Wednesday's Aston Villa Transfer Talk

Sky Sports have quotes from Brann midfielder Rodolph Austin who says there is interest in him from Villa. The 23-year-old was apparently watched by Villa scouts this week and the Jamaican international said to Dagbladet: 'All players want to play in the Premier League, so of course me to. I didn't know that Aston Villa were here, but even if it is tempting, I am keeping to the contract I have in Brann.' The club sports director has admitted to giving Villa some tickets for games and they know of the interest but added there had been 'no concrete talks'.

The London Evening Standard claim that Villa will try to lure Spurs midfielder Tom Huddlestone to Villa. No real substance or sources, just a couple of lines to fill the day by the looks of it!

Other rumours are linking Villa with Spurs winger David Bentley. What about James Milner then? Is the theory that Milner would then move to the centre to replace Gareth Barry? Who knows!

Another report says that Villa will try to bring Everton defender Joleon Lescott to Villa Park. Not sure why he'd want to move to a club of similar size and who finished lower than the Toffees but then if you'd asked me yesterday I'd have said Barry wouldn't go to Man City, so who knows and the way some of us are feeling at the moment, who cares...!?!?!?

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes says he can't stop 19-year-old striker Daniel Sturridge from leaving Eastlands with both Chelsea and Villa strongly linked with the England Under-21 player. Reports suggest City were willing to pay £55,000-a-week but the youngster wanted £80,000. I would guess, judging by his age, those reports are wide of the mark and it is more down to first team chances with Man City again spending big this summer?

Hughes says he has a 'high regard' for the player and wanted to keep him but admits as the player is available on a free (well, almost, due to the age there is a small fee involved I believe) 'if he gets offers from elsewhere, there's not much I can do about that.'

Reports today suggest he is Chelsea bound, I guess it all depends on how much he wants first team football. I was told quite strongly in January that he wanted a move to Villa (his family support Villa and so did he as a kid according to reports I've read) and that he was prepared to wait until the summer to get the move. Things move quickly in football though, what was true (sic) then might not be now.

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