Friday's Villa Transfer & Press Talk

Still not that many rumours doing the rounds, all very boring!

Setanta sports yesterday had an exclusive interview with Sunderland boss Roy Keane who said that Spurs defender Younes Kaboul would not be joining the Black Cats. So maybe Villa are still in for him? Although Harry Redknapp seems desperate to get the player and has spoken numerous times in the press, much to the annoyance of Keane judging by a few choice words by him last week! Sunderland have however got right-back Pascal Chimbonda. Surprised me we didn't go for him, then again, I'm not the boss - thank the lord Paul McGrath!

The papers are still full of will he, won't he over Gareth Barry. Not sure I can be bothered to go into much detail, it is all very confusing and to be fair, I would trust the statement of our club and directors over and above press talk. If our guys have said Barry is going nowhere, surely unless a club break the bank to get him, that statement will stand. All players have a price but for Barry it has to be very high to back down now surely? And then again, it wouldn't be backing down would it, it would be winning surely?!?! The Daily Mail claim that a £19million move will be finalised this weekend. I doubt it.

Liverpool's Steve Finnan is still being linked to Villa, in relation to the Barry saga. Yawn.

The Sun cover the surprising and delightful news that Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies has stunned doctors with his recovery from an Achilles heal injury and will be fit for the new season (having played yesterday in a behind closed doors friendly Davies Delight). Davies said 'I feel great. It was a good game to get 60 minutes in. I felt I could have played the full 90 but I'll take it slowly, one day at a time and see how I come through it.'

The Mirror say that Gareth Barry won't sign a new contract with Villa even if a get out clause is offered. Really not trusting these press reports at the moment, they seem to vary to much and at the end of the day Barry has two years left on his contract, if Villa don't want to sell him this summer, they don't have to!

Reading's Nicky Shorey is still also being touted as a possible left-back for us.

This one is a bit baffling, I can't understand why Villa would be thinking of a loan?! Anyway, the Daily Mail say that Martin O'Neill is looking to take Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre on a year's loan to provide left-back cover for the injured Wilf. The Mail say O'Neill has sounded out Sir Alex Chewalot about the possibility of using Silvestre on a temporary basis. The former Inter Milan star has been working his way back to full fitness following a cruciate ligament injury suffered early last season. He returned to the first-team at Old Trafford but has found opportunities difficult to come by due to the form of Patrice Evra. Oh right, this explains it, a loan would suit Silvestre as he is in the final year of his contract and also due a testimonial.

And that, appears to be that. Got to be some arrivals next week haven't there (not sure how long we have to keep saying that!) but the season is coming up and we are now in Europe so the squad has to grow and quickly! Bet they all come along in one go... ever the optimist! One thing I do know is the backing is there.

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