Villa beat off Spurs to sign Curtis Davies
Written by Damian   
Friday, 31 August 2007

Curtis Davies today penned a season long loan deal to play for Aston Villa. Spurs had been showing interest but it appears the player wanted to stay local.

I must say I'm surprised he picked us over Spurs and can only assume it's because Spurs ended their interest due to price, but it's a loan deal, or Martin O'Neill was the pull.

This now means we have five central defenders in the squad and suggests that either Mellberg is going to play at right back and that no recognised right back is coming in today.

I could be completely wrong about that but why another central defender unless one was moving position or someone is also leaving today?

Martin O'Neill has said he wanted to have contracts sorted for Moore and Mellberg buy the end of the transfer window, so the players knew where they stood, but I've heard nothing about it.

Could it be that the manager has got his central defenders and no deal is in place for Mellberg? The question about new contracts is one that needs to be answered. We were told it would be sorted by last week.

Comments (61)add comment

sergiew said:

yes yes , who next.....
August 31, 2007

Reece said:

Another Loan whats going on we will be called www.AVFCloans.com!!! Cmon MON sort it out!!! smilies/angry.gif
August 31, 2007

kieran said:

good business, now time to spend the rest of the day signing more players
August 31, 2007

alextaylor24 said:

really rate davies myself when ive seen him but i heard off a baggies fan that he has had the sme injury twice and hasnt been his exceptional self since. fingers crossed though, he could be another campbell etc!
August 31, 2007

JJ said:

what! a long loan why has he done that for if he has a blinder this season man u or tottemham will snap him up for more money but with davis in the sqaud this should give MON time to sign defoe(hopefully) if just may say im glad to see barry and young in the england squad well done but they have deserved especially young
August 31, 2007

avfcmitch said:

c'mon o'neill sign some more players i will not be happy if this is all we are signing c'mon pull your finger out o'neill
August 31, 2007

Mick said:

Davies on loan - I'm baffled. Alas, at least if he's not good enough we can always return him to WBA. As for having Mellberg and Bouma on the flanks..we may as well put 2 bricks there - talking about flying full backs! Still a few hours left to put it right but I wont hold my breath..
August 31, 2007

Dutchie said:

I've read somewhere that the loan deal is on WBA's initiative, not on Villa's, for so called 'tax reasons'.
August 31, 2007

TON23 said:

mon must have some agreement in place for end of season to sign him permanantly for an agreed fee its alot of money for untried players so hes testing him first if he proves out to be good then its a very well thought out deal by mon
August 31, 2007

Simon A said:

Good bit of business. As a loan deal we wil have first option on an agreed fee at the end of his loan period.

We still need to be busy signing players though, we can call upon Olly to help us out at RB for some games but not for the whole season and CG has done ok at RB for us so far this season but wait until he has a real winger against him ie giggs etc he will be shown up as a midfielder playing as a RB. Not knocking CG I am knocking the club if they don't get a good attacking RB in. It would be a disgrace for a club of Villa's side to not have a RB playing as a RB for the whole season.

Just need a RB, Attacking MF and a 20 goal a season man - go get them MON
August 31, 2007

Claret&BlueHornet said:

Hmmm, it took about 1.5 days to wrap this one up; does not bode well with the window shutting at midnight tonight... lets just hope MON can juggle!!
August 31, 2007

ViLLaN said:

@ Reece smilies/cheesy.gif you might be right -
AVFC Loans:need to give your player a years Prem experience? need to get a player off your wage bill for 12mths til you're promoted? send em to us, centrally located, easy access to the motorways, Mailbox for the WAG's, and a kind lady on the official site will find em a house!!!
August 31, 2007 | url

Nik said:

its a permanent deal, however like kusczack to utd a loan first for tax purposes! so we are committed to signing him on a permanent deal for £8.5m next season
August 31, 2007

griffiths said:

if its true about the injuries, MON mite alredy know bout it thats why there is the intial loan to see if it reoccurs again!!!!!!!

