Source: Telegraph
Aston Villa to renew interest in Manchester City's Micah Richards
Richards was the subject of an £8 million bid from Villa in January but City were unwilling to sell, particularly as they experienced difficulty in acquiring a replacement, with enquiries for Everton's Joleon Lescott and England captain John Terry coming to nothing. [LNB]However, Richard's indifferent form for the club, and the likelihood that further recruits will be bought by manager Mark Hughes in the summer, mean Villa are hopeful a deal can be struck, reports the Mirror[LNB]. [LNB]Laursen, 31, a pivotal figure in Villa mounting a credible challenge to the established top four at the summit of the Premier League, has been hit by a succession of knee injuries. [LNB]Currently sidelined, the former AC Milan player faces another bout of surgery, but is expected back next month. [LNB]It remains to be seen, however, how his knee will stand up to the high volume of games expected of a successful English side. [LNB]As Villa continue their Uefa Cup campaign this week, with the first leg of their tie against 2005 winners CSKA Moscow, O'Neill's defensive troubles are compounded by a shoulder injury to Curtis Davies. [LNB]The centre-back picked up the knock in Villa's FA Cup defeat to Everton at the weekend. [LNB]'Curtis was in a lot of pain,' said O'Neill. [LNB]'His shoulder came out of place and luckily, with a bit of manipulation, it got back in again. [LNB]'We'll have to look at that, I think it's happened to him once before.'[LNB]Meanwhile, Stiliyan Petrov is poised to sign a new deal at Villa Park. [LNB]Petrov has been one of Villa's stand-out performers this season, and has impressed after a slow start to his career in English football after joining from Celtic two-and-a-half years ago. [LNB]
