Thursday Oct 18 2007 14:01
Togo international midfielder Moustapha Salifou has finally been cleared to start his career with Aston Villa.
The 24-year-old had agreed a move from Swiss club FC Wil just before the transfer window slammed shut at the end of August, but hold-ups in his paperwork have delayed his move to England.
However, he is now set for a reserve team outing next week, as he bids to earn a contract longer than his current season-long deal.
Villa boss Martin O'Neill told the club's official website: "He's arriving with no pressure on him, he's on a year's contract, but it is nice to see him.
"Absolutely none of this is his fault at all. We thought the whole thing was cleared on the last day of the transfer window.
"But through a collection of circumstances there's been a delay. Believe me, I'm the first one to blame players, but on this occasion it's honestly not been the case.
"There's a real hunger from him to play, certainly from the convoluted conversations I've had with the agent he was really dead keen to come."
Have your say on this article