Aston Villa make a play for Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder
Aug 1 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail
VILLA are set for talks with Real Madrid over a sensational move for star midfielder Wesley Sneijder.
The 25-year-old Holland international and former Ajax ace is available after Madrid’s summer spree.
Reports in Spain suggested a fee of 16 million euros had been agreed with Liverpool for the attacking midfielder, but Villa have now come in to make their play.
It is believed his wages could still represent a huge hurdle for Villa to overcome but the fact Villa have gone for such a replacement for Gareth Barry is a signal at last of their intent to compete this season.
It promises to be a busy week for Martin O’Neill who is closing in on the five players he has deemed necessary to beef up his squad in preparation for the new season.
Villa will also decide over the next few days whether to pay Sporting Lisbon £12 million for play-maker Miguel Veloso.
The Portuguese club have told Villa to stop dithering and make a decision on the 23-year-old Portuguese international after giving them the asking price.
If Villa stall much further it is believed Lisbon will look for another buyer.
O’Neill must also stump up £4.5?million for Portsmouth’s Sylvain Distin, who wants to join but the fee is proving a major hurdle for a player of his age.
It is believed Villa are close to sealing a deal for Blackburn’s versatile left-back Stephen Warnock.
The only stumbling block with regards to the 27-year-old former Coventry and Liverpool player is Sam Allardyce’s insistence on finding a replacement first.
Aug 1 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail
VILLA are set for talks with Real Madrid over a sensational move for star midfielder Wesley Sneijder.
The 25-year-old Holland international and former Ajax ace is available after Madrid’s summer spree.
Reports in Spain suggested a fee of 16 million euros had been agreed with Liverpool for the attacking midfielder, but Villa have now come in to make their play.
It is believed his wages could still represent a huge hurdle for Villa to overcome but the fact Villa have gone for such a replacement for Gareth Barry is a signal at last of their intent to compete this season.
It promises to be a busy week for Martin O’Neill who is closing in on the five players he has deemed necessary to beef up his squad in preparation for the new season.
Villa will also decide over the next few days whether to pay Sporting Lisbon £12 million for play-maker Miguel Veloso.
The Portuguese club have told Villa to stop dithering and make a decision on the 23-year-old Portuguese international after giving them the asking price.
If Villa stall much further it is believed Lisbon will look for another buyer.
O’Neill must also stump up £4.5?million for Portsmouth’s Sylvain Distin, who wants to join but the fee is proving a major hurdle for a player of his age.
It is believed Villa are close to sealing a deal for Blackburn’s versatile left-back Stephen Warnock.
The only stumbling block with regards to the 27-year-old former Coventry and Liverpool player is Sam Allardyce’s insistence on finding a replacement first.
