Independent: Aston Villa made progress on two goalkeepers yesterday, both American and both called Brad. The senior of the two is Brad Friedel and Villa were given formal permission by Blackburn to speak to the 37-year-old about a £2m move. Friedel was in the Midlands yesterday afternoon for talks, though the Villa manager, Martin O'Neill, was still cautious about the transfer's completion, perhaps because Manchester City, managed by Friedel's former boss at Blackburn, Mark Hughes, have made a late enquiry. "We've been given permission to talk to the player [Friedel]," O'Neill said, "But there are still lots of things to happen. We're in the process of strengthening the squad and this is all part of our efforts to add strength in depth." But with O'Neill offering first-team football and the club a large salary, it would be surprising if Friedel turned down Villa unless City come up with something enticing. His replacement at Ewood Park is likely to be Paul Robinson, with Tottenham expecting that deal to go through last night. The fee is £3m. Less well-known is Friedel's compatriot Brad Guzan, a 23-year-old who plays for Chivas USA in the Major Soccer League and whom O'Neill tried to sign in January. That failed, due to work permit issues, but Guzan has since played again for the United States, including against England at Wembley in May, and Villa now have work permit hearing arranged for Guzan next Friday. A fee has been agreed with Chivas and O'Neill said: "We're hoping that having come so close in January we can get the work permit this time around. "I think his situation has improved, certainly on the international scene. He's been playing a lot of games for the US, important matches. All told, I think his position has improved so fingers crossed that might help, but who knows."

Guardian: Paul Ince has made Paul Robinson his first signing as Blackburn manager, paying £3.5m for the Tottenham goalkeeper. The 28-year-old, who has agreed a five-year contract, fell from grace at White Hart Lane after losing his place as England's first choice and has seen Heurelho Gomes brought in from PSV Eindhoven to replace him at Spurs. Robinson's move clears the way for Brad Friedel to complete a £2m transfer to Aston Villa after Rovers gave them permission to speak to the American. Meanwhile Martin O'Neill, the Villa manager, is ready to play Gareth Barry in the second leg of the club's Intertoto Cup tie against Odense today if he feels the midfielder, who wants to join Liverpool, is "in the right frame of mind".

Daily Mail: Paul Ince has made Paul Robinson his first signing as Blackburn boss, paying Tottenham £3.5million for the Tottenham goalkeeper. Long-serving keeper Brad Friedel looks set to complete his £2million move to Aston Villa after Rovers gave permission for the midlands club to speak to the American and Ince has wasted no time in securing an experienced replacement after agreeing a five-year deal with Robinson.

Telegraph: Gareth Barry could return to the Aston Villa side for the second leg of the club's InterToto Cup match against Odense at Villa Park. Manager Martin O'Neill said Villa's unsettled captain, who wants to join Liverpool, could play some part in the crucial third-round tie if he is "in the right frame of mind". Liverpool have tabled several bids for Barry but have failed to meet O'Neill's valuation of the England international, who has spent 10 years at Villa. Barry missed the first-leg against Odense, a 2-2 draw, in Denmark last week, as he had only recently returned from the two-week suspension for publicly criticising O'Neill. Barry wore the claret and blue shirt, for the first time since revealing his ambition to move to Anfield, when Villa played a pre-season friendly at Walsall in midweek.

Sun: MARTIN O'NEILL leads Aston Villa into battle today with his eyes on a UEFA Cup prize. But the Villa chief will celebrate an even greater triumph if can keep Gareth Barry in the Midlands. The doubts over the future of Villa's skipper have rumbled on almost as long as the Cristiano Ronaldo saga, with Liverpool having four attempts to take him to Anfield KO'd. It is a tug-of-war that shows no sign of ending quickly ? and former Villa idol Dean Saunders knows the outcome could be a vital factor in the new season. Saunders, now assistant boss of Wales, returns to Villa Park today as a Setanta commentator for the televised Intertoto Cup clash with Odense. After a 2-2 first-leg draw, Villa are long odds on to qualify for the UEFA Cup. Whether England midfielder Barry, 27, will be around should they get there is open to debate. But the man who spent three years leading the Villa line ? after a season doing the same at Liverpool ? knows O'Neill will make the best move for his club.

