Aston Villa are set to make a move for Nicolae Dica, according
to Romanian sources.
The 26-year-old is hoping to take advantage of Romania's new EU
status which will allow any player from that country to play in
England without the need of a work-permit.
Dica is the star of the Steaua Bucharest side which has lifted the
Romanian title for the last two seasons.
The dynamic forward is now being strongly linked with a move to
England, with Aston Villa named as a likely bidder.
Former Chelsea ace Dan Petrescu - now manager of Unirea Urziceni -
feels Dica would be an excellent signing for Villa boss Martin
O'Neill.
"I know their manager, Martin O'Neill, very well. He needs a
creative player," he told Gazeta Sporturilor.
"I saw their match against Chelsea on Tuesday and I realised that
he is right.
"Dica would have his place there, I'm sure, but it all depends on
how hard he wants to play.
"Most of the Romanian players who went abroad had problems because
of their mentality. What they said about managers plotting against
them is nonsense.
"The manager is not a fool, and if you want to play and you are
serious, they put you in the team."