Post by WyomingWhite on May 6, 2006 15:17:45 GMT -1
Aston Villa manager David O'Leary has admitted he could revive his interest in signing Leeds midfielder Eirik Bakke during the summer.
Bakke spent the first half of the season on loan at Villa Park but the Norway international was forced to return to Yorkshire in January for financial reasons.
It left O'Leary without anything experienced back-up in the centre of the park and has placed a large burden on the shoulders of youngster Steven Davis and Gavin McCann.
But O'Leary, who has been told he has to sell to spend this summer by chairman Doug Ellis, will consider attempting to sign Bakke permanently.
The Villa boss said: "I ended up losing a valuable player in Eirik Bakke who gave us experience and competition in the centre of midfield.
"Will I reactivate the deal if I get funds? I think a lot of Eirik and that could definitely be a possibility without a doubt.
"After he went back to Leeds, we had no back-up and I can't wait for young Steven Davis to finish the season because I think he needs a break.
"I've had to churn him for game after game out because I've had nobody else to put in there."
O'Leary, whose side entertain bottom club Sunderland on Sunday, is not anticipating any significant developments in the transfer market until after the World Cup.
He said: "This year could be a funny year. Four years ago nothing happened until after the World Cup. I know who I would love to get in and I would love to get them in the first few weeks.
"But I think in general nothing much happens until after the World Cup.
"I think the fans will have to be patient and the other scenario is, if we don't get bids in for anybody then we will go with what we have got next season.
"That's the hard reality. The only way we are going to be able to change things around is by changing players around and generating money that way."
O'Leary added: "You take the Baros transfer (for £6million) out of the scenario, we have brought in a lot of players on free transfers and spent a couple of hundred thousand here and there.
"We have been shopping around at this club in that way for quite a while. I don't think that has changed in any way."
O'Leary expects Mathieu Berson to complete his move to Auxerre for around £1million but there have been no offers for another player surplus to requirements in Eric Djemba-Djemba.
O'Leary said: "The way Auxerre have indicated, there could be movement there next week. A package has been put to the club.
"As for Djemba-Djemba there is gossip from abroad, Portugal, Spain and in France where he has got a big name. But I've had no offers for him.
"People ask me about this player or that player. As it stands, I've had no inquiries about people who are here at the moment."
O'Leary paid Manchester United £1.3million for Djemba-Djemba during the January 2005 transfer window but he has struggled to make an impact at Villa.
Striker Baros is expected to have recovered from the hamstring injury suffered during last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Liverpool.
It could be his last game for the club as the Czech international has a get-out clause in his contract and could become hot property if he impresses at the World Cup.
Source: Sporting Life
Bakke spent the first half of the season on loan at Villa Park but the Norway international was forced to return to Yorkshire in January for financial reasons.
It left O'Leary without anything experienced back-up in the centre of the park and has placed a large burden on the shoulders of youngster Steven Davis and Gavin McCann.
But O'Leary, who has been told he has to sell to spend this summer by chairman Doug Ellis, will consider attempting to sign Bakke permanently.
The Villa boss said: "I ended up losing a valuable player in Eirik Bakke who gave us experience and competition in the centre of midfield.
"Will I reactivate the deal if I get funds? I think a lot of Eirik and that could definitely be a possibility without a doubt.
"After he went back to Leeds, we had no back-up and I can't wait for young Steven Davis to finish the season because I think he needs a break.
"I've had to churn him for game after game out because I've had nobody else to put in there."
O'Leary, whose side entertain bottom club Sunderland on Sunday, is not anticipating any significant developments in the transfer market until after the World Cup.
He said: "This year could be a funny year. Four years ago nothing happened until after the World Cup. I know who I would love to get in and I would love to get them in the first few weeks.
"But I think in general nothing much happens until after the World Cup.
"I think the fans will have to be patient and the other scenario is, if we don't get bids in for anybody then we will go with what we have got next season.
"That's the hard reality. The only way we are going to be able to change things around is by changing players around and generating money that way."
O'Leary added: "You take the Baros transfer (for £6million) out of the scenario, we have brought in a lot of players on free transfers and spent a couple of hundred thousand here and there.
"We have been shopping around at this club in that way for quite a while. I don't think that has changed in any way."
O'Leary expects Mathieu Berson to complete his move to Auxerre for around £1million but there have been no offers for another player surplus to requirements in Eric Djemba-Djemba.
O'Leary said: "The way Auxerre have indicated, there could be movement there next week. A package has been put to the club.
"As for Djemba-Djemba there is gossip from abroad, Portugal, Spain and in France where he has got a big name. But I've had no offers for him.
"People ask me about this player or that player. As it stands, I've had no inquiries about people who are here at the moment."
O'Leary paid Manchester United £1.3million for Djemba-Djemba during the January 2005 transfer window but he has struggled to make an impact at Villa.
Striker Baros is expected to have recovered from the hamstring injury suffered during last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Liverpool.
It could be his last game for the club as the Czech international has a get-out clause in his contract and could become hot property if he impresses at the World Cup.
Source: Sporting Life
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