Suprised there isn't a thread on this already???!!!! Seems like your interested in two Norwich players, Grant Holt and John Ruddy, would you be gappy to sign them? and if you did sign Ruddy where would it leave Given?
Ruddy has just signed a new 4 year deal with Norwich and whilst I would have Holt at Villa he really doesn't fit our criteria at the moment, I don't think the board would sanction a potential £4-5M fee for a 31 year old with no return on the fee because of his age.
Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert is homing in on Feyenoord midfielder Karim El Ahmadi to become his first signing. The 27-year-old Netherlands-born Moroccan international has been with Feyenoord since signing from home town club Twente Enschede in 2008. But new Villa manager Lambert is now keen to bring him over to England. "We're in talks at this moment, those talks are ongoing and we hope to reach a positive conclusion with Feyenoord and the player," said Lambert. "Karim is a player who I feel could definitely improve our squad. "He has experience of big club football and also at international level. "He can pass the ball well and he could be an important player for us in central midfield. Let's see how things progress. We're very hopeful."
Dissapointed with it so far... no big mentions and also peter whittingham heavily linked with a move back. I'd be looking for players like Adam Johnson,nathan redmond etc.
Strong rumours that we are talking to Adam Johnson, and that Clyne from Palace is looking a probability rather than a possibility, would be happy with both if true...SOTC
Strong links so far have been this Al Ahmadi guy, Adam Johnson and Nathaniel Clyne. They're the 3 names being spouted around numerous sources across Twitter non-stop. Truth in them? Who knows.
Correct. Some probably would...however they (and their misguided opinion) are thankfully as insignificant as you are.
Al Ahmadi a done deal then. Can't really pass comment, I don't know anything about the lad. Hope he's decent!
Matthew Lowton from Sheffield United is the latest right back to be linked with Villa, and if his performances that I saw on Sky last season are anything to go by I hope we snap him up real quick.
Matty Lowton is a good player, really sad to see him leave us. HOWEVER, he is not good enough for the Premier League at the moment in my opinion. His defensive positioning is quite poor, which can cost him at times as he doesn't have the blistering pace compared to such as Walker, and he doesn't stop enough crosses getting into the box for me. He's still quite young at 23 though, so he has plenty of time to learn. I felt he could have done with a full season at Championship level to develop his game a bit more first but Lambert obviously thinks he's good enough if the £3m fee is true. I personally think it will be half of that with various add-ons. On a positive note, he's excellent going forward. He's scored a few goals for us considering he plays right back, and his crossing is good leading to a number of assists for us. I'd suggest he'd be better on the right wing if he's stepping up to the top level. He's really brave aswell, not afraid to go into a tackle and is good in the air despite his relatively small stature. Like I said, not the finished article but plenty to work with.
Really glad this has been done, Daz Blade after having Alan Hutton at right back last season I've no doubt in my mind that Lowton will be better Han I'm already. Matthew Lowton has spoken of his delight after completing a "dream move" to*a "massive Premier League club"*from League One playoff runners-up Sheffield United. The 23-year-old Lowton has signed a four-year deal which will take him up to the end of the 2015-16 season at Villa. He is the club's third signing of the transfer window, following the acquisition of Karim El Ahmadi and Brett Holman. Villa boss Paul Lambert*described Lowton as "a bright prospect*with the potential to be a really good player for us." Chesterfield-born Lowton is predominantly a right-back but has displayed his versatility in the past by operating in a number of roles across the back four and in midfield for the Blades. He was an ever-present for Danny Wilson's team in 2011-12, playing in 52 matches in all competitions. Lowton made 47 appearances in League One - including the playoffs - as United narrowly missed out on promotion with a penalty shootout defeat to Huddersfield in the play-off final. He found the net six times during the league campaign. "It's every boy's childhood dream to play in the Premier League and it was one of mine," Lowton said. "This opportunity is fantastic and I thank the manager for giving it to me. Hopefully I can repay the faith that's he's shown in me and keep going at a higher level. "Just from driving up to the training ground you can see the difference in the quality of things. The training ground looks spectacular and the pitches look phenomenal. It's a massive club in the Premier League with a big fan base and I'm looking forward to getting to work as soon as I can. "I played the majority of last season at right back but I have played right midfield and central midfield as well. I think my main asset is going forward and my technical ability but obviously I'm going to try and add whatever the manager is after from me. These are exciting times for me and I can't wait to go out and start playing." Lambert said: "Matthew is a really talented young player who brings a lot of things that can really benefit the club. He's a good player already and he's only young so he has the potential to be a really good player for us. "He's hungry to succeed and to go further in the game, both of which are attributes that we want at this football club and that we are looking for. "We won't put any pressure on him, we just want him to go out and enjoy playing. What he's done so far at Sheffield United has been great so hopefully we can progress him a bit and he'll do very well for us." Lowton also spoke of his excitement at working with Lambert and with his new team-mates. "It's fantastic to think I'll be playing under Paul Lambert. I was flattered when I heard the interest and, when speaking to him, he's helped me settle in nicely so far. Hopefully we can get on well and I can fight for my place and play a few games this season. "As a League One player last season, Premier League players are what everyone looks up to. Seeing guys like Darren Bent and Gabby Agbonlahor and people like that is fantastic. Meeting players who have played international and Premier League football all their lives is amazing. "You can sense the buzz around the place at the moment. The lads were all having a laugh and joke when I came in this morning and they've all been very welcoming which was very good of them. It's a new era with the new manager and a few new signings. "The squad has already got some fantastic players, everybody knows them so hopefully we can all come together and have a successful season." A product of Sheffield United's academy, Lowton progressed through the youth ranks before making his first team debut as a substitute against Cardiff in March 2010. He had already gained experience of senior football during loan spells at non-league Sheffield FC and United's Hungarian partner side, Ferencvaros. Lowton contributed to Ferencvaros winning promotion during the 2009-10 campaign before returning to Bramall Lane. The following season, he featured 32 times for United and chipped in with four goals.
Rumoured 700k, rising to £2mil with add-ons, poor signing and Villa could have surely got such an average player for less considering United's history of a selling club and there current financial plight. Good luck to the lad though.
Are we talking about the same player here because every time I saw Sheffield United on Sky last season I thought he looked a real promising player.
23 years old and half decent for league one level. I'd take him in the Championship, but not for that money and not in the Premiership.
