Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Albion will wait for Villa’s John Carew
Wednesday 12th January 2011, 2:00PM GMT.
Albion are ready to play a waiting game for John Carew after deciding the Villa striker is their best option to beef up their attack.
The Baggies have been working on their transfer plans for January for months and have decided that another forward is the priority.
But boss Roberto Di Matteo has now hinted strongly that, of the options looked at by the club, the big Norwegian international is their clear favourite.
Although Albion would not have spoken about Carew publicly had they not received signals that he was willing to switch to the Hawthorns, they are waiting for a signal from Villa to make their pitch to Carew.
But Di Matteo is ready to play a waiting game in the belief that the player is the best option on his radar.
He said: “There is absolutely no news on the transfer front. We have been working on January for a long time. But it’s the same for every club. They are all chasing good players and a striker.
“It’s the same for us. It’s not like we are sitting on our backsides and waiting. But sometimes there is just a lack of options.
“The fact is there aren’t that many options and that is the problem.”
Carew’s availability is complicated by two factors about which Albion have no control.
Villa have lost Emile Heskey and Ashley Young to suspension to leave their own resources stretched, with a Second City derby against Birmingham approaching and the team now lodged in the bottom three.
They also know it would be a brave move by Villa manager Gerard Houllier to allow Carew to leave for a survival rival.
Better news for Albion is that Steven Reid has come through surgery and is already in rehab with a swifter comeback date predicted.
Di Matteo added: “We’re now looking at about four weeks so it is not as bad as we expected at first.
“Steven is in rehab now and recovering well.”
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