Villa have been quoted wage demands of £80,000 a week if they want to sign Peter Crouch.
That’s how much sources say Portsmouth are willing to offer the Liverpool striker to return south.
Villa would consider Crouch in a deal to take him back to Villa Park - but not at the expense of losing Liverpool target Gareth Barry.
The wage demands Villa are encountering - plus the huge incentives likely to be needed to persuade Barry to stay - have left boss Martin O’Neill and chairman Randy Lerner considering smashing the wage structure to compete for top players.
Barry is currently Villa’s top earner on around £42,000 a week.
It’s understood Jermain Defoe rejected the chance to join Villa because of pay, while it’s believed Lassina Diarra joined Portsmouth only after demanding £90,000 a week at Villa to improve on an £85,000 a week offer at Newcastle.
“In terms of our development, Patrik Berger mentioned there had been fantastic improvement at the football club and that’s what we want to continue,” said O’Neill.
“We’re going to try to address all these situations in the summer but Newcastle’s wage bill would be twice ours - as well as the West Hams and Tottenhams.
“So we’re going to have to review the whole picture in the summer and Gareth is really top of the list.”
O’Neill remains desperate to keep Barry and has spoken to Lerner about offering Barry a huge increase to stay. And the Villa boss believes Liverpool’s £10m offer is nowhere near enough .
“Look, we don’t want to sell and we’re not inviting offers, but this lad is playing for England,” he said.
“It seems people are taking the view that what Liverpool want they will get, but I don’t see that being the case. From what’s gone on, we’re a million miles away. Hypothetically speaking, it would be like me offering £20m for Lionel Messi. Barcelona would say: ‘So what?’
“This £10m offer was some cash and some un-named players, but it’s very presumptious the players people (media) have been talking about.”
“Losing Gareth isn’t part of our plan. Randy Lerner wants to restore the club to its former glories.
“We’re attempting to get up there with these top teams .”
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16 Comments
I am astounded! Gobsmacked!
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And they wonder why its nicknamed the greed league
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if i was a villa fan i would want the board to get him in, they never make the step up to contend properly and this is why, good luck to the villa i hope you club goes for it,
p.s. hammer the albion next year please.
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£80k per week for that waste of space!!! He’s hopeless at Liverpool so why waste the money. Come on MON the donkey will never get in the team with Gabby, Young and Crew & lets face it he not a goal machine.
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He was not worth £800 a week when he was with Villa last time and if money is his only motivation then let him go to Portsmouth, they are welcome to him.
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And we wonder why fans say they can’t relate to players anymore?
This is simply crazy
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£80k a week ????
Is he paid by the foot ?
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WHAT A SHAME, PLAYERS GETTING 4MILLION A YEAR, WHILE THOUSANDS OF SUPPORTERS ARE NOT AFFORDING TO WATCH THEM PLAY! CLUBS SHOULD MAKE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE SO THAT SUPPORTERS CAN WATCH THE MATCHES AS CHEAPER AS POSSIBLE, NOT INCREASE THE PRICES TO PAY THESE IDIOTS
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The bottom line is that we need depth, we also need to stay fresh as the season wears on next year- hopefully in Europe. If we want to challenge the top 4 we need to spend the money. MOn is a great coach, he’s also great at extracting the best from his players. Give him the tools necessary to break through the glass ceiling and challenge the top 4! Crouch is a play maker- just what is needed.
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I think Villa should sign him because he is head and shoulders above anything else they have,plus he could double up as a flood light bulb changer.
Boing Boing
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VILLA SHOULD PAY HIGHER WAGES IF THEY WANT TO MAKE THE NEXT STEP UP,HOWEVER I WOULD NOT PAY THAT MUCH FOR THIS PLAYER.ASHLEY YOUNG AND GABBY AGBONLAHOR ARE WORTH THAT MONEY GARETH BARRY IS WORTH THAT AS WELL BUT VILLA SHOULD NOT BE HELD TO RANSOM.IF HE WANTS TO GO,THEN GO
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90k a week worth paying to certain players but none of the above
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Rodders is good, but not that good. Strange world really - Barry should be on 80K and R. Trotter on 42K.
Messi Is worth 80K though - what a player! I hope MON wasn’t being too light hearted about putting a bid in. Bringing in players like that will keep Barry with us for sure.
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Crouch gives any teem a plan B at any point in a game, 80k a week maybe a bit pricey but sadly thats what the modern game is about £££. need to pay big to get big and crouch at villa would be a grate fit its ironic that he wont do as well if barry isnt there but hey !
AGUERO takes crouch’s place and eavry red knows we can win the league!!!!
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£80,000k a hell of a lot of money i wish i had that money and hay villa you are sore losers!
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Get bosmans like sidwell,etc and then pay the big wages with no transfer fee involved.
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