How would Villa replace Brad Friedel?

Aston Villa could be set to part with goalkeeper Brad Friedel in the January transfer window. The USA keeper’s contract expires in the summer.

He has now suspended talks over a new deal after admitting he would be willing to leave the Midlands club if they could find a replacement.

Veteran

At 39 years old he knows that he is not getting any younger and maybe he feels that he should leave the Premier league while still in decent shape.

Goalkeepers are famous for having longer careers than outfield players and Friedel is in good company.

The likes of goalkeeping greats Neville Southall, Dino Zoff and Peter Shilton played at the highest level when approaching their forties or even into their forties. Friedel hasn’t been in the best of form this season and maybe it is a good time for him to leave England.

He is already being lined for a return to the USA with MLS side Columbus Crew, who are his local club and who he played for before his 1997 move to England with Liverpool.

He will make a superb coach, as he has so much experience to pass onto the younger generation of American keepers. The United States are already blessed with some top keepers but Friedel could help develop goalkeepers in his own country either further.

Reasonable

A Villa club source revealed: “Brad is a reasonable man who has had a great career. He knows he is 40 next year and the club need to get at least one new goalkeeper but he is not being forced out.”

It doesn’t sound like he is being forced out but rather that he has realised himself that a move elsewhere would be in everybody’s best interests.

Consistent

Brad Friedel has been a superb servant to every club he represented in the English Premier League. He didn’t do much wrong in his three years at Liverpool but he never quite convinced as a regular number one.

At Blackburn it was a completely different story. He spent eight years at Ewood Park producing man of the match after man of the match performances and becoming one of the most consistent keepers in the English top flight.

He became a Blackburn hero for his superb performances. He was constantly linked with moves to bigger clubs but always stayed loyal until 2008 when he joined Villa. While at Aston Villa he has reached the landmark of 200 consecutive Premier League games, a brilliant record.

Replacement

With Villa knowing that the keeper is coming to the end of his career they knew they would have to sign a replacement. Villa boss Gerard Houllier has the unenviable task of finding a replacement for the veteran keeper.

Villa has been linked with Rangers highly-rated stopper Allan McGregor. Although the Scottish international is also said to be tracked by Manchester United and Villa would not be able to compete with the Red Devils if it came to an auction.

Another option Villa are believed to be considering is Manchester United’s reserve keeper Tomas Kuszczak.

The 28 year-old is likely to leave United in the near future after Sir Alex Ferguson secured the signing of Danish keeper Anders Lindegaard, who will join when the January transfer window opens. Both keepers are decent but it will take a top class keeper to replace the ever consistent American.

Professional

Brad Friedel has always been a top professional and he is a great ambassador for his country. When he does leave the Premier League it will be a sad day. It looks like that day could arrive in January. Brad we all thank you for some fantastic displays and I wish you good luck wherever you end up.

Where will Brad Friedel end up in January?