Villa set sights on Knight
28 Aug 2007 - 10:50:37
Aston Villa are reportedly close to completing the £4million signing of Fulham defender Zat Knight.
Knight, 27, has spent five years in the first team at Craven Cottage but is wanted by Villa boss Martin O'Neill to provide competition among central defenders Olof Mellberg, Martin Laursen and Gary Cahill.
Knight has made almost 200 appearances for the Cottagers and played twice for England during their tour of the USA two years ago.
O'Neill turned his attention to the Solihull-born defender after being priced out of a move for £8million-rated West Bromwich Albion centre-half Curtis Davis.
Meanwhile, the Villa boss has warned his side against complacency ahead of Tuesday's Carling Cup second round trip to League Two side Wrexham.
"So far in my time here, we haven't been able to pluck a home cup tie and it's the same again tonight as we travel to Wrexham," he told the club's official website.
"The game tonight will be a difficult fixture for us, no doubt about that. It's going to be a tricky second round game.
"It's a competition we want to do well in. It's a little reminiscent of going up to Scunthorpe last season and hopefully we'll get a similar result.
"It'll be an exciting game and I expect Wrexham to cause us some problems.
"But we're in good spirits, particularly after the good result against Fulham."
