Redknapp to use Bentley as makeweight

[mawspurs]

SourcE: Eat Sleep Sport

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp will reportedly use David Bentley as a makeweight to secure a deal for Aston Villa's Ashley Young.

Bentley managed to force his way into the Spurs line-up after Aaron Lennon suffered an injury which sidelined him for a large part of the season but the former Blackburn midfielder is still being tipped for a summer exit.

Redknapp is reportedly eyeing up a move for Villa star Young, while Villa counterpart Martin O'Neill is said to be keen on Bentley, with Redknapp tipped to offer Bentley as part of a deal to bring Young to White Hart Lane.

Villa's World Cup-bound midfielder James Milner has been targeted by Manchester City and although O'Neill is eager to retain his services it is believed he has targeted Bentley to replace the former Leeds and Newcastle man if he does decide to leave Villa Park.

However, O'Neill is hesitant to allow Young to move on and Villa may resist any move for the left-winger even if Bentley is offered as part of the deal.

[joevictory]

Bring on the pace!!!! we're gonna have a cracking relay team

[nferno]

would be a good compromise for both teams but this article is bs, just putting 2 and 2 together...

[StokeSpur]

Its all if's and but's

I wanted young when Villa signed him, I don't think he's improved any under O'Neil but i reckon Harry is the man who could get the best out of him.

In the same vein i think Bentley hasn't progressed to any where near the potential he arrived with but that is all down to his mental attitude, which sadly, I cant see improving.

[joe_bazza]

We don't need him and I can't see Villa selling both him and Milner. If Bentley does go (which I think he should and will) I'd much rather we replaced him with Turan, who is far better and more versatile than Young.

I think given the depth of our squad and the number of settled players we now have in our team I think we can afford to gamble on two big name signings (hopefully Turan and Dzeko) who could really improve the team. Like most people on this site, I'd hate to see us replace Jenas and Bentley with players like Young and Parker who, although both good players, are hardly going to improve the team

[IanGreenfield]

I think cash + Jenas is a better move. As much as Bentley hasn't been the player we were hoping we'd bought from Blackburn, he did actually play his part in us getting 4th this season. Lennon was out for a very large chunk of the season and Bentley came into the side and cut out a lot of his pointless flicks and actually got stuck in tracking back, tackling and retaining possession very well at times. With Sandro coming in I think Jenas now has 3 players ahead of him in central midfield (4 if O'Hara stays), so I think it's going to be best all round if he moves on.

[dan2706]

over-rated, I'd rather keep DB

[nferno]

I think cash + Jenas is a better move. As much as Bentley hasn't been the player we were hoping we'd bought from Blackburn, he did actually play his part in us getting 4th this season. Lennon was out for a very large chunk of the season and Bentley came into the side and cut out a lot of his pointless flicks and actually got stuck in tracking back, tackling and retaining possession very well at times. With Sandro coming in I think Jenas now has 3 players ahead of him in central midfield (4 if O'Hara stays), so I think it's going to be best all round if he moves on.


jenas > o'hara

[Michey]

keep Bentley

Young wouldn't even get into the team when we have Bale that are miles better on that position.

[whitelightwhiteheat]

I'd echo comments hoping that Bale can stay at left midfield. I think he could do major damage to teams from that position, plus we don't have to piss £15m-£20m up against the wall on Young then, we can spend it elsewhere to strengthen where we need it.

[palestinian yid]

I think young for bentley would be great business. young can play on either flank and a perfect replacement for bale or lennon.

[StanSpur]

I'd rather see a px deal for Milner with Keane, Jenas or Bentley going the other way plus a few quid - maybe Keane + £10m!?

or..

Keane, Jenas, Bentley + £5m for Milner and Young - actually i was messing about but that would be a pretty good deal for both clubs. Villa fill the gaps left plus a much needed striker and we get the best English midfielder in the game plus a bit of back up pace. On second thought that may well give Villa the balance they miss at the moment.

[whitelightwhiteheat]

Did someone just describe James Milner as "the best English midfielder in the game"?!?!?!

That's a worrying state of affairs. Don't get me wrong, he's a good player, but........!!!

[Boony]

keep Bentley

Young wouldn't even get into the team when we have Bale that are miles better on that position.

Young wants to go as he didnt get picked for the England squad. I would suspect Bale would go back to left back, its also gives him more space to run into !!!

