Villa will avert their full-back crisis by signing Middlesbrough’s Luke Young and Reading’s Nicky Shorey.
Boro right-back Young will cost £5m, while a fee of around £4m has been agreed with Reading for left-back Shorey, who was also being courted by Sunderland and Portsmouth.
The England internationals have been given the all-clear to hold talks and no stumbling blocks are anticipated with regard to personal terms.
Both could make their debuts in next Thursday’s UEFA Cup qualifier against FH Hafnarfjardur.
A statement issued on Boro’s website read: “Luke Young is today in talks with Aston Villa after the two clubs agreed a fee. The player is expected to start negotiations this morning.”
Young, who cost Boro £2.5m from Charlton a year ago, was a notable absentee from the Teesside club’s new-season photoshoot yesterday after they caved into Villa’s double-your-money offer. An initial approach was rebuffed at the start of the week.
Boss Gareth Southgate was reluctant to accept but the offer has been deemed too good to turn down by Boro chiefs. The transfer could be sewn up by the close of play today.
The 29-year-old currently earns £20,000 a week on Teeside and could expect to earn half as much again at Villa Park.
While Young has been on Villa boss Martin O’Neill’s radar for over year, his interest in Shorey has developed far more recently.
O’Neill was in the market for a left-back before Freddie Bouma’s horror injury, but with the Dutchman now sidelined for between four and six months, finding a replacement has suddenly become a priority.
Earlier this week, sources close to Shorey indicated the 27-year-old was not on O’Neill’s hit list.
But as Shorey is one of the few left-backs currently available, with Black Cats boss Roy Keane having also held talks, the Villa boss has been forced to act swiftly.
Royals manager Steve Coppell confirmed Shorey’s departure is imminent.
He said: “Without being specific about any destination, I expect Nicky to be gone by the time we kick-off this weekend.”
5 Comments
2 very good buys if you get them in.
I think it’s quality how Villa buy so many English / British players in.
Young, Knight, Davies, Shorey, Young and Sidwell off the top of my head.
Fair play, I think it’s to be commended
never really liked the villa but i agree the buy british mentality is great i even watch a few of there games now
good for villa fans to often let down with wasted transfers or broken promises in investment
these two would be terrific buys for the club who has no recognized full backs fit
thing with villa deals never ever simple and completed just like that. still long way to go in these deals i think
I’m not so sure about how long Young will be around, at 29 and 5mil he needs to be a bit special, I just hopes he is capable of doing the job for two or three seasons.
I think if Shorey clicks into place, Bouma might have a fight on his hands to get his place back, I certainly hope that is the case.
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