Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
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Albion consider move for Lee Grant
Thursday 22nd July 2010, 10:56AM BST.
Albion are considering whether to move for Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Lee Grant after Burnley opened the bidding with a £1million offer.
Grant is among the players on the Baggies’ shortlist as they chase a new goalkeeper, to challenge Scott Carson for the first-choice spot at the Hawthorns.
The Clarets’ bid is now likely to accelerate the 27-year-old’s inevitable exit from Hillsborough and force other interested parties to show their hand.
Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo needs to add a keeper to his squad, after Luke Daniels’ loan move to Bristol Rovers left new goalkeeping coach Dean Kiely as the only back-up to Carson.
Preston’s Andy Lonergan emerged as the club’s top target but three bids for the 26-year-old, rising to around £1million, were dismissed by the Lancashire club.
Baggies sources insist the last of the rejected bids was their final offer for Preston’s current Player of the Year, prompting Di Matteo to move on to alternative targets.
Albion were reluctant to pay Preston’s asking price of more than £2million to land Lonergan, but it is thought a fee of around £1.25million would persuade Wednesday to part with Grant.
Grant is thought to be high on a list of potential new faces drawn up by Kiely over the last seven months.
Burnley’s bid to the Owls could now force the Baggies into a quick decision over whether to follow up their interest in Grant, who has been named players’ and fans’ Player of the Year for the last two seasons at Hillsborough.
The 6ft 4in former England under-21s international is certain to move on this summer to advance his career, following Wednesday’s relegation to League One.
The former Derby man is tempted by the chance to join former Hillsborough boss Brian Laws’ bid to take Burnley back to the Premier League, but would favour a move to a club already in the top flight.
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