Aston Villa boss ready to net £2.5m keeper Brad Friedel
VILLA are closing in on £2.5million Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel and remain in a good position to see off Tottenham for Rovers’ winger David Bentley.
With Gareth Barry reporting back for training today Martin O’Neill was continuing to work on a number of deals to add to the acquisition of Steve Sidwell.
Barry remains on course for a move to Liverpool after the lifting of his near-fortnight ban.
Villa’s decision has little to do with getting Barry fit in order to attract fresh bidders.
Barry played for England against the USA and Trinidad in May and early June, which means he has been off duty for just six weeks and has kept himself in shape.
There was the threat of PFA intervention behind the scenes but O’Neill is expecting further talks with Liverpool.
He said: “I’m sure there will be communication.
“Gareth is going to come back, he needs to get some work done now. Liverpool have not come back to us.
“I am sure they will do but we don’t know what might develop there so it is best that he gets in now and does some training.
“There’s nothing more I can say on the matter.”
It is thought Arsenal could help Villa indirectly by making a move for Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso, if Juventus carry out their very public threat not to buy the player.
O’Neill, for his part, has an interest in a host of players, including Manchester City’s Michael Johnson and West Ham’s Anton Ferdinand.
“We are progressing and in the next few weeks I would think we should be able to add to our squad,’’ he said.
“Whether we do it by the end of the week, in the next 10 days or the next three weeks by the time the Premier League comes round we hope to be much stronger than we are at the minute.
“I think that is absolutely essential.”
Tottenham’s bid for Bentley will involve players-plus-cash whereas Villa’s might appeal to Rovers as it will be straight cash.
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