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Given has fallen out of favour at Man City. AKIRA SUEMORI/AP/Press Association Images
Signing on

Aston Villa set to swoop for Given

A reported €6million deal for the Irish player is believed to be close.

ALEX MCLEISH IS looking to make Irish goalkeeper Shay Given his first signing at the club, and a deal appears close, after one bookmaker suspended betting on the Donegal man joining the club.

The Man City player is unhappy following a season in which he failed to feature in any of his side’s Premier League games.

The transfer fee is likely to cost €6million according to reports, with the Scottish manager optimistic that Villa can match the €100,000-a-week wages Given makes at City.

The player would be the definite first-choice goalkeeper at Villa, after Brad Friedel left the club earlier in the summer for Tottenham.

If the player and club fail to agree on a deal, McLeish is also interested in bringing goalkeeper Ben Foster, who played under the Scottish manager at Birmingham, to Villa.

Despite a decent start to his Man City career, Given became second choice to Englishman Joe Hart, following the latter player’s successful loan stint under McLeish at Birmingham.

Given’s lack of first team football has not appeared to impact upon his form when playing however, as he performed well during Ireland’s recent 2-0 win against Macedonia.

City are looking to sell Given and others such as James Milner, in order to make room for a number of players that the club are looking to bring in including Udinese’s attacking midfielder Alexis Sanchez and Partizan Belgrade defender Stefan Savic.

Read more: The Departures Lounge: your daily lunchtime transfer round-up

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