Aston Villa Sign Charles N'Zogbia

Aston Villa have secured the services of Wigan’s Charles N’Zogbia for £9.5 million , Villa have been the tracking the winger ever since Villa sold Stewart Downing to Liverpool earlier this month and after completing a medical on Friday N’Zogbia signed a five-year deal at Villa Park.

N’Zogbia only had a year left on his deal with Wigan and the Latics decided to cash in now rather than lose the player on a free next year when he would be out of contract, the Winger is delighted to be joining the Midlands outfit and could make his first start in next Wednesday’s pre-season friendly against Derby County.

Speaking about his move to Villa, the Winger said on the club’s official website; "I am really happy and extremely excited to sign for Aston Villa,"

"It is a great club and it is a really big step for me in my career, so I am sure I will enjoy my football here.
"I think it is going to be a really good season and hopefully I'll do well here.

"I can't wait to meet my new team-mates, play with them and work together to do something special this season.

"Alex McLeish is a strong manager and I think he is going to build a really good team for this season."

Shay Given Joins Aston Villa

Shay Given has earlier completed his move from Manchester City to Aston Villa; Given put pen to paper signing a five-year deal at Villa Park, while the goalie was seeking first team action. Shay Given found his opportunities limited at City last season due to the form of current England goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Aston Villa had been on the lookout for a goal keeper after their goalie Brad Friedel departed for Tottenham Hotspur.

Aston Villa released a statement saying "Aston Villa  are delighted to confirm that Shay Given will be unveiled tomorrow (Tuesday) as the club's new goalkeeper, having agreed a five-year deal to June 2016.

"The 35-year-old Republic of Ireland international completed a medical over the weekend and the formality of his signing this morning.

"He will be available for Thursday's friendly fixture against Walsall at the Banks's Stadium and for the club's participation in the Barclays Asia Trophy next week."

Alex McLeish Confirmed As Villa Manager

Aston Villa have today confirmed that Alex McLeish has become their new manager, the Scot resigned as manager of Birmingham last week and following a verbal row between the two clubs it has now been agreed The 52-year-old will now take charge at Villa Park.

Aston Villa was forced to pay Birmingham City £2m compensation to get their man and although Villa fans had voiced their disappointment at approaching McLeish, Villa owner Randy Lerner was determined to get him.

"I am honoured to have this opportunity to manage a club with such a fantastic history as Aston Villa's," McLeish said.

"The heritage, the history of success and the tradition of Aston Villa are compelling and irresistible. The challenge for me is to try to add my own chapter.

"I know that some of our fans have voiced concerns and I can understand why. It will be up to me to convince you that I am the right man"

"Since first becoming a manager at Motherwell, my desire to succeed and my energy and drive have never waned. My objective is to impart that drive and will to win to the players and fans of Aston Villa.

"I know that some of our fans have voiced concerns and I can understand why. It will be up to me to convince you that I am the right man to drive the Club forward and I intend to give absolutely everything to prove that I can be a success at the Club."

Aston Villa Director Hits Out At Fans

Aston Villa director Charles Krulak has hit back at the Villa fans who were angered by the club approaching Alex McLeish to become their new manager, bitter rivals Aston Villa and Birmingham City are at loggerheads over the Scot.

McLeish resigned as manager of Birmingham City last week and the Blues have now lodged a formal complaint against Villa after accusing them of illegally tapping up their former manager, Villa have been on the hunt for a new boss since Gerard Houllier quit his post at the beginning of June due to health concerns.

Krulak said: "The uproar over McLeish is uncalled for.

"He has proved he can manage in the big leagues - just imagine what he could do if he was with an owner who supported him."

In a message to Villa fans, he said: "You cling to the fact he's seen his lads relegated twice. Well, the first time he was not with the club long enough to make a difference. Secondly, look at the owners he's worked for and support of him monetarily.

"Then look at our owner Randy Lerner and what he provides to his managers.

"Ask Alex Ferguson about the man. We need to do what is right for the club."

Birmingham City Accuse Aston Villa Of Foul Play

Birmingham City has accused Aston Villa of tapping up former manager Alex McLeish, the bitter rivals are at war and Birmingham owners have insisted that will lodge a formal complaint.

The League Managers' Association has said that McLeish quit over a lack of consultation regarding transfers and the sacking of his former chief scout at St Andrews.

The Blues who was relegated from the Premier League last season have refused to accept McLeish’s resignation while the Scot feels he is not being treated fairly, Villa announced on Tuesday night that they were to interview the Scot 'imminently' because they considered him a free agent after he quit Birmingham at the weekend.

"The club feel this will taint football and give the game and the footballing authorities a bad name if this is allowed to materialise. The club will do what is within its powers to prevent this and will lodge a formal complaint to the authorities tomorrow as there is now not the slightest doubt remaining about this tap up attempt.

"Birmingham City FC stresses that this conduct, if condoned, will open up flood gates and set a very bad precedent. This is also an attack against the intelligence and integrity of not only the Villa fans, but most importantly our fans who are badly let down after having just been relegated.

"It is definitely a bitter pill to swallow for all fans concerned, both here and across the city. Never have the two clubs seen such a strong unity between their rival fans and this unity is based on humility and integrity and what is right and fair.