but a brilliant signing, jus half way through the day now, more signings yo come!!!!
August 31, 2007

Simon A said:

By the way I heard it was the Baggies who wanted the loan deal. They have sold a lot of players for big profit this window and would be having a massive tax bill if not careful. They have probably structured it so they don't pay too much corporation tax.
August 31, 2007

Jambi said:

I'm gutted that it appears maloney is going, Can't believe MON couldn't persuade him to stay. Just make him buy a house and stop going back to Glasgow all the time, he's a grown man! your bound to get home sick if you commute back all the time, and don't start a proper new life, I know from experience.
August 31, 2007

Villamadman said:

Only came to us cos Spurs dont want him im afraid
August 31, 2007

villa fan said:

I think Martin is doing a good job a the moment he is buying hungary players with alot of potential....all the other clubs are buying players that are getting injured or are unhappy...he's never been the type of manager to buy world class players he s always got the best out of his players.....at least hes left himself open to the jan tranfer window where he has a foundation to build on ..... Bring on Chelsea!!
August 31, 2007

TON23 said:

have you noticed the villa site havent done pickie in shirt yet! is mon waiting for more players to unveil together or is somthing going on we dont know about?????
August 31, 2007

avfcblog said:

QUOTE: I must say I'm surprised he picked us over Spurs and can only assume it's because Spurs ended their interest due to price, but it's a loan deal, or Martin O'Neill was the pull.

Now there is honesty for you....

Spurs did end their interest as we will not be held to ransom like you.

He is not worth more than £3M
August 31, 2007 | url

Luke said:

He might not be worth over £3m, which is why we've paid nothing! You obviously don't understand what loan means!
August 31, 2007

steve m said:

can we just clarify that the deal binds us to buy him after 12 months. its tax purposes. some people only seem to read the headline. sorry about the capitals - just angry that we have signed somebody that has bags of potential yet people still moan without researching the facts
August 31, 2007

tbhaley86 said:

we loaned him due to his sell on clause in the deal that took him from luton to wba. wba wanted £10m around £1.2m going to luton. so the clubs got together and with the sell on clause due to expire before the next summer window they decided that we should wait, pay £1m under the asking price next summer and villa and baggies get a good deal and luton get F**k all.
August 31, 2007

Meat said:

@ villa fan said:
"I think Martin is doing a good job a the moment he is buying hungary players with alot of potential...."

do you know summat we dont know..?? are we gonna sign a hungarian international lol..!! smilies/grin.gif
August 31, 2007

ViLLaN said:

I would doubt very much that there was a time limit on the Luton sell on clause, that just doesnt happen. More likely it is for tax purposes as WBA have raked in loads of cash this summer and dont wanna get stung by HM taxman! This deal prob suits the ultra cautious MON aswell
August 31, 2007 | url

avfc-anthony said:

ive read that weve loned him so mon has more money to sign other players so i think that is an excellent deal iff hes gd well get him nxt year for around 9 m. more players to come
August 31, 2007

TimC said:

I think we will pay about £3m to loan him for a year then pay the rest at the end of the season, that cuts down lutons share! Poor old luton eh!
August 31, 2007

I HATE BLUES said:

LOL HELD TO RANSOM we get him on loan and if he dont make the grade we send him back,clever bit of buisness there if you ask me
August 31, 2007

Jacko33 said:

Yeah this guys a future england international for sure, great signing.

Slightly off topic but Arouna Kone has just signed for Sevilla from PSV for £8 million - every time Ive seen him he's been pure class, why didnt we bid for him???
August 31, 2007

daiweide said:

A loan!! What is the point of loaning him for a season and then buying him at the end of the loan?!!!! Why don't they just buy him now and get it done. What the hell is going on?
August 31, 2007

daiweide said:

Having said that. I can see the logic in what tbhaley86 and steve m have said.
August 31, 2007

Mick said:

Trabelsi and Ze Maria (ex Inter & Levante) are still without a team..both play at right back and would be cheap to get...just a thought.
August 31, 2007

richie p said:

davis signed so whose next?
August 31, 2007

IrishVillaFan said:

Yeah I agree with steve m and ViLLaN....

