SIGNING - Holman

So we have our first summer signing and it is one that I guess most people won't have guessed.  We have agreed to sign Brett Holman from AZ Alkmaar on a free transfer at the end of the season.

He is an Australian international and can play on the wing or behind the striker.  Perhaps this is paving the way for a departure, possibly Ireland as his wages are rather large.  I hope this is not the case but it wouldn't surprise me one bit.

Nevertheless I welcome you Brett Holman to Aston Villa Football Club and hope your stay here is a successful one.

SPECULATION - Pogrebnyak

On the day of the Fulham game Mcleish has come out snd stated that he has been looking at their in form striker Pavel Pogrebnyak for the past few years.

There is no doubt that if we could get him on a free in the summer it would be fantastic but I cant see him joining us above Fulham. Surely Fulham will be in for him in the summer so why would he join us ahead of them? I just cant see it happening, but at least we are looking at quality!

SPECULATION - Lukimya-Mulongoti

Another link to a defender, it seems the press have picked up on the fact we need to strengthen in that area. This time we have been linked with Dusseldorf's Lukimya-Mulongoti who i s a Congo international with ambitions of playing in the EPL.

He has welcomed the link with AVFC but as I know very little about him it is hard for me to judge him. Lets hope he's another Chris Samba!

SPECULATION - Wylde

Obvious link today from the Daily Mail saying we are the front runners to sign Greg Wylde who left Rangers this week.  I hope it's not true and just lazy journalism but somehow i can just see this being true!

SPECULATION - Rasmus Elm

It seems as though the summer transfer speculation has begun, an exciting time for us all!  Unfortunately I feel this year is going to be a pretty depressing summer due to the position we are in although this link is a good one.

It seems as though our scout in Holland has picked out Rasmus Elm from AZ Alkmaar.  He is a Swedish midfielder, and as we all know midfield is an area that definately needs strengthening.  He turned down Rubin Kazan in January because he didn't want to move to Russia so perhaps we have a chance with this one!

SPECULATION - Guzan On His Way?

After being linked to Joe Lewis from Peterborough over the weekend it put a question mark over the future of Brad Guzan.  It's been well publicised that he has yet to agree to a new contract at Villa and at this stage in his career he needs to be playing first team football.

This has sparked a rumour linking him with a move to Ipswich.  Now there are 2 reasons why I really don't want this to happen.  The first is that I really rate him and was very impressed with him over the winter when he stood in for Given and he would be a bad loss.  The second is that if he is going to move, then surely it should be to another Premier League team.  He is definately Prem quality and I feel he would be wasted in the Fizzy Pop league.

A Transfer Link With Substance!

We have had a few transfer links over the past month or so and it's fair to say, the chances of any of them happening is quite slim.  Here though I believe we have a link with some substance to it. 

Our scout in Holland, Arthur Numan, has been keeping a close eye on Simon Poulsen who plays for AZ Alkmaar.  He is a left back which would suggest that Mcleish has seen a weakness in Warnock, although he can also be played in midfield.

He is out of contract at the end of the season so a cut price deal may be on the cards in January. Watch this space!

Transfer News

The Daily Mirror reporting we are looking at Gylfi Sigurdsson of Hoffenheim.  I remember him being a fantastic player for Reading, all be it in the Championship.  Their seems to be a pattern forming that every player we are linked to at the moment are central midfielders.  I wouldn't be surprised to see us make at least one midfield addition in the January window.

Yet More Transfer News!

It's only October but we already have names floating around as possible transfer targets. Next up is yet another midfielder, this time Jeff Hendrick of Derby County. Reports suggest we are battling West Brom for his signature. Once again I know next to nothing about this player so feel free to leave a comment if you know anything about me. Reports say that he is a very highly rated 19 year old, which to me sounds a bit pointless. Surely this would just get in the way of Bannan and Delph's development into first team regulars. The only signings I would like us to make at the moment are for key players who would add something to the first team, but due to our financial state is unlikely. I would give anything for us to find a gem from another country, something that Newcastle seem to be experts at doing recently.

Possible Loan Move

It has been reported that us and Everton are supposedly eyeing up a loan move in January for Fiorentina's 20 year old midfielder Adem Ljajic. Ljajic has slipped down the pecking order at Fiorentina so a loan move certainly seems like a possibility and would add much needed depth to the squad.

Unfortunately I don't really know anything about him so I can't give any personal views on this move so anyone who does know about him, please leave a comment or tweet me @EverythingVilla.