The Aston Villa Goalkeeper Saga!

Reports differ on our goalkeeping exploits according to what paper you read!

According to some Martin O’Neill is chasing England Under-21 and Liverpool keeper Scott Carson for £3.5m. Carson spent much of last season on loan at Charlton (and was voted their player of the season) and has impressed during the Under 21 European Championships.

The Daily Mirror suggests that O’Neill would take him on a season long loan but would prefer to tie up the permanent signature of the 21-year-old shot stopper.

However before you get too excited, other reports are suggesting that Reds boss Rafa Benitez wants to keep him and has told the player he has to fight for the right to be number one at Anfield. Both The Sun and The Guardian quoted Rafa as saying: ‘I’ve told Scott he will be part of our squad. He must fight with Pepe Reina for a starting place. He must fight with Pepe for a starting place. We knew when we fought off Chelsea to sign him he was a talented goalkeeper.’

Villa have also been linked to Bolton’s Jussi Jaakelainen and Celtic’s Polish shotstopper Artur Boruc, although O’Neill recently lambasted the link to Celtic saying he isn’t after any more of their players. As for Jussi, his agent says the player will see out the final year of his contract and then assess the situation adding: “I’ve spoken to Sammy Lee and he is delighted.” Right, ok, so in agent speak, what that actually means is the player is going to run down his contract, leave on a free, make himself and his agent a pot load of money and the club are totally pi**ed off with the loss of an asset!!!

Another link is to our former youth goalkeeper Boaz Myhill. Some reports are suggesting we are willing to pay as much as £3million to bring him back to Villa Park from his current club Hull.

I forget in which paper, but I also read that Thomas Sorensen will be allowed to leave. The Villa keeper, it is rumoured, hasn’t impressed Martin O’Neill as he isn’t seen as commanding enough in the box, albeit he is a good shot stopper. The report I read said the player, who only has a year left on his contract, will be allowed to go but not until a replacement is brought in. I’d be surprised if we let the Danish international go this summer though, better to extend his contract and sell him for a decent amount surely?