It’s purely for WBA to save on the tax (Corporation or CGT I’m not sure). They have made a hell of a lot of profit selling players this year so if they officially sell him next year, it'll go in next years' books and probably being one of the only profitable sales WBA make, they won’t be liable for as much tax. I do hope we are both bound to the deal and that Spurs or someone else aren’t able to snap him up next summer.

Look at this link here on Kuszczak's move to Man United a few season's back:
http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200608/s1713334.htm

As for the rest, I do hope MON’s got two more lined up. Id say we missed out on Johnson. I'd be glad with Routledge and Hoyte though…
August 31, 2007

Beechey said:

on sky on the squad list it has Knight, Barry and Davies as No6. wtf. Pleased with davies but we haven't really signed any expierienced quality, dno wot team will be against chelsea, cud b anythin. Hopefully 4-4-2. Carson, Bouma, Knight, Laurson (davies), Melberg, Young, Barry, Reo-Coker, Gabby, Moore, Carew (possibly maloney but fink we need big john) Ne1 got any other ideas???
August 31, 2007

liamo1981 said:

curtis davies will be playing at right back when he signs, he can play at right bach as well as centre back
August 31, 2007

ViLLaN said:

Good call, Routledge and Hoyte would do me aswell. Still dreaming about Defoe tho.........
August 31, 2007 | url

taglor said:

Beer Beer makes good cheer
August 31, 2007

somersetvilla said:

Oh dear..
Oh dear..
10 hours to go....do we still think mon will get all the players hes been after all summer long,before 12 tonite...id say yes,cause i dont think hes been after anybody...
this sucks..knight and davies on another loan,just what we really needed 2 more centre halfs..buying bench players,,should have kept ridgewell.and saved money....
summer 07/08....as mon spent the whole of it watching big brother
August 31, 2007

ViLLaN said:

I hope we do sign a couple more, I called in sick today so I could be glued to SSN!!
August 31, 2007 | url

Simon A said:

Anybody think we will get anymore players in now, or is this it done?
August 31, 2007

Damian said:

we'll have to wait and see ... i'd be very surprised if that was it but not completely
August 31, 2007 | url

Woodinho said:

It's still early in the day and we have till 12 midnight... remember when Maloney joined that was a real late one... hopefully we get another 2 in, not sure what positions but that would please us dont you think?
August 31, 2007

Meat said:

@ Jacko33,

with seville signing Kone, it may mean Kanoute is on the move...??!! hmmm
August 31, 2007

Dizzy Mugs said:

The deal is that we sign Davies for a year on loan and then pay £8.5mn next summer.
That's how Albion wanted it.
It's on Albion official site but not ours for some reason
August 31, 2007

meangene said:

Kanoute to Spurs, Defoe to Villa
August 31, 2007

Simon A said:

I would be happy with a proper RB and a 20 goal a season striker.

If you look at all our lads up front I don't think we have anyone who is much more than a 10 goal a season striker, except Luke if he gets a run IMHO.
August 31, 2007

Simon A said:

Just been told by the wife can't go to the match on Sunday as I have to pick up the wifes new car. How crap is that. At least its on TV. Time for a divorce I think!!!
August 31, 2007

Nick123 said:

as we have got Davis on loan, it may indicate that were about to sign Defoe for ten million. we probably can't get 20 million ready just as yet so we have to get davis on loan, anyway its great news and hopefully we get some more new faces by the end of the day.
August 31, 2007

steve m said:

I hate to say it but my gut feel is curtis is the last one coming in today!. Hopefull not but i dont see many rumours about villa now.
August 31, 2007

