Paul Lambert’s bid to revive Aston Villa from their slumber is beginning to take effect, with him preparing to make his first moves in the transfer market.
Here are five names who have been linked with signing for Villa over the past seven days, with full-backs the priority…
French under-20 international Haidara is being looked at as a long-term replacement for left-back Stephen Warnock. The Mail report that Alex McLeish set up the £2 million deal before his sacking, and Paul Lambert may still decide to see it through. The part Senegalese defender played 19 times for Nancy in Ligue One last season and is only 19-years-old. It is considered that his strong physique would make him well suited to life in the Premier League, and he likes to go forward and attack too.
It is not only left-back Villa are looking to make changes, but right-back too. Chris Gunter is a name who has cropped up, but Nottingham Forest want a fee in the region of £4 million. Lambert attempted to sign him for Norwich City so it may be a case of second time lucky for the manager. Gunter was signed by Tottenham as a teenager but found first team football hard to come by, so moved back down to the Championship where he has made over 120 appearances for Forest. Reading are also interested.
Another right-back Villa are interested in is Kyle Naughton. Lambert had Naughton on loan last season at Norwich, and the Mirror say he is keen on working with him again. Naughton is contracted to Spurs but behind former Villa loanee Kyle Walker in the pecking order and at 23 will want regular football. Lambert is said to have told Alan Hutton he can leave the club and fans won’t shed too many tears after his disappointing showings last season.
An alternate left-back to Haidara is Danish international Simon Poulsen. If he came and had anything like the success compatriot Martin Laursen had at Villa Park fans would be happy. Age 27 he plays for Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, and Ajax are also said to be interested in him as a replacement for the outgoing Gregory van der Wiel. His versatility which allows him to play in central defence too is another big plus point.
Villa are one of a number of clubs interested in Russian hitman Pavel Pogrebnyak who impressed on loan at Fulham last season. Reading are also interested along with Villa and Fulham, and he said he is determined to find a club in England. At 28 he should be a proven source of goals and a superb addition to Darren Bent in attack, and is a free agent making him potentially one of the bargains of the summer. Now Russia are out of Euro 2012, his future should be decided shortly.
Which of these do you want to see the club sign? Who else should Villa target?
image: © joncandy
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