Premier League - Villa close in on Sidwell

Eurosport - Wed, 18 Jun 19:49:00 2008

Aston Villa are closing in on the signature of Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell.

Sidwell - 0

The Midlands club are understood to be on the verge of agreeing a £4.5million deal for the former Reading player which could go through as early as next week.

Sidwell has been one of Villa manager Martin O'Neill's main transfer targets since the season ended.

And his expected arrival will offset some of the disappointment surrounding the club regarding the expected departure of Gareth Barry to Liverpool.

Sidwell played a major part in Reading establishing themselves in the Barclays Premier League two seasons ago before moving to Stamford Bridge last summer.

The former Arsenal trainee, who has also attracted interest from Manchester City, had limited opportunities under Jose Mourinho and then Avram Grant as Chelsea narrowly missed out on Premier League and Champions League glory.

O'Neill, who is currently working as a television pundit at the Euro 2008 finals, has a number of other targets including Blackburn winger David Bentley who has been linked with a £15million switch to Villa.

He is aware of the need to considerably bolster what was the smallest squad in the Premier League last season having already lost the services of Olof Mellberg, Patrik Berger and Thomas Sorensen.

And Barry is certain to leave once Liverpool match O'Neill's valuation of his skipper at around £18million.

Jimmy Bullard, Tom Huddlestone, James Milner, Aaron Lennon, Pascal Chimbonda are possible Villa targets along with Sporting Braga right-back Joao Pereira and Crystal Palace teenager Shaun Scannell.

TeamTalk / Eurosport

Comment 6 - 25 of 25

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  1. he is got to leave so as get more playing time.good luck sidwell.
    From Okandeji Hamed Dayo A.K.A HOD,
    300 level, sociology Dept, University of Ilorin, Nigeria.

    From ewe, on Wed 25 Jun 12:31AM
  2. why sign sidwell... not a patch on barry....
    need to be more ambitious
    van der vaart or someone of that calibre

    From craig69deakin, on Fri 20 Jun 6:48PM
  3. SID WHO ???..another overpriced overrated sunday morning footballer that may join the england ranks with bentley....and like bentley et al.....will never win owt

    From paul w, on Thu 19 Jun 2:06AM
  4. spent a pointless season at chelsea but is a good player and showed that at reading. As a Man U fan i wish him and Villa all the best at trying ti break into the top four.

    From manu0862, on Wed 18 Jun 11:03PM
  5. glad to hear steve sidwell going to villa he might get a few games now,as chelski only buy players to stop other teams buying them.and now lets put an end to the barry saga and leave him at villa to play alongside sidwell,as for 18 million pound notes who is having a laugh

    From curious, on Wed 18 Jun 6:36PM
  6. glad to hear steve sidwell going to villa he might get a few games now,as chelski only buy players to stop other teams buying them.and now lets put an end to the barry saga and leave him at villa to play alongside sidwell,as for 18 million pound notes who is having a laugh

    From curious, on Wed 18 Jun 6:28PM
  7. At least O'Neill is showing signs of accepting defeat concerning Barry even if he would be the last to admit it.

    From francis a, on Wed 18 Jun 6:01PM
  8. Chelsea is not the right place for young players like sidwell, cause they're end users they can't give chances for young players to learn and develop their talents, they work on finished articles. look at Obi Mikel he's a good player but sor far has nothing new to offer as a young developing player

    Deo Osmund - Tanzania

    From deosmund, on Wed 18 Jun 6:01PM
  9. good move for sidwell and villa. Him and barry will play well together next season

    From danwilson82, on Wed 18 Jun 5:59PM
  10. Good move for Villa and Sidwell he can now show his full potential at a top club

    From darrenejones, on Wed 18 Jun 5:56PM
  11. thanks for given us this all important news about the red-headed sidwell,let this boy move at least he ll be able to show us what he has to show.poor boy,the take home pay ll at list take him home this time.

    From akomolafe a, on Wed 18 Jun 5:54PM
  12. thanks fof given us this all important news about the red-headed sidwell,let this boy move at least he ll be able to show us what he has to show.poor boy,the take home pay ll at list take him home this time.

    From akomolafe a, on Wed 18 Jun 5:25PM
  13. The Villa will welcome Steve Sidwell, thank you chelsea

    from Biggid

    From ron g, on Wed 18 Jun 3:12PM
  14. its not a great move for sidwell, his hair is going to clash badly with the home strip!
    come on the mighty Villa!!!!!

    From th_lgnd, on Wed 18 Jun 2:56PM
  15. very good move for villa,sidwell could find himself playing for england before the end of the year ,just wait and see,well done martin o`neil

    From rap21253, on Wed 18 Jun 2:36PM
  16. good luck to sidwell,u are a better player. as a chelsea fan I wish you the very best.

    Innocent from Lagos Nigeria

    From INNOCENT M, on Wed 18 Jun 2:29PM
  17. Good for him cos he's gonna get more playing time from kunzo9703

    From kunle o, on Wed 18 Jun 2:22PM
  18. We've seen it time and time again, players go from 1st team starts at smaller clubs, then get lured to chelsea for the money but just keep the bench warm! I'd rather play every game for less money then be stuck on the bench. The english coach mite look at you if your playing week in week out.

    From noblewaste, on Wed 18 Jun 2:00PM
  19. We've seen it time and time again, players go from 1st team starts at smaller clubs, then get lured to chelsea for the money but just keep the bench warm! I'd rather play every game for less money then be stuck on the bench. The english coach mite look at you if your playing week in week out.

    From noblewaste, on Wed 18 Jun 2:00PM
  20. good move for sidwell.

    From Tobsoil, on Wed 18 Jun 12:53PM
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