Martin O'Neill in last-ditch bid for Younes Kaboul
MARTIN O’Neill is set to perform a late smash and grab raid for Tottenham’s Younes Kaboul after the French defender had agreed personal terms to join Sunderland.
Villa were today ready to fax a firm bid to Spurs for the former Auzerre centre-back with O’Neill also ready to better those personal terms on offer from Roy Keane’s side.
The Villa boss appears determined to land the Frenchman who was expected to have a medical on Wearside today, but the player’s agent has now revealed that Kaboul wanted a further 24 hours to think over the move with his family.
O’Neill has so far landed only Steve Sidwell this summer but his move for Brad Friedel could be rubber-stamped over the weekend with Blackburn close to agreeing a deal for Spurs keeper Paul Robinson.
And a deal for Brad Guzan could be just a week away with a work-permit hearing set for next Friday.
Villa agreed a £650,000 deal with Chivas earlier this month for the 23-year-old keeper who was denied a work permit in January.
The hearing was originally set for yesterday and O’Neill remains hopeful.
“ We’re hoping that having come so close in January we can get the work permit this time around”, he said.
“I think his situation has improved, certainly on the international scene. He’s been playing a lot of games for America now, important matches. He’s played World Cup qualifying games and he played the second-half against England at Wembley.
“All told I think his position has improved so fingers crossed that might help but who knows.”
