Thursday's Transfer Talk + Randy Will Spend!

The Mirror today claim that Aston Villa have approached Spurs to find out the availability of former Blackburn Rovers and Arsenal midfielder David Bentley. They go on to say a swap deal involving Gareth Barry might be possible. Hogwash I'd say...!

Sheffield United's Kyle Naughton is also mentioned again in an otherwise quiet gossip day.

The only other bit I can find is Curtis Davies telling The Birmingham Mail that he expects an influx of players to Villa Park this summer.

The Villa defender says he expects lots of players coming inward but doesn't know about the outward bound players implying we can't afford to lose any because we have one of the smallest squads in the league.

'I am sure the gaffer wants to build the squad rather than be breaking it apart. It will be an interesting summer. Last summer I think we signed something like six players so I can imagine something along similar lines. If people see the progression we have made as a team, and we get the right names here, they could help push us into the top four.'

Some are implying after Randy Lerner took the time to talk to the press that the Villa supremo won't be spending as much money as last season. I think you can take quotes are read into them what you want, personally I don't think quotes like being willing to let Gareth Barry run down his contract and leave on a free instead of grabbing £10million this summer OR the quotes telling clubs to forget bidding for Gabby Agbonlahor and Ashley Young sound like they are coming from a Chairman not willing to put the money into the club?

He says he knows like all clubs that money will need to be made available for the summer and says he is also conscious 'of managing the players leaving and trying to generate funds from that. It is a balancing act but, yes, there will be funds. Will the credit crunch impact on funds available this summer? I don't really view the credit crunch as a big issue in terms of the funding for the summer. But, if anything, what has gone on in the economy makes you very conscious of building a sustainable business because, in the end, that is what you are responsible for doing.'

He does also warn, 'To the extent that you are deficit spending, maybe you should think very hard about how you are ultimately going to pay it off and the consequences of not being able to pay it off.'

So he isn't prepared to say how much they are going to spend. Seems sensible to me? And he isn't willing to pile debt onto Villa, again that sounds sensible? However he doesn't say that he won't be spending the tv money and placement prize OR some of his own money. So people can put 2+2 and come up with whatever they want, as far as I can see, Randy hasn't let any of us down yet and I can't see he wants to start now?

Full quotes: Randy Happy For Villa To Spend Again

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