jump up and pressure isn't it? Surely there has to be a right back somewhere we can buy!??!?! You any good foxey?!?!?
The Fear
No, Barry playing in the Inter-Toto does not exclude him from Champions League football this season SilverFox. UEFA have changed their rules relating to that scenario. And from what I've seen of the reserves and the youth team, and I watch them both fairly often, I can confirm that there is no up and coming right full back working his way through the ranks.
glensider
Times ticking on, and our lack of activity in the transfer market, suggests to me that there is little chance of us bringing in the actual numbers that we require before September rolls around. We may make a couple of bigger-name signings, I certainly dont doubt that that's a probability, but I suspect that our problem of low numbers is going to remain with us through 2008-09.
glensider
I fully agree with you glensider we may get a team with more quality and perhaps a little more well balanced but I will worry about our numbers especially when you take into account Europe and if we have an (overdue) good cup run we could have ourselves a very tired squad when we get to the latter part of the season and certainly will run the risk of injuries.
Tez86
Apparantly Bouma mauled Barry 2 footed after 30 minutes on the training ground.
son_of_cher
Apparently Barry got injured in training yesterday! Don't know how much truth is in this, had he of been injured, im sure there would have been something up on the OS, they normally seem to confirm any injured players!
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
Guess by 2moro we will know what our likely starting line up will be for the Odense game. At the moment it seems as if it might be Taylor, NRC, Laursen, Knight, Bouma, Routledge, Petrov, Sidwell, Young, Carew, Agbonlahor. Seems strong enough to get through, pretty much the same line up from last season and they were did brilliantly!
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
it doesnt have to take weeks to sign players you only have to look at the deals done on the last day of the window to see that i'm afraid its martins achileas heal!!!!
avflell
Its a concern avflell, no one can argue with you on that score.
glensider
Would love to see Michael Johnson at the Villa. Great prospect and although maybe expensive, will surely prosper under MON. Whatever player we are linked to doesn't mean its on MON's radar, although we wish it to be true I know that, but we can't get away from the fact that we are desperately short in defence and therefore why the links and not signings! avflell you are correct, it does seem too easy sometimes and if they (agents+managers+players) can do it on deadline day with hours to go then why oh why can it not be done now? Can only suggest that agents and players at that point would rather take a move and the cash/signing on fee than no deal go thru at all.
holte ender 1969
This would seem to be the case with any potential big deal that MON is looking at. Bentley, Miquel and any other BIG targets will take time, unfortunately. I think we should still be signing squad players though asap. We need a bigger squad firstly and then try to add top quality thereafter or indeed at anytime. Frustrating!!!!
We all trust MON to add to the squad but why does it have to take so long in doing so. Has Randy told MON that he only has so much to spend or is it because MON is tighter than a camels armse in a sandstorm!
holte ender 1969
you wont get bentley and you dont need chimbonda
gazza 90
Villa finished above spuds so if its down to ambition then I think we have the edge and ofcourse everyone wants to play for the best man manager in the league. Yes I am biased. MON is our saviour.
holte ender 1969
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