villa limited to loan signings - TalkSoccer

**andy villa** · 13-12-2005, 03:20 PM

Aston Villa boss David O'Leary will be limited to loan signings in the January transfer window - but a central defender remains his top priority.

O'Leary has only Olof Mellberg and Liam Ridgewell available in central defence, with Martin Laursen out for the season.

"If anyone comes in, it will be on loan. We won't be buying because there won't be any money," said O'Leary.

"You wouldn't have to be a rocket scientist to say a target for me will be a central defender."

Chelsea's Robert Huth may be an option for O'Leary, although the 21-year-old has also been linked with a move back to his native Germany as he seeks first-team football ahead of the 2006 World Cup.

hanuma · 13-12-2005, 08:05 PM

yawn DOL.

he may have lame support, but he does need to shut up about it.

**andy villa** · 14-12-2005, 02:18 PM

this is the first time hes mentioned the january money after it was promised in the summer that we would have about 3.5 million for a central defender...

**andy villa** · 19-12-2005, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avfc.co.uk at start of season.....

David O'Leary has revealed he still has funds to bolster Villa's central defensive options - either in January or at the end of the season.

The Villa boss added four new men to the squad before the transfer deadline - including Dutch international left-back Wilfred Bouma.

And he conceded he would not have moved for Bouma without assurances that the funds remained in place for a centre-half.

"I just couldn't get a centre-back before the deadline - I still want one. So I thought to myself, if I can't get that, then there is a certain amount of money available and I can go and get a left-back.

"I thought if I can't get a centre-back, I can go and cure a problem that's been on my mind for the last couple of years - something I've wanted to put right. That's what I've been able to do.

"I'm hopeful we can do something in January on that front, but if not, then hopefully at the end of the season we can buy a centre-back.

"That's what the club has assured me - that's why the club told me: 'If you buy a left-back, you're still OK to buy a centre-back'. If that hadn't been the case, I would have had to have kept the money in the kitty."

wow.... dol and the fans lied to by ellis!?!?!??

well i never....