The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies

Stewart Downing to Aston Villa
The Spoiler assumed that replacing Martin Laursen and Gareth Barry would be Aston Villa’s priority right now but apparently not. The Daily Mail claim that Martin O’Neill is looking to thwart Spurs (and they sure will be heartbroken!) by signing Downing on a loan deal with an option to make the move permanent.

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: This has to be nonsense. Villa have a lot of work to do this summer and bringing in someone who plays in the same position as their star player Ashley Young is surely not top of the agenda.

Joleon Lescott staying with Everton
The Daily Star report that Manchester City have been priced out of a move for

The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies…

Gareth Barry could leave Aston Villa for free
Aston Villa are planning to offer their long-serving midfielder a lucrative new contract in a final effort to persuade him to stay but if he declines, Martin O’Neill is willing to lose him for nothing in exchange for one more season.

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: The logic behind such a move would be that they can’t afford to lose another leader following captain Martin Laursen’s retirement and it would give them more time to find a perfect replacement. It’s estimated that keeping Barry last summer cost Villa £8.5 million this season so they may be willing to take another loss.

Glen Johnson to Liverpool
The Daily Mail claim that Rafael Benitez is willing to spend £15 million to bring Portsmouth full-back Glen Johnson to Anfield. The logic behind the hefty

The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies

Harry Redknapp plans to shuffle his striking options
The Daily Mirror are reporting that Redknapp is ready to sell Darren Bent and Roman Pavlyuchenko, scorers of a combined 29 goals this season, and replace them with Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Bent may go but Redknapp is unlikely to axe Pavlyuchenko after a respectable first season.

Sebastien Bassong to Aston Villa
Aston Villa’s haven’t looked anywhere near as solid at the back since Martin Laursen injured his knee in January so they may target Newcastle defender Bassong in the summer.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Newcastle may struggle to keep Bassong even if they survive and he would stand more chance of breaking into Villa’s first team than Arsenal’s.

Edison Cavani to West Ham
There are only about ten youngsters playing in Italy who haven’t been linked with a move to West Ham this season. Palermo’s Uruguayan striker Cavani is reportedly the latest player to intrigue Gianluca Nani.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: 33-year-old duo David Di Michele and Diego Tristan are currently leading the Hammers’ line so an injection of youth wouldn’t go amiss.

Use your vote wisely…

The scenario: You’re the manager of a Premier League team, and you’re allowed to strengthen your squad by signing just one player in the January transfer window. But you can only choose someone from Aston Villa’s squad - so who do you pick?

Your options: Captain Gareth Barry is obviously in the frame, and it’s hard to overlook the youthful promise of Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor. Or you might want a big bruiser like John Carew. At the back, Brad Friedel is a rock, while Martin Laursen is a class act at the heart of Villa’s back four.

So much choice, but there can be only one. The decision is yours. Vote below: