Firstly, let’s remember that a club can sign a player any time they like. The player just can’t actually join their new club until one of the transfer windows opens. Things would become quite awkward if deals were completed and disclosed too far ahead of time, this is why they tend to go through during the windows. But if you think that managers haven’t been marking their targets and making inquiries for some time now, before the January window, you’re very much mistaken.

Secondly, although the papers are awash with absolute made-up nonsense about potential transfers, somewhere in there is some substance. The nature of football means even by using logic it’s impossible to detect which smoke stack indicates a little fire is burning and which one is just some idiot with a fog machine.

Despite this, let’s explore a little logic for moment… imagine you’re one of Aston Villa’s 4 first team strikers. Imagine that the most senior of the four is out injured. Imagine that the most junior of the 4 is only 17. Imagine that the manager picks the only other striker, plays a 4-5-1 and still leaves you on the bench. Pretty clear what your future is at the club, right??

So, logic dictates that Marlon Harewood’s time at the club is coming to an end. From what I’ve read, he likes the club and has been enjoying his time here, but surely if he actually wants to play some football then his position at Aston Villa has become untenable?? Well, as I’ve already stated, football and logic aren’t always hot bedmates. We’ll know by the end of next month, but the word on the street is that Marlon is on his way out.

The only reason I mention Harewood is that his potential exit may well have an effect on how many are coming the other direction. It’s become evident that we really need another striker with Harewood. Without him, we obviously need one and half!! Sorry, poor attempt at humour. We’ll need two.

So who’s in the frame?? Crouch’s name is still floating around, as is Heskey’s. Jermaine Defoe is also on the radar. And the latest rumour pounding the turf is Darren Bent from Spurs and this one intrigues me. There might just be something in it and it might just be something that could work.

On the pitch I like Defoe, but I’m not sure a pacey goal scorer is exactly what we’re after right now since we have that in Gabby and potentially in Delfouneso. Off the pitch, he’s clearly a bling-bling type party boy. If reports are accurate, he’s previously turned down a decent contract offer from us in favour of the money Pompey had to offer. He’s just not ticking enough of the right boxes for me.

The other rumour I really don’t like hearing is that Big John is also likely to head the same direction as Harewood. He’s said many times fairly recently that he’s finally found his ideal club in Villa and signed a lengthy contract to cement those words. But that was before the Rocket Club incident. The scurrilous gossip doing the rounds is that his nose was well and truly put out of joint by MON’s disciplinary action and their relationship has deteriorated to the point that he’s not really injured and will be off in January. The only creditably to this is that he’s had 5 clubs and a 6th on loan in 10 years. And that’s probably all there is to it and it’s another example of applying logic to football and being way off the mark. On this occasion I certainly hope so anyway.