Ilori looks likely to join Villa on loan with a 1m fee and an option to buy
Seems a strange one, especially the option to buy. Nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors but he must have not impressed in pre-season/training
He looked WELL short of PL level in the under-21 championships in the Czech Republic this past summer. And friends who watch the U-21's say he's looked nothing special last year either. Not bothered at all to see him probably done at Anfield.
So one out, one in the final day. (The Brazilian kid we've had on trial for a while.). Pitty we're stuck with Enrique and his wages that he'd rather pickup than actually go somewhere and play (makes a mockery of the job description. Professional footballer ..... who isn't arsed about playing football); but a pretty darn good window all round.
By my reckoning, our transactions have been:
In.
£ 3.5 M. Charlton. The man, the myth, the living LEG-END Joe freaking Gomez!
Free. Bolton. Adam Bogdan.
* Burnley. Danny Ings.
Free. Man City. James Milner.
£ 10. M. (Possibly rising to £12M.). Southampton. Nathanial Clyne.
£ 21 3M (Possibly rising to £28. 4M.). Hoffenheim. Roberto Firmno.
£ 32.5 M. Aston Villa. Christian Benteke.
*Tribunial- Still to be heard. (£6- 8 million.).
And a couple of young prospects:
£ 500K. Internacional. Allan Rodrigues De Souza.
£ 400K. Imperial Academy. Taiwo Awoniyi
9 players in for £ 68.2 M. (Possibly rising to £ 77.3 M.). With the Ings fee to be determined.
Out.
Free. Released. Steven Gerrard.
Free. Released. Glen Johnson.
Free. Released. Brad Jones.
£ 5. M. Seville. Iago Aspas.
£ 2. M. (Possibly rising to £ 4M.). Sunderland. Sebastian Coates.
Loan Cancelled. Atletico Madrid. Javier Manquillo.
£ 44. M. (Possibly rising to £ 49. M. - £ 9.8 M. To QPR 20% Sell on.). Man. City. Raheem Sterling.
£ 3. M. West Brom. Ricky Lambert.
£ 8. M. (Possibly rising to £10. M.). Sunderland. Fabio Borini.
9 players out for £ 52.2. M. (Possibly rising to £61.1 M.).
By my calculations, a net spend of £16 M. (Possibly rounding out at around £22/24.2 M. if all clauses are met.).
With a load of promising kids out on loan.
No need to dissect the individual transfers, but some terrific, and early, business done.
Disappointed we still neglected goalkeeper and centre back (which will surely be the next window aim); but overall VERY happy with both the business we've done and the way we've gone around it.
On paper, you can make a good case that we're at least as strong as our realistic competitors for to get back into the top 4, Arsenal and Utd.