How was he 'on the money' about Zouma exactly? In your original post you said his claim was that Chelsea would sell him if we offered them market value (obviously), and yet he's still there. How do you come to the conclusion that he was right?
Speaking of still being there, does it not strike you as slightly odd that the Villa scout who told you he was out in Tenerife 'to watch CD Tenerife on Easter Sunday' is still there 7 months later? Was he supposed to be flying home with Thomas Cook or what?
Heres my comment posted in May
“Was speaking to a Aston Villa scout who like me was in Tenerife over Easter . We were on a short break and watching the City Spurs game in a hotel and got talking to him he said he was there to watch a game at CD Tenerife on Easter Sunday .Or at least he claimed to be a Villa scout.
I asked him about Tammy Abraham and then the conversation went wider and included matters Chelsea re loans and in particular Zouma.
His take on things based purely on snippets being shared in the football community were that Chelsea have plans running in tandem
The first is that half a dozen or so loan players will be recalled if the ban remains,In that number were the winger thay paid big bucks for in January , the two players I mention ,the two young full backs ,a midfielder and posssibly the central defender currently on loan at Derby. He made the point that previously Chelsea had a reputation for always trying to accommodate a player who wanted to leave but all players and their agents have been told that for the immediate future that policy is suspended unless it fits with previous assurances or it suits all parties.
He said they have a plan in place re keepers and had been planning for the possibility of a ban in that they awarded their ex 3rd choice keeper a contract and then loaned him out for the whole period of the contract thus enabling them to bring him back to the club even though he would be out of contract but the crucial point is they hold his registration.
The other plan is the ban is suspended or indeed kicked out.
If that’s the case they will bring back three or four from loan irrespective they will be selling a number of players currently out on loan to generate funds and also a couple of bit part players in their current squad.In that instance they will also loan some youngsters out who they feel are able to progress to PL level and who in the first scenario would be recalled to their club and here’s the point they would accept an offer for Zouma if it was in line with the market and he wanted to transfer out but that desire from the Zouma camp isn’t what he is hearing nor come to that is it what Abraham or his reps are suggesting.
They Villa are desperate to bring in loan players irrespective of which league they are in and have their eyes on the lad currently on loan at Derby, a central defender who he suggests is as good a defender he has seen for many a year and under Terry would develop at a pace but as I pointed out early he probably will be recalled if the ban remains.
Not really helpful I know but it’s the in line with the market comment. He suggested it’s close to £40 million ( hence why I poured scorn on a sum mentioned by another poster earlier in this thread)
Could be a load of bunken I know but was an interesting conversation
Based on the fact that they did indeed recall Zouma and Abraham. They did recall Reece James from Wigan, Tomori and Mount from Derby and Pulisic (half a dozen players recalled from loan)
In respect of Zouma my comment was that he stated he would be sold if an offer was made in line with market value and here’s the point and he, Zouma, wanted out which wasn’t thought to be the case .
Based on what we do know I would say his thoughts were pretty much on the money
As for the chap being in Tenerife well quite a lot of scouting is done in Europe and not all PL scouts are based in England and I can only assume he is based in Tenerife
