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Villa granted permission to talk with Brad Friedel

25/07/2008

Aston Villa have been granted permission to begin talks with Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

Blackburn have already accepted a £2 million offer for the keeper and have now agreed to let the player discuss personal terms.

Villa manager Martin O'Neil confirmed talks with the American keeper would begin shortly.

"We've been given permission to speak to the player and that's something that we want to do," O'Neil told the club's website.

"But there are still a lot of things to happen. We're in the process of strengthening the squad and this is all part of our efforts to add strength in depth."

Friedel has been at Ewood Park for the past eight years but told Rovers he wanted to move this summer.

Villa are currently looking to replace last season's keeper Scott Carson who returned to Liverpool at the end of his loan spell and has since joined West Bromwich Albion.