Thursday Transfer Rumours
All the latest rumours and gossip that have been spreading around that involve Villa. Read more
Keane for Gabby and Eduardo
With the World Cup taking center stage at the moment there isn’t many rumours doing the round but I did find one that Neil Ashton is reporting in the News of the World.
He is suggesting that Villa and Spurs are to start negotiating a possible move involving both Gabriel Agbonlahor and Robbie Keane.
It’s no secret that Martin O’Neill is an admirer of Robbie Keane but I really can’t see there being any truth in this story what so ever.
Agbonlahor is a local boy who has supported Villa since a boy, and he is also a favourite of Martin O’Neill’s and despite him possibly wanting Keane I don’t think he would want to lose his golden boy in the process.
Eduardo
Apparently Villa have emerged as front runners for Arsenal forward Eduardo’s signature.
Arsenal have already signed French forward André-Pierre Gignac on a free transfer and are rumoured to be in for Joe Cole who is a also a free agent.
Eduardo hasn’t quite been the same player since he had his leg snapped at Birmingham a few years ago and a move to a new club might be just what the Croatian needs.
Rodallega and Der Wiel on O’Neill’s wish-list?
Wigan striker Hugo Rodallega is apparently a target of Martin O’Neill and we are to do battle with Arsenal for the front man’s signature.
Owner Dave Whelan has already stated that he won’t stand in the way of Hugo if a big club come knocking as he tend’s to say with many of his players.
Rodallega, who scored 13 goals last season has already stated that he has received a offer from Arsene Wenger and Arsenal but nothing official is yet to be made.
The Daily Star goes on to say that Villa have scouted Hugo for some time and that they want to replace John Carew and Emile Heskey who are both targets for Fiorentina and Stoke.
I don’t think there is much truth in this story for a couple of reasons. One being Arsenal have just snapped up Marouane Chamakh on a free transfer and Arsene doesn’t like to splash the cash which this deal is supposedly worth around £10million.
Also, the article says that Martin O’Neill will switch his targets after losing out on Nikola Zigic – which Villa released a statement earlier this week declaring they never had any interest in the player what so ever.
Gregory van der Wiel
O’Neill is said to want Gregory Van Der Wiel in a deal set to be worth around £4million to replace the outbound Luke Young and Habib Beye.
For those who don’t know much about Der Wiel, I’ve done a little scouting around. He’s 22 years old and plays his trade for Ajax. Last week he was also named as part of the Holland party to be going to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Reo-Coker Returns
Nigel Reo-Coker returns to action tonight for the Aston Villa reserves as they take on Arsenal Reserves.
Reo-Coker has been missing for three months with an ankle injury, and will join Wilfred Bouma in the side.
The Reserve side can go one step closer to winning the league tonight if they beat Arsenal. They will go five points clear, with only Fulham having a chance if they can win their games in hand.
The likes of Nathan Delfouneso, Andreas Weimann, Marc Albrighton and skipper Ciaran Clark are also primed for action in the clash at Villa Park.
The squad is the following:
VILLA: Andy Marshall, Johnathan Hogg, Wilfred Bouma, Ciaran Clark, Stephen O’Halloran, Marc Albrighton, Nigel Reo-Coker, Moustapha Salifou, Dominik Hofbauer, Andreas Weimann, Nathan Delfouneso. Substitutes: Harry Forrester, David Bevan, James Collins, Matthew Roome, Daniel Bradley.
You can keep up to date on the game with AVTV or by the live text service on the official website.
Youth Watch: Nathan Delfouneso
With two FA Cup goals to his name, people are starting to sit up and take notice of Nathan Delfouneso, and ask the question, is he the next graduate from Villa’s Youth setup?
His name has been around for the past 2-3 seasons now, and weve all heard about him breaking youth and reserve scoring records but so did Luke Moore and Darrius Vassell and look where they both are now.
The 18 year old has represented England at U-16, U-17 and U-19 levels scoring a combined total of 18 goals in 32 appearances.
Delfouneso, wears the number 14 shirt, something he was given in 2008 when he signed his first professional contract and a French Magazine claimed it was due for the strikers admiration for then Arsenal striker Thierry Henry.
He then became the youngest player to represent Aston Villa in europe at the age of 17 years and 195 days when he came of the bench in a Uefa Cup second round match against FH Hafnarfjörður of Iceland.
Nathan went on to make his first first team start on the 4th January 2009, in a FA Cup tie against Gillingham in which Villa won 2-1. He soon scored his first professional goal against Doncaster Rovers, also in the FA Cup that same season.
A lot is expected of this young lad, and a lot of people forget that hes still only 18. At the end of last season he was voted both Aston Villa Players Young Player of the Season and Fans Player of the Season.
The 2009-10 season as sore him score his fifth and sixth goals for the club against Blackburn and Brighton, once again both in the FA Cup.
Nathan Delfouneso, is a player who in my opinion will make a massive impact in the future on the Premier League and with the big English contingent at the club already, there is no reason why one day he can’t be representing his national side at the highest level.
I hear you ask why he wont be just another Luke Moore, well the reason i say this is because he isnt just being thrown into the big time. Martin O’Neill use’s him sporadically and won’t rush him into anything hes not ready for.
