Villa set sights on Green as Friedel replacement
Published:With Brad Friedel’s contract up in the summer, Aston Villa are likely to dip into the transfer market for a new goalkeeper and Robert Green is one that is liable to be towards the top of their shortlist.
West Ham are 1/12 in the Premier League odds to be relegated this season and if they do drop out of the top flight, they will struggle to keep hold of their top players.
Co-owner David Gold has already admitted that West Ham are expecting to lose their England stars, with Scott Parker a target of Tottenham and Matthew Upson out of contract.
Goalkeeper Green will also be available for a reasonable price if West Ham are relegated, while the fact that he only has 12 months remaining on his contract may tempt the Hammers to cash in.
Villa stopper Friedel soon turns 40 and the quality of his performances for the club this season may have slightly dropped in comparison to previous years since signing from Blackburn in 2008.
Meanwhile, other rumours are in existence that Liverpool are keen to bring Friedel back to Anfield on a free transfer as either a replacement for Pepe Reina or to act as his understudy.
Both Green and Friedel will be between the sticks for their respective clubs for this weekend’s Premier League fixtures, with West Ham having a must win game at Wigan and Aston Villa facing a difficult fixture at Arsenal.
If West Ham lose at Wigan they will be relegated and it is 21/10 that they leave the DW Stadium with three points.
Aston Villa’s odds are 7/1 to beat Arsenal and their away record against the opposition is pretty good, with last season’s defeat being their only loss at the Emirates in five visits.
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