Villa join the hunt for Jaaskelainen

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Villa join the hunt for Jaaskelainen

Aston Villa have joined the race to sign Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

O'Neill has made an inquiry for the 32-year-old who recently rejected a contract extension with the Trotters. He is searching for a new first-choice goalkeeper with Thomas Sorensen's days at Villa Park apparently numbered.

He has only 12 months of his contract and there have been no signs of O'Neill offering him a new deal even though the Danish international claimed a couple of months ago that he was in the best form of his career.

Bolton are understood to be looking for around £4.5million for Jaaskelainen but will be hard pressed to get that given the short amount of time left on his contract.

Villa will face competition with Sunderland believed to be among the clubs also chasing Jaaskelainen who has made more than 350 appearances for Bolton.

He cost Bolton just £100,000 when signed from VPS Vaasa nine years ago.

Meanwhile, Villa midfielder Craig Gardner will relish the challenge if O'Neill brings in players who will be competing for his place this summer.

He said: 'Villa have money to spend and are being linked with a lot of quality players. There is a lot of transfer speculation flying about at the moment.

'But I will welcome whoever the manager brings in and will look forward to playing alongside them. I will keep my head down and battle to keep my place.'

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Sorensen blasts Villa Jussi link

Aston Villa goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen has hit out at speculation he is to be replaced by Bolton stopper Jussi Jaaskelainen at Villa Park.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill is understood to have made an enquiry about Jaaskelainen after the Finn rejected a contract extension with the Trotters.

The reports cast further doubt over Sorensen's future as O'Neill seems reluctant to hand him a new contract, even though he only has 12 months left of his current deal.

However, Sorensen dismissed the Jaaskelainen link as "rumour" and insisted he will still be Villa's first-choice goalkeeper next season.

He told told Viasatsport: "There is actually not much news in that, because Villa have been linked with lots of players.

"I know I am good enough to be the first choice at the club and don't care about the rumours in the English media.

"I believe I will be playing for Aston Villa next season too. I feel myself that I played well last season.

"Therefore, I don't believe that Martin O'Neill wants to offload. Rather, I believe O'Neill is looking for a back-up."