Aston Villa: Villa looking at Steed Malbranque

Aston Villa manager David O'Leary will now hope to sign Fulham midfielder Steed Malbranque as he aims to secure at least one big-name arrival in January.

O'Leary is resigned to missing out on a new striker after losing to Everton in the race to sign James Beattie.

Southampton had accepted a 6million bid from Villa for Beattie but the player has opted to link up with David Moyes' side.

O'Leary remains anxious to bolster his squad significantly but has no other strikers on his shortlist and will instead look to improve other areas of his staff.

Sportinglife

i feel this would be a good signing, though, i aint sure villa is a big enogh club to tempt him. i think a liverpool or newcastle or arsenal is what he would want.

looks like maybe the manager had his hopes pinned on beattie

Well going on the things i have read it sounds like Fulham are accepting that they will most likely lose Malbranque. Wether he goes to Villa or not is a different matter..




[Edited on 5/1/05 by TRD]

i think he came to fulham when they where on the move, but thats stoped. the manager aint got al fayed pumping as much money into them anymore.

he a young player too, he might feel a bigger club will help his international career

Aston Villa's operating director Steve Stride has denied that the club are interested in signing Fulham's French midfielder Steed Malbranque.

"During one of my many conversations with manager David O'Leary Malbranque's name cropped up," Stride told the club's official website.

"But David insisted most definitely that Steed was not one of the names on his list."

source

stead didnt seem to pull his weight last year at fulham, he didnt seem as if he wanted to play like in 2003/04 when he was in sparkling form and was their most influential player

Seeing him go to villa would mean not much change in ambition in truth, they are a very similar club to fulham in ambition, mid table consolidation

Fulham are going down this season!