“Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you got til it’s gone,” asked Joni Mitchell in 1970, in a hit that has since been covered by more two-bit hack buskers (yes you, Bob Dylan) than the Rumour Mill cares to mention. Steve Bruce could be next to have a bash, having realised that life at Villa Park without John Terry is no life at all. The 38-year-old was instrumental in getting Aston Villa to last year’s Championship play-off final, only to be released when Bruce’s side came up short at Wembley and couldn’t afford to keep him on. Now without a club, he may be offered a new contract at Villa Park following reports that the new owners, Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, have sanctioned a deal.
The Manchester United midfielder and emergency centre-back Ander Herrera is considering his options and may agitate for a move from Old Trafford in January, if speculation in the Metro is to be believed. The Spaniard is reported to be unhappy that United are dilly-dallying over offering him a new and improved deal and might go somewhere where his services will be more appreciated. Alternatively, he is hoping someone at Old Trafford will read reports that he is unhappy, stick a juicy contract under his nose and hand him a pen.
Jamie Vardy’s self-imposed international exile could end before it’s even begun now it’s emerged Gareth Southgate is concerned about the fitness of Harry Kane and will consult his star striker before deciding whether to rest him during the current international break. England play Spain in the Nations League at Wembley on Saturday and then entertain Switzerland at the King Power Stadium in a friendly next Tuesday.
Following their sensational start to the season, Watford are ready to offer Javi Gracia a new and improved deal, in case he is tempted to move on to pastures new when his contract expires at the end of the season. Watford being Watford, we’d advise waiting to see what happens after they hit the 42-point mark in 10 games’ time before making any big decisions.
Manchester City aren’t going to make any hasty decisions when it comes to offering Vincent Kompany a new one-year deal and will wait to see how he gets on in the coming months. Everybody’s favourite Belgian after Hercule Poirot has started two of his side’s Premier League games this season and isn’t getting any younger.
Speaking of consummate professionals, Sunderland are considering legal action against Papy Djilobodji and Didier Ndong, whose heroic contributions to the club’s relegation to League One last season meant they were unable to secure summer moves elsewhere. The duo failed to report back for pre-season training and have yet to show their faces this season, acts of insubordination that prompted Sunderland to stop paying their wages. Djilobodji had agreed to return on Monday but may have forgotten where the training ground is as he never showed up.
“They may do [return] and if they do we’ll deal with them accordingly when they come in,” said the manager, Jack Ross, to the Sunderland Echo. “I haven’t had any interest in them because they’ve never turned up and haven’t been part of what I’ve tried to build here.”
