O’Neill has issues over Carson deal

Villa boss Martin O’Neill has ‘a number of issues’ to resolve before deciding whether to take up the first option they have on Liverpool keeper Scott Carson.

Carson has spent the season on loan at Villa, where he played every game he was eligible for.

Yesterday, the 22-year-old keeper – who has already cost Villa £1.7m in loan fees – pleaded with Liverpool not to demand £10m for him which he branded ‘stupid money’.

O’Neill is determined to sign at least two goalkeepers this summer after seeing Carson rejoin the Reds and releasing Thomas Sorensen.

One is likely to be £2m-rated American international Brad Guzan, who he failed to gain a work permit for after agreeing a fee with Chivas USA in January.

As exclusively revealed by the Express & Star last week, another being considered as a short term measure is Arsenal veteran Jens Lehmann, who is being released this summer.

“I feel we should have three goalkeepers anyway, especially if we get into the UEFA Cup,” said O’Neill. “Most teams have three. It’s a specialised position. But we have a number of issues: Scott isn’t our player. We have first option on him, but I haven’t discussed anything with him. Liverpool have the right to do what they see fit.

“Overall I’m really pleased he came to us. He had a lot to face up to in terms of having played for England in his tenure here. All the England players, and especially him, were blamed for their failure to qualify for Euro 2008.

“Then he had the next couple of weeks where he was under pressure but he coped with that pretty well.

“But we’ve decided nothing. When we do, Scott should be the first to know.”

O’Neill added: “Brad may be involved against England – and that’s something we’d still be looking at. But we’d hoped he’d have the work permit and would have been here for four or five months working with Scott Carson and the other goalkeepers to get a feel of the ‘British’ scene, as it were.

“Now, if there was a chance of getting him playing and helping his cause towards the work permit then we’d definitely re-visit it. The goalkeeper situation is one we’re looking at.”