Aston Villa remain confident they will tie up a season long loan
deal for Liverpool 'keeper Scott Carson.
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Carson is set to make the move to the midlands in a move which will
cost Villa around £2million.
Villa manager Martin O'Neill moved swiftly to recruit the England
squad player after he lost out to Sunderland in the race for the
signature of Hearts' stopper Craig Gordon.
Although Manchester City are also in the frame, Villa have emerged
as the clear favourites to sign the former Leeds player according
to sources close to the midlands club.
Carson's burning desire is to eventually follow his former Elland
Road team-mate Paul Robinson into the England side.
But he is aware of the need to continue to play regular Premier
League football to achieve that goal.
He spent last season on loan at Charlton but, despite performing
capably, failed to prevent them from being relegated from the top
flight.
Now he is to move to Villa where the expectation levels for the
forthcoming campaign will be considerably higher than at The
Valley.
Villa have no need to rush the deal through as Carson could not
play in Saturday's home clash with Rafael Benitez's side and
Wednesday's game at Blackburn has been postponed because of their
UEFA Cup commitments.
If all goes to plan, he is likely to make his debut the following
weekend against Newcastle at St James' Park.
Carson's move will inevitably place a question mark over the future
of last season's number one Thomas Sorensen once he has recovered
from a hamstring injury.
He has only 10 months left of his current deal and there has been
no sign of a new contract offer.
Sorensen has shown himself to be a capable shot-stopper but O'Neill
would prefer a 'keeper who commands his area in a more
authoritative manner.
Stuart Taylor will be between the posts against the Reds with
Academy prospect David Bevan on the substitute's bench.