[talkshowhost86]

The only way this deal would work is if Bale is going back to left back, and I'm not sure that Bale behind Young would work. Bale looked good at left back playing behind Modric who tucked in alot more creating the space for Bale to move in to. Behind an out and out winger I think Bale wouldn't get forward as much which would be a shame.

I suppose it's a case of building the squad though and there were times this season that we looked a bit bereft of pace when Lennon was out so in that sense Young makes sense.

[JimmyG2]

I think that Bentley knuckled down well once he made the team.
He played a part in getting us to 4th and while not the player we thought we were getting he was good enough to retain.
Other positions are more pressing: striker,left back, perhaps a centre half depending on the availability of King and Woodgate.
Harry won't want too much unecessary disruption and this seems to me to be a marginal improvement for no real reason.
If there is any truth in it which I doubt.

[GetSpurredOn]

I expect us to only sign 3 or 4 players, maybe 5 at a push, but hopefully all will be experienced quality players, no need for us to take longshot punt signings anymore.
1- If Hutton goes I expect a replacement RB, rumours of Richards persist, and since he can play CB too, not a bad shout, Harry to realign his mojo in the same way he did for Johnson.
2 - I think another LB is almost certainly on the shopping list to avoid having to play Bale there if Ekotto is out for any reason, Bale's proved to valuable at LM, I wouldn't bet against Harry going back to Pompey for Belhadj if a cut price deal is available given their finacial situation and following relegation.
3 - A big name CF to provide us with an alternative to what we already have, probably a physical presence who can occupy the position of lone front man or just nuisance factor, my suspicions tell me it'll probably be someone like Huntelaar rather than Dzeko, probably a bit soon for Dzeko to consider ius given the other interest in him, but Huntelaar has not lit Serie A up so may consider us a fresh start.

4? - A CD/DM to boost our options if Woody doesn't recover and/or Jenas/O'Hara is sold. Dawson, Bassong and Kaboul are our fit options at CB, with King used as and when able, possibly one more for a bit of depth given the potential extra games coming our way next season, for this one I wouldn't rule out some kind of deal for Taylor with O'Hara already being linked to Newcastle. Also if Jenas/O'Hara goes we're back down to Wilson and Hudd, plus Modric and the untried but potentially talented Sandro to cover the engine room, so reinforcement there maybe?? Yaya Toure is capable of covering both, but would he come, is that too ambitious, but then again without ambition you get nowhere.

5? - Wide midfield, we're good with Lennon and Bale, also Modric and Kranjcar whilst different in style still give us fantastic options, but I'd hope/like to see another touchline hugging direct winger added, especially if Bentley is moved on. Wouldn't mind seeing Dos Santos given a crack, but can't see it. Rumours of Joe Cole but he's more in the Modric role than a Lennon type player. Turan heavily linked lately, and Young.....time will tell.

[GetSpurredOn]

The volume of signings may be directly linked to the sales we make, Hutton, Jenas, Bentley, O'Hara, Taarabt, Dos Santos, Keane, Pavlyuchenko are all candidates to be moved on, all would fetch decent(ish) money too, and who goes may well influnece which positions need filling. No need for another winger if Bentley of Dos Santos stay, similarly RB if nobody reaches Levy's valuation of Hutton. Same with Pav/Keane.
Will Harry try and use the likes of Keane, Bentley or Jenas as bait for Young? Boosts Villa's paper thin squad, but not significantly enough to worry us just yet as long as we get our own signings right.

[JoeT]

Hi 'GetSpurred...' According to your priorities in your 5:53 post.....
#2...LB. Do you think we could prise Warnock away from Villa?

[Greenspur]

The volume of signings may be directly linked to the sales we make, Hutton, Jenas, Bentley, O'Hara, Taarabt, Dos Santos, Keane, Pavlyuchenko are all candidates to be moved on, all would fetch decent(ish) money too, and who goes may well influnece which positions need filling. No need for another winger if Bentley of Dos Santos stay, similarly RB if nobody reaches Levy's valuation of Hutton. Same with Pav/Keane.
Will Harry try and use the likes of Keane, Bentley or Jenas as bait for Young? Boosts Villa's paper thin squad, but not significantly enough to worry us just yet as long as we get our own signings right.

To my mind, the players mentioned above would bring in about £50 million. Add (say) another £30 million from the kitty, and that makes an £80 million spending budget. Could be £100 million at a push. However, the wages structure might be a hindrance (although I'm all in favour of it, and of good tight financial control).

