Aston Villa aim to wrap up Brad Friedel deal
VILLA will attempt to quickly wrap up the signing of Brad Friedel with Martin O’Neill now focusing on closing a number of other deals after today admitting they have to strengthen just to “stand still” this season.
Villa had a £2million fee agreed with Blackburn yesterday but now have to wait for Paul Ince to complete the signing of Paul Robinson from Tottenham before they can unveil the 37-year-old American as their new No.1.
O’Neill appears to be in with a strong chance of signing Spurs defender Younes Kaboul, although Sunderland have spoken to the player and are awaiting a decision.
Shaun Wright-Phillips is keen to join Villa and not Portsmouth, who need to sell players to finance a move in any case.
Villa have not yet made a bid but the Chelsea winger has told a source he would jump at the chance of playing for O’Neill.
Villa also have an interest in Tottenham’s Steed Malbranque, who is also wanted by Sunderland.
“We have got things in motion,’’ O’Neill said today. “The difficulty is in getting real quality players.
“Everybody is finding the same. All the clubs of a similar position to ourselves are in exactly the same boat.
“We are working as hard as we possibly can to improve our squad, which is what we need to do to stand still, never mind anything else. That’s the difficulty.
“We finished sixth last season so for us to go forward we are looking at a sizeable squad and quality players, if we can do it.’’
It was Harry Redknapp who made Villa’s interest in Kaboul public, but O’Neill is unconcerned by the Portsmouth boss’ apparent attempt to put pressure on his own board to close a deal for the defender.
O’Neill added: “Harry is Harry and what he wants to say is enirely his business.”
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