Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Brad Friedel lines up new Villa deal
Monday 4th April 2011, 1:00PM BST.
Brad Friedel’s agent today confirmed that Villa have opened talks with the veteran American goalkeeper over a new contract.
The 39-year-old’s current deal expires in the summer and it was initially thought that manager Gerard Houllier would replace him in the summer with a younger goalkeeper.
But Friedel’s impressive form since the Frenchman’s arrival at the club has persuaded Houllier to open discussions over a new deal, according to his agent Tony McGill.
Houllier’s transfer budget in the summer is also limited following the club-record signing of striker Darren Bent for a deal worth up to £24million in the transfer window and, with money a little tighter, the Villa boss must sell before he can buy.
McGill said: “We are in talks over a new contract, Brad is very happy at Villa. If Brad was not happy, he would not be talking over a new contract.
“I have spoken with chief executive Paul Faulkner and talks are going very well indeed.”
Wth reserve goalkeeper Andy Marshall having also recently penned a new deal, it seems that Houllier is happy with his men between the sticks for the time being.
Marshall paid tribute to Friedel and insisted, despite the fact the American is already Villa’s oldest ever player and turns 40 next month, he can still play at the top level.
He said: “You look at Brad and you think, ‘I can’t ever see him stopping.’
“I see him every day and he never misses training, he never shirks anything, he never tries to get out of anything, he does everything that we do and looking at him I’d still say he’s got another year left in him.
“I came here and saw how Brad was at 38, 39 and now nearly 40, and I realised that the guy is phenomenal.
“It’s testament to how he lives his life, how he trains and how he plays football.”
Sponsored Links
UK Sport
Latest Blog — Microsoft Comes to the University of Wolverhampton
Last week Microsoft visited the University of Wolverhampton to give students the chance to develop their own phone apps that could be published on the Windows Phone Marketplace.
Technology blog
Business Awards
Read the full story here
Full coverage of awards celebrating the region's best businesses.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
LIVE traffic updates
Road, rail and airport - latest
Our new, live traffic and travel updates service - check before you set out.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
