Popov radio interview fuels Villa transfer rumours...

Miss Popov out of Rentaghost

The captain of Bulgaria Ivelin Popov gave an interview on the morning show of Darik radio "Darik coffee." on Wednesday. The Kuban Krasnodar player admitted (sort of) that there are talks about a move to Aston Villa.

The interviews resurrects speculation from last summer and Paul Lambert will no doubt be anxious to get another Bulgarian into the squad after the runaway success of the shoot-on-sight  Tonev.

If the name Popov sounds familiar, it may be because he scored against us playing for Litex Lovech a few years back.

We're not expecting a flood of transfer activity in the January window so it's nice to know that Villa are at least looking to strengthen, even if the signing doesn't come off.

Danilo D'Ambrosio - the rumours are back

Remember the rumours about Torino's Danilo D'Ambrosio that we brought you back in July.

Well, as unconvinced as we were by them back then, they have re-emerged.

The 25-year-old has scored two goals in 12 League games for the Granata this season but is out of contract at the end of the season, with his representative Vincenzo Pisacane hinting that a new deal with the Turin club is unlikely.
The player would be available on a Bosman at the end of the season, but Torino may choose to accept a small fee and let the player go early.

Villa could easily quadruple his current salary without breaking the bank, but at 25 he's quite old to be a typical Lambert signing, though Matt Lowton's sudden lack of favour with the Villa boss would seem to indicate that a new right back signing wouldn't be a total shock.

Sunderland have again been linked with the player, though it is thought that club's initial interest came from the now departed DiCanio, while the smart money says the player could yet end up at Napoli.

We'll believe it when we see him at Bodymoor...