Villa must wait for Friedel

Aston Villa must wait until Premier League rivals Blackburn bring in a replacement before they can sign goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

Rovers announced yesterday they had accepted an offer from an unnamed Premier League club - believed to be Villa - but that "the transfer is conditional to Rovers having a bid for a goalkeeper at another club accepted".

The identity of their target is unknown, although Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who lost his place in the first team last season to Radek Cerny and faces competition at White Hart Lane from new signing Heurelho Gomes, has been linked.

Friedel, 37, confirmed at the end of last week he wanted to leave Ewood Park and new manager Paul Ince appears resigned to losing the big American.

Villa Park manager Martin O'Neill needs a new goalkeeper having lost Thomas Sorensen, while Brad Guzan's arrival at the club has been delayed by a work permit.