Villa sign £5m James Collins - but have to wait for Richard Dunne signing

01 September 2009 20:40
Aston Villa  will have to wait until tomorrow to formally complete the signingof Manchester City  skipper Richard Dunne on a four-year contract in a £6 milliondeal. [LNB]The Premier League have asked for more time to ratify the deal even thoughVilla began submitting the relevant documents before 4pm today - an hour beforethe transfer window formally closed. [LNB]Villa remain confident Dunne will become their player after a nine season spellat City after passing a medical and agreeing personal terms. [LNB] Dunne deals: Aston Villa have bagged Richard Dunne (L) and James Collins (R)[LNB]And the Football Association are satisfied with the paperwork presented byVilla.But Villa formally need the approval of the Premier League before they canannounce Dunne's capture. [LNB]Villa had earlier in the day signed West Ham  defender James Collins for around£5 million. [LNB]Dunne's days at Eastlands appeared to be numbered after the arrival of KoloToure from Arsenal and then Joleon Lescott from Everton. [LNB]But his arrival - along with Collins - at Villa Park will provide MartinO'Neill with the kind of experienced centre-back he has been looking for sincethe retirement of Martin Laursen at the end of last season with a knee injury. [LNB]O'Neill also allowed Zat Knight to move to Bolton and started the currentcampaign with only two experienced centre-backs in Curtis Davies and CarlosCuellar. [LNB]Villa agreed a fee last week with City for Dunne but the deal dragged on pastthe weekend because the player wanted to sort out financial issues relating tothe remaining three years of his contract. [LNB]Dunne would have been entitled to a testimonial next summer when he would havecompleted a decade of service at City.Now the 29-year-old looks set to make his Villa debut in the Second City derbywith Birmingham at St Andrews on September 13. [LNB] Aston Villa are better off without Barry, says midfield maestro PetrovWhat have Manchester City Dunne? Richard's Aston Villa transfer surprises Curtis DaviesLIVE DEADLINE DAY: Follow all the latest football transfers as the window slams shutASTON VILLA FC

Source: Daily_Mail