Martin O'Neill moves in on targets
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VILLA boss Martin O’Neill is believed to be closing in on a number of targets which he hopes will be in place before Villa’s InterToto quest begins in a fortnight.
His search for a right-back should see him finally table a firm offer for £11 million-rated Valencia right-back Miguel, who we revealed last month had spoken of his wish to leave the Spanish club who struggled to finish mid-table after a disappointing year.
Tottenham’s 28-year-old French midfielder Steed Malbranque has now emerged as a firm target of O’Neill’s and would cost around £4million.
Miguel, 28, has been high on the Irishman’s wish-list ever since his move for Porto’s Jose Bosingwa was doomed to failure.
He was part of Portugal’s Euro 2008 squad, featuring as a back-up to Bosingwa.
Miguel joined from Benfica three years ago for £6million and it has been reported in Spain it would take a fee of around £11million to persuade Valencia to sell.
O’Neill is also hoping to wrap up a deal for Sheffield Wednesday’s American defender Frank Simek as back-up to Miguel.
Simek missed the last five months of the season due to an ankle injury sustained against Crystal Palace in December.
The former Arsenal trainee’s rehabilitation has taken longer than expected, but the 23-year-old is now nearing fitness.
A deal for Steve Sidwell will still go through despite a financial delay brought about by his agent, while Villa are by no means out of the hunt for David Bentley despite reports the Blackburn player wants to move to Tottenham.
Anton Ferdinand’s position at West Ham will become even more unsettled due to the impending arrival of Matteo Ferrari from Roma on a free transfer.
Reports in Italy say the Hammers are offering the defender £1.9million a year over four years to sign.
Villa fly out to Saint Gallen in North-Eastern Switzerland tomorrow for a two-game, five day training camp which should be boosted by the timely link-up of Dutch defender Wilfred Bouma.
But with players in short supply a number of youngsters are set to make the trip.
Gareth Barry is to be left behind while four other players: Thomas Sorensen, Scott Carson, Olof Mellberg and Patrik Berger, have left the club.
Celtic are closing in on a deal to sign Shaun Maloney – with Lee Naylor and cash eventually coming the other way – who will nevertheless still travel.
Injured duo Curtis Davies and Stephen O’Halloran are unavailable so the likes of Ciaran Clark, Nathan Delfouneso, Barry Bannan and Zoltan Stieber are likely to come in.
