Aston Villa are set to make a £5million swoop for
Tottenham keeper Paul Robinson - and may now get the go-ahead for
talks with Steve Sidwell.
Robinson has been looking to quit White Hart Lane since
falling out with Juande Ramos towards the end of last season and
the imminent arrival of PSV stopper Heurhelho Gomes will push him
further down the pecking order.
Middlesbrough have also been linked with the England
international but Aston Villa are favourites given that they can
offer European football, even if that is only in the InterToto Cup
for now.
Martin O'Neill can also promise the 28-year-old first-team
football now Scott Carson has returned to Liverpool and he is now
expected to hold talks at Villa Park this week.
He should be joined be Steve Sidwell who has now met Chelsea
officials to discuss his compensation package. A £5.5million bid
has already been agreed in principle for the former Reading
midfielder, but Villa cannot press ahead with the transfer until
Sidwell has reached an agreement with the Blues.
He could be due a £2million pay-off as he has been at Stamford
Bridge less than 12 months and has not asked for a move away. A
number of other Premier League clubs have been linked with his
signature but the Villans remain in pole position.