[Norse]

Please stop posting these swap rumors! It seems like a fifth of all rumors involve swaps, but can any of you remember a single swap deal involving a club in the premier league? :whistle:

[Boony]

Please stop posting these swap rumors! It seems like a fifth of all rumors involve swaps, but can any of you remember a single swap deal involving a club in the premier league? :whistle:

Alnwick - Fulop
Gallas - Cole

[jenko]

I think its pretty obvious to all that Redknapp would like to have Micah Richards, Bellamy, & Joe Cole. And he could get all three for less than 15 Mil I'm sure so I'd be surprised if he wasn't trying to get them.

I'm not sure we need Joe Cole and wonder where he would lie in the pecking order were we to get him. I doubt Nico K would want to see his arrival.... Hmmm!

But Ashley young signing would be seen as a coup and I'm damn sure Villa want Keane so maybe a deal is on the cards.

Add to that a top top striker who can lead the line on his own and we could get through the summer having made a profit if we clear out Keane, hutton, GDS, Bentley, Taarabt & Jenas... I'd live with that for sure.

[battspur]

[quote=jenko;1827801]I think its pretty obvious to all that Redknapp would like to have Micah Richards, Bellamy, & Joe Cole. And he could get all three for less than 15 Mil I'm sure so I'd be surprised if he wasn't trying to get them.

quote]
Are you a bit simple ?

[jenko]

You sound like an asshole but i'll explain it as best I can....

Joe Cole is on a free transfer. Papers say Bellamy is gonna go for about 6 mil. So Micah Richards for 8/9 mil is not so unreasonable seeing as he is surplus and City and had an awful season.... 15 mil.

Maybe you were disagreeing with another part of my post but as you were too thick ignorant to post a proper reply then I'm probably better discussing it with someone decent.

[jayfletc]

i think it'll pretty much just be a striker we bring in, 1 of the ones quoted on the forums like huntelaar or suarez maybe dezko. cudicini is practically back, he'll be ready for next season. i don't think we'll make any other addidtions unless we can get joe cole on a free. bringing in 4-5 players just means unsettling the current team who have done well enough to get us into the champions league, we should have battered chelsea, got unlucky against united with the penalties and we've beaten arsenal, city, liverpool which shows the current team can do it. theres still alot of depth and ur all forgetting krancjar who can play on the left so why would we bring in young. we'd be going into to big of a tournament to make massive changes which could cost us.

[whitehartdan]

I think the main thing this summer is to get rid of the players that aren't needed anymore but can still get a good price for then bring in quality where its would really benefit our team:

Out:
Keane £10m
Jenas £5m
Hutton £5m
Pavlyuchenko £10
O' Hara £4m
Dos Santos £4m
Taraabt £2m
Total £40m

In:
Tremollinas £8m
Richards £7m
Young £15m
Gudjohnsen £5m
Sandro £6.5m
Huntelaar £12m
Ireland £8m
Total £51.5m

I think we could get all these players in and within the wage budget giving us fantastic quality, cover and competition right across the park. I feel Bentley did enough in the second half of the season to warrant another season to prove himself but sadly believe that Woodgate will retire from football this summer.

[ackie]

I think we'll only sign three players:
and imo, a CD/RB - Richards although we do have Kaboul...
A DM/CM - Diarra although we have signed Sandro...
A CF/Striker - Sell Pav and Keane and release Gudd and bring in Huntelaar and Bellamy.
I think J.Cole for free sounds tempting...
Sell Jenas, Keane, Pav, Hutton, Ohara, Santos...
And no we don't need Young anymore and Keep Bentley...
I reckon itll be berween the turkish lad and cole for Spurs...

[Lilbaz]

Really think that we will only buy if a very decent player becomes available. We may look to bring in a pacey player as without Lennon or Defoe we do look a bit slow.

Another striker would be good if we could get the likes of Dzeko (which I highly doubt).

[bigspurs]

keep Bentley

Young wouldn't even get into the team when we have Bale that are miles better on that position.

Think big time. We want two quality players for every position!

[nailsy]

I guess if Villa need to raise some money this one could happen. They already have Downing for LW so they may be prepared to let Young go for the right price. I know a lot of people aren't too keen on Young, but I can't think of too many better left wingers who already have Premiership experience.