Times: Gareth Barry is due to return to competitive action for Aston Villa at his behest this evening because he fears that he is slipping down the pecking order of Liverpool's transfer targets. Martin O'Neill, the Villa manager, likened Barry's transfer saga to an Agatha Christie mystery yesterday as he prepared to include the disillusioned England midfield player in the team to face Odense BK in the Intertoto Cup, in a Villa side which is likely to be captained by Martin Laursen, Barry asked to play for the reserves away to Walsall on Tuesday, when he proved that his fitness, after a heel injury and a close season spent waiting for Liverpool to meet Villa's £18 million asking price, was surprisingly sound. With Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, prioritising a £20 million move for Robbie Keane, the Tottenham Hotspur striker, Barry is being left to work on his match sharpness and risk the wrath of the Villa Park faithful. His professionalism in the humbling surroundings of the Banks's Stadium on Tuesday helped to turn the initially ubiquitous outpourings of vitriol from Villa fans into a partially respectful ovation as he left the field after 60 minutes. In hindsight, O'Neill believes that playing against Walsall may have drawn the sting from the negativity that Barry's appearance at Villa Park is likely to evoke. "Gareth Barry will be in contention to play, if he's in the right frame of mind," O'Neill said. "He said his mindset is pretty decent. If he feels he's up for it and wants to play the game ? and I'll also take the views of the rest of the team into account ? then the rest is up to me."

Sun: Last night O'Neill was attempting to hijack Sunderland's bid to sign Spurs defender Younes Kaboul, 22. The Frenchman was due to have a medical at the Stadium of Light yesterday but has asked for a further 24 hours to talk over a move with his family after Villa stepped in. ·Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel, 37, looks set to join Villa and met with O'Neill last night.

Sporting Life: Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill still has has no idea if Gareth Barry will be at the club next season. In one of the longest running transfer sagas of the summer the England international had been expected to complete a big-money move to Liverpool. However, despite tabling numerous bids, the Reds have failed to match Villa's valuation of their skipper and appear to have cooled their interest in the 27-year-old. O'Neill concedes that negotiations between the Premier League rivals have stalled and has not ruled out the possibility of Barry remaining at Villa Park next term. "We haven't heard back from Liverpool," he told Sky Sports News. "We asked them for some written confirmation for something that was put to them at the time, which they asked for, but we haven't heard back. "I don't know what their position is, whether their chase for other players has overtaken everything, but it's preventing us from getting on and we want it sorted as soon as possible. "But if it means Gareth remaining as an Aston Villa player then that's something I wouldn't be too unhappy about."

Daily Mail: The official at Danish club Odense who decided to house new signing Eric Djemba-Djemba in a hotel boasting a casino clearly has a sense of humour. The irony was not lost on Aston Villa's party last week either as they came face-to-face for the first time with a man whose name has become a by-word for financial largesse. Villa, one of his former clubs, remained tight-lipped when pressed about the problems that surrounded the former Cameroon international, whose ability to spend money was matched only by his failure on the field of play Four months ago, Sportsmail detailed how Sir Alex Ferguson's £3.5million signing from Nantes managed to squander a £75,000-amonth salary at Manchester United and Aston Villa during a four-year span that saw him fritter away more than £3m. At the peak of his problems, Djemba-Djemba, now 27, boasted 10 4x4 cars, was sending large items of furniture back to his African homeland and was giving away cash to a variety of hangers-on. It ended in bankruptcy and Sir Alex Ferguson hinted at his off-field problems during his twoyear stay at Old Trafford. David O'Leary tried to pick up the pieces but Djemba-Djemba never really received any playing time under the Irishman and drifted to Burnley once Martin O'Neill arrived at Villa Park.

Irish Independent: GARETH Barry is due to return to competitive action for Aston Villa at his own request this evening because he fears that he is slipping down the pecking order of Liverpool's transfer targets. Villa manager Martin O'Neill likened Barry's transfer saga to an Agatha Christie mystery yesterday as he prepared to include the disillusioned England midfield player in the team to face Odense BK in the Intertoto Cup. Barry asked to play for the reserves away to Walsall on Tuesday, when he proved that his fitness, after a heel injury and a close season spent waiting for Liverpool to meet Villa's £18m asking price, was surprisingly sound. With Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez prioritising his move for Robbie Keane, Barry is being left to work on his match sharpness and risk the wrath of the Villa fans. His professionalism in the humbling surroundings of the Banks's Stadium on Tuesday helped to turn the initially ubiquitous outpourings of vitriol from Villa fans into a partially respectful ovation as he left the field after 60 minutes. In hindsight, O'Neill believes that playing against Walsall may have drawn the sting from the negativity that Barry's appearance at Villa Park is likely to evoke. "Gareth Barry will be in contention to play, if he's in the right frame of mind," O'Neill said. "He said his mindset is pretty decent. If he feels he's up for it and wants to play the game -- and I'll also take the views of the rest of the team into account -- then the rest is up to me."