Source: Team_Talk
McLeish steps up Given chase
ew Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish is stepping up his attempts to sign a proven goalkeeper with Shay Given amongst the targets on his radar.[LNB] The Manchester City player spent last season as number two to Joe Hart, who reaped the benefits of a season under McLeish when on loan at Birmingham.[LNB]Now McLeish is considering whether to return to Eastlands for 35-year-old Given, who moved from Newcastle two years ago and still has two years left on his current contract.[LNB]Villa need a new number one after Brad Friedel opted to leave on a free transfer at the end of last season to move to Tottenham, but the Midlands club will make no official comment on whether McLeish wants to sign Given.[LNB]The Republic of Ireland international's only appearances for City last season were in the Europa League, but at Villa he would be virtually guaranteed first-team football ahead of back-up goalkeepers Brad Guzan and Andy Marshall.[LNB]McLeish also has to decide whether to go back to his former club and try and sign Ben Foster, who he brought to St. Andrew's from Manchester United in a £6million move last summer.[LNB]Foster had an oustanding season despite Blues being relegated from the Premier League.
