The battle between Liverpool and Aston Villa for on-loan keeper Scott Carson looks to have hit a massive roadblock after Matin O’Neill told Rafa Benitez to take his £10m fee and shove it. With Carson out of the picture, it now looks like Villa will make a play for 37-year-old Blackburn keeper Brad Fiedel.
The Daily Mail is reporting that O’Neill believes he can snatch the keeper from Blackburn for more than half what Liverpool was asking for Carson.
O’Neill believes Friedel can provide a short-term answer to Villa’s quest for a new No 1 and is confident he can land him for as little as £3m, given he is 37 and is on a one-year rolling contract. (Daily Mail)
Friedel might be considered old by most football standards, but he’s been far-and-away one of the most consistent keepers in the Premiership for some time now. And if O’Neill won’t pay for Carson, then you’d have to think that the next best thing could be the American-born Friedel.
Would Villa supporters welcome a move for Friedel? Or would you rather see Martin keep looking for a younger keeper for the future?