Meat said:

jus been watchin the unveiling of curtis davis, MON says there a possibility of 1 more signing today...but didnt really sound to convincing....think that maybe our lot...!!
August 31, 2007

Bumhug360 said:

Am I the only one still giggling at the headline?
August 31, 2007

woodyo said:

why have we signed davis on loan?

i'd like to think it's so o'niel can look at him for a season to see if he's good enough for the prem.
but i think the real reason is, the money isn't there
it doesn't make sense, if we have the dosh, pay for him.
it's the same with carson why borrow him (for 2.5m), when could have brought, someone like jussi from bolton for about the same cost.
none of it makes sense, if the money is there,and a substantial amount, where is it, and if there is the 10's of millions to spend we were led to believe, would you look at the marlon harewoods of this world. we're shopping at aldi again, not at harrods. same old, same old, this time from the master of blarney, i suppose he's next excuse will be 'i didn't have time to sign the players i wanted'. buls**t,bulls**t and more bulls**t,
but after all, it is aston villa f.c.
August 31, 2007

Badger said:

It's already been said on here about 6 times that it's a tax dodge mate.
He's signed a four year contract, I believe.
August 31, 2007

TON23 said:

the reason mon signed carson on loan was that his top target atur boruc from celtic is injred and is waiting to see if he recovers from a sholder injury
if arson pans out and liverpool name a price and villa agree i think carson would agree to sign perm then but boruc is mons top target
August 31, 2007

woodyo said:

tax dodge my arse, tax dodge who for. we've probably had to pay a loan fee up front for davis, like carson. so explain 'tax dodge' are you insinuating that villa or wba are corrupt.
no tax dodge, just s**t transfer policy, we've waited all summer for what? one decent player nrc, one borrowed keeper yet to be proven, one less than average striker and one borrowed, completly untried defender. well worth the frustration and wait, don't you think. it's crap, and you know it is.
August 31, 2007

paddy said:

we signed hom on loan for a year at a fee so that when we "buy" him next year they will have to pay less to the other team. like utd did with the keeper last year. woodyo your a bit too negative we have done alright in the window. i'm just a little disapointed we didnt a right back. more than £40mil since randy and o neill took over what more do you want?
August 31, 2007

Villa_Rules said:

Glad the way his press confrence went as he came across as tho he wants to be at villa after the loan deal top notch signing
August 31, 2007

Bright Future said:

Woodyo again moaning!! what a suprise.

I actually work in finance, due to the other fees wba have recd if they take a 10mil fee they will have a large tax bill for this tax year from april 2007 to April 2008, if they wait and take it next summer they can manipulate in order to pay minimul tax.

Now is that so hard to work out?
August 31, 2007 | url

woodyo said:

bright future.
get your facts right, i've found out from vp it's for wba to avoid a sell on clause of 30%, if the sell him within 3 years.
but we have to buy him next summer, no sending him back if he's not good enough. tax dodge? if your in finance, you'll know your suggestion is liablous
September 04, 2007

woodyo said:

paddy.
i'm not knocking Mr lerner, it's mon's transfer policy thats the problem
September 04, 2007

Write comment
quote
bold
italicize
underline
strike
url
image
quote
quote
smile
wink
laugh
grin
angry
sad
shocked
cool
tongue
kiss
cry
smaller | bigger

busy
 

Transfer Window Watch

IN: Curtis Davies, Steve Sidwell, Brad Guzan, Brad Friedel, Nicky Shorey, Luke Young
OUT: Patrik Berger, Scott Carson, Luke Moore, Olof Mellberg, Thomas Sorensen

Quick Question

Can Gareth Barry win back the fans after this or has he lost the love?
 

This is Brad Friedel

football bets AVFC Blog

Subscribe to our News Feed

RSS at the AVFC Blog

If you like the site and want to be one of the first to know when something is published, click here.

Share our News

Aston Villa on NewsNow Widgetize!