"The LMA's announcement today is refuted as the club has a very rigid approval system where only players formally identified, and with approval forms signed and sanctioned by the manager personally are brought in. The chief scout was sacked only after Mr. McLeish was informed who at that time had chosen not to comment.

"The allegations against the club, president Carson Yeung and the board are frivolous excuses and without foundation.

"The matter is now with Birmingham City FC's lawyers and no further comments will be made."  

Aston Villa and Birmingham City At War Over Alex McLeish

A legal row is erupting between rivals Aston Villa and Birmingham over Alex McLeish, the Scot resigned as manager as Birmingham via e-mail on Sunday. The Blues will now seek compensation from Villa should they approach McLeish, Villa’s former manager Gerard Houllier stepped down on health grounds.

The Blues claims do not believe that McLeish is a free agent and that the Scot is contracted to Birmingham City, the St Andrews club will now seek an injunction against their rivals to prevent them joining Aston Villa.
"I got an email from Aston Villa, finally replying to all of our queries," confirmed Pannu.

"As expected, their legal department said 'now Alex McLeish is a free agent having resigned, we're free to speak to him'. This confirms all suspicions. This shows what has happened.

"Within the first year he (McLeish), or the club who sign him, have to compensate us at £5.4m.
"The first year expires on June 30. The second year starts July 1, when the compensation fee is £3m.
"The urgency of the whole thing, with this email from Aston Villa, shows they can't even wait 17 days when the compensation is lower. It shows what this is all about.

Blues' acting chairman, Peter Pannu insists they are entitled to £5.4million should McLeish join Villa this month, although that figure will drop to £3m from the start of July.

"Because of this, what option is left to Alex McLeish and his advisers? To make allegations against Carson Yeung, against the board, for interference or whatever excuse to show constructive dismissal.
"I'll be seeking an injunction preventing Villa from hiring him.

"I'll be reporting what's happened to the Premier League. This is like conspiracy to defraud.
"It's borderline criminal. That's how strong I'll put it."

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Ashley Young To Finalise United Move

Ashley Young will be heading to Manchester United this summer after spending four years at Villa Park after joining from Watford, the midfielder made 156 appearances for the Midlands club, scoring 30 times.

Young will finalise the move once he returns from holiday but the deal has been agreed in principal.

According to media speculation, Ashley Young has been offered £130,000-a-week contract to join United. His agent Eric Walters had been in negotiations at Old Trafford this week to finalise the deal.

The winger had one year left on his £65,000-a-week contract at Villa Park and Young will now become one of the highest earners at United, having reiterated his desire to play at the top level in recent weeks after picking up the man of the match award in England's 2-2 draw with Switzerland on Saturday.

Darren Bent Joins Aston Villa

Aston Villa have today confirmed the signing of Darren Bent from Sunderland for a fee believed to be £18million, the striker has signed up on a four-and-a-half year deal at Villa Park.

Steve Bruce was reluctant to let his star striker leave and the hit man has already bagged eleven goals this season, Bent will be available to make his debut for Gerard Houllier's side in Saturday's Premier League clash with Manchester City.

Speaking on the Villa’s official website, Darren Bent said; “Aston Villa is a massive club and as soon as I knew they were interested in signing me I wanted to join,"

"The size of the football club and the history of the club are major reasons for me coming here.

"There are some top, top players here too, real quality, and I've been able to speak to the manager and the chairman about their ambitions for the club, so I'm very excited about being a part of what we hope to achieve."

Darren Bent Hands In Transfer Request

Darren Bent has today rocked Sunderland when the club confirmed that he has handed in a transfer request after Aston Villa reportedly made an offer of £18 million for the striker, the England international travelled to Birmingham today for a medical and to agree personal terms with a move that would smash Villa's transfer record.

Bent, 26, joined the Black Cats for an initial £10m from Tottenham in August 2009 when he signed a four-year deal with the north-east. This will leave a big void in Steve Bruce’s attacking options, Bent scored 25 times last season and has hit the net eleven times so far in the current campaign helping the club to sixth place in the Premier League standings.

Martin O’Neill Reported To Be Making Management Comeback In Saudi Arabia

Should I stay or should I go?  Image - Wikimedia

By Matt Scott
Martin O’Neill is reportedly about to sign a, tax-free, £4.5 million two-year contract at Saudi club, Al Hilal.

Sven Goran Eriksson was reported to be their original target, but after he opted to join Leicester City, who the former Aston Villa manager was also linked with, O’Neill became their new preferred choice.

Al Hilal representatives have revealed that, ‘a contract is almost signed and a announcement will be imminent’. The appointment of O’Neill would be another step in the right direction as, ‘the club are committed to being the biggest in the region’. O’Neill has been told that he can bring his own staff across to help him work with the likes of Lee Young-Pyo, who previously played in the Premier League for Tottenham, and Brazilian international Thiago Neves.

Many would be forgiven for thinking that O’Neill, who worked wonders at Villa Park, would bide his time in England. He has been repeatedly linked as a potential replacement for, the under pressure, Roy Hodgson at Liverpool. O’Neill was also linked with the Middlesborough job before Tony Mowbray was announced as the manager today.

Rather surprisingly, this would be the O’Neill’s first managerial post abroad but the challenge and lucrative pay packet offered could prove enough to lure O’Neill to Saudi Arabia.