Chrismo

Said it at the time it was a shit deal to make it a loan with an option. Now his value is even lower and we might struggle to shift him. #avfc

€20m is overpaying. Especially considering he has been shit for Milan and the want to turn a profit. Get it to the same fee as Digne #avfc

I am really really sad about the fact that Youri is leaving. Such a top quality player. But there is no way we should be giving him a new 5 year deal of probably 200-250k a week. Considering the amount of games he missed last season, that wouldn't be smart. #avfc

@martinlaurence7 Depends on the fees imo. 130m on Rogers and 85-90m on Wharton, then I would seriously consider it. But it would need to be a proper difference in fees as we need to strengthen elsewhere aswell.

Purely hypothetical as I by no means think it's a possibility, but if Villa sold Rogers in order to sign Adam Wharton, would you go for it?

Seems like we offered €9m. Would be a very cheap deal if we could get it over the line #avfc

@SweezzyAV Bergvall is another runner and another 20 year old. I'm more than happy for us to sign younger players, but midfield duo with combined age of 40 is pushing it, even for me.

We’ll probably move for Bergvall but if we want a more like for like Stiller would be a way better signing

@Trentvilla1 Yes, time will tell. They will have known about this release clause all along, so can't come as a surprise. Not sure who replaces him without us spending loads though, meaning we would have to sell again.

@Chrsmo Honestly really not sure. Perhaps McGinn plays more central and we sign someone on the right. This won’t have happened overnight I’m sure so they’ll have some options in mind. Big hole to fill though.

Giving a player like him a £35m release clause should be considered a criminal offence. Happy about the Manzambi deal, but you can't gloss over this in any way.. #avfc

@BookofAEGIS Complete change in playing style if so, as we have relied so heavily on Youris calmness and passing ability. Manzambi might add a lot in terms of bursting through the lines, but not sure he helps to keep the calm and composed set up that Emery prefers?

I've seen this post going around and "How do we replace that?" (#avfc) Tielemans topped the EPL last season with 18.3 defensive lines broken per 100 passes. Pure class. But at 29, clubs need to start thinking about the next level. Enter Manzambi... The 20yr old Swiss box-to-box monster from Freiburg is dynamic, athletic and relentless. He eats up ground, wins duels, drives the ball forward consistently in carries & passes with real intent. While Tielemans dictates play with his passing, Manzambi bursts through lines, carries the ball at pace and sparks counters. His age, stamina and very high ceiling make him the ideal long-term replacement for Youri and not Onana as so many mention. Villa aren't signing a midfielder, they're signing the new driving force in their engine room for years to come. Debate ended.

@Trentvilla1 True. Probably a 35m clause or no deal. I do wonder who replaces him though. Don't think Manzambi replaces either him or Onana tbh

@Chrsmo Not really. At the time he joined us his stock was low but despite that he came on a Bosman so could call the shots. I suspect it was only available for CL clubs so had limited risk unless he performed how he has. In a non SCR world we would probably have given him a new deal

@mark_macrombie That's a very good point. And up until this day, not one player has gone from villa under Emery and become a better player. As far as I can recall anyway

@Chrsmo Always had him as an irreplaceable, alongside SJM and Bouba. But now we’ve just got to find a way. One consolation is we still have the genius who made Tielemans, SJM Rogers, Watkins the players they are Unai is the true talisman.

Look at this and tell me how we replace him. I honestly don't we can. This one really hurts, more ways than one. #avfc

@LordMillman29 @J_Tanswell True. Hopefully he goes back to his late Leicester days now 😂 We will see how things evolve, but I don't think we suddenly have a lot of money to spend, and while I think Manzambi is a really exciting signing, I don't think he replaces Youri. Someone free like Ceballos?

@Chrsmo @J_Tanswell Youri is a really difficult player too replace, he isn’t the same player we signed, Unai has evolved/moulded him, whoever comes in will most likely have to take a similar path. Who would you bet on coming in ?

My assumption is Villa will target Bergvall as a replacement for Tielemans. This is a snippet of @J_Tanswell’s article about Bergvall a few weeks ago, it’s fair to say our situation has changed fairly drastically. Even with Manzambi we are very light in the middle. #avfc

@LordMillman29 @J_Tanswell We need a passer now though? I really like Bergvall, but it does feel like we have to find someone who can take the quarter back role that Youri filled?

@Chrsmo @J_Tanswell Youri was fairly flexible in Emerys system, Bergvall strikes me as a player who could do similar. My assumption is we’ll bring in two midfielders.

@KevHughesie Wouldn't be surprised to see Liverpool coming in for him. They really need a top class CB and they had no one in the England squad. Makes a lot of sense to them imo.

I guess my concern now is the detail that #avfc wanted to offer Tielemans a new contract but couldn’t at this stage of the summer window… which means that it might be a similar situation with Konsa, who also has two years left. 😐

Would think this is getting done. What do people think about this?🤷‍♂️ #avfc

@DanMatthews @Alex_Berwick I guess I can understand it with Youri, although the fee is crazy low. But Konsa signed his last deal in sep 2023. That was when we were back in Europe and he was still some way away from being an England regular. A low-ish release clause would make little sense in his case imo.

@Chrsmo @Alex_Berwick I guess it's one way to get players to sign deals if the option for clubs better off to snap you up for a set fee is always on the table.

Ezri 👀 😬

@DanMatthews @Alex_Berwick A refresh is one thing. Selling of the entire core of the team is something else. Wouldn't be surprised if there was a release clause in there though. Monchi doing some proper damage, like he did at Roma.

@Alex_Berwick The squad, although we don't like it, needs a refresh. Konsa is 29 in October, perhaps Villa feel this is the last chance to sell for a decent fee and take some long-term financial pressure off.

@david_reed @Alex_Berwick @martinlaurence7 I agree with this. I don't really think Manzambi has the experience to hold the DM role in a CL chasing team. And I also think you take away a lot of his qualities if you ask him stay in his own half as a 6. I think he very much suits the Ramsey role.

@Alex_Berwick @martinlaurence7 His ball carrying is his biggest strength so my initial thought would be that he would play wide left coming inside. Manzambi might well develop into number 8 but he needs freedom for now I’d say

It would seem like Digne and Tielemans leave and Martinez and Rogers may stay but we'll have to see. Clear that we need to replace Tielemans and Manzambi surely isn't that otherwise relying masssssively on the fitness of Boubacar Kamara, which would be some risk

@kaneknight_ If he could stay fit, I would agree. Sadly, he can't. Which is a big problem for us. Especially now.

@Chrsmo Kamara would be a bigger blow for me

Losing Youri is probably the worst thing that could have happened this season. He is the general in the middle. The one who sets the tempo. The one that dictates everything and the one that everything goes through. Bigger blow than anyone could imagine... Gutted! #avfc