One last transfer push for O’Neill
Monday 31st August 2009, 10:56AM BST.
Villa boss Martin O’Neill will make one last push to strengthen his squad before the transfer window slams shut.
O’Neill wants to bring in at least one new centre-back before 5pm tomorrow and remains hopeful of landing Manchester City’s Richard Dunne.
Dunne was at Bodymoor last week to discuss a move but returned without signing as he is yet to agree a pay-off with City – leaving a move in the balance.
With Curtis Davies facing the possibility of shoulder surgery, O’Neill is desperate to bring in further experience alongside Carlos Cuellar despite Ciaran Clark’s impressive debut in the 2-0 win over Fulham.
The Villa chief remains interested in West Ham defensive duo Matthew Upson and James Collins and made a personal check on the pair in the Hammers’ clash with Blackburn on Saturday.
O’Neill is also trying to bring in another midfielder with Tottenham’s Jermaine Jenas and David Bentley long-term targets, while there could yet be players heading out too.
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From the comments being banded about this evening Villa have put in a bid for an unknown central defender in the name of Collins from West Ham. Who up until last week Stoke were in for. So are Villa still going to get Dunne from Man City? If we don’t then its taken MON 3 months to replace Larsen with an unknown at the last minute. That is quite remarkable and unbelievable that we have not found atleast ONE good quality central defender in nearly a quarter of a year! We also still have not replaced Barry. Its ok playing the likes of Fulham and thinking everything is going to be fine, when its not. We will come unstuck. It is not the case that it’s the start of the season that MON does not seem to understand it is the rubbish form from Mid Feb last year onwards that all the Villa fans can see, ie not replacing Larsen. Then he will start saying that the crowd are not behind the team again(booing), and causing the younger players to have a lack of cofindence. It is not the players we are boing it is MON for not buying proper quality re-enforcements after all the time he has had to do it!!! The same thing will happen this season. I hope that he has something up his sleeve for buying players tomorrow(last day of the window) namely a new quality midfield player and 2 quality centre backs but I cant see it coming. I hope I am wrong! Krankjar is going to Spurs so maybe we can get Jenas or Bentley. If only to bolster the midfield. Or we will have the MON excuses, players not available, Man City cornered the market. Why oh why did he not pay the extra money for Distin? Because of his penny pinching we could have serious problems this season!!